Help shape little lives — and build a career you love
Join a preschool that cares as much about your growth as the children’s. At Two Hands, we’re not just nurturing bright young minds — we’re building a team that thrives on purpose, compassion and joy.
Two Hands is a leading preschool that combines exceptional early years education and development with flexible, full-time care. Our approach is for forward-thinking parents who want to give their children everything they need to create a bright future and a better world.
We’re not a chain. We’re a close-knit preschool driven by purpose, not profit. Our team thrives on mutual respect, creativity and kindness — and we go out of our way to make sure your career here is joyful, supported and fulfilling.
Whether you’re joining us as a newly qualified practitioner or a seasoned early years expert, you’ll find space to grow, time to reflect, and colleagues who’ve got your back.
Benefits that put people first (full perks below):
✋ Part employee ownership — share in our success. Up to 15% salary boost every quarter occupancy stays above 75%.
⛱️ 2 weeks’ paid leave after 3 years.
👶 Better adult-child ratios across every age group.
🗓️ Dedicated time during your week for planning, preparation and assessment.
🎓 Fully-funded training + paid study leave.
🧘 On-demand, employer-paid mental health support.
Current opportunities
We always want to meet passionate and exceptional staff who can help us drive positive change in early years education and beyond. If you thrive in a culture built on mutual trust, shared accountability and effective communication, we would love to hear from you.
If you don’t see a suitable role here, email us your CV and cover letter, and a member of our team will get back to you.
Early Years Teacher Assistant
Start date: June 2025
Do you have experience of working with children and want a role in a preschool where you can learn while you earn?
Are you interested in trying a career path which is both fun and rewarding, working with young children and shaping their future?
If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you.
Our benefits
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Professional development
• Paid planning, preparation and assessment time built into your timetable — on top of breaks — with a firm promise you’ll never take work home. We review workloads regularly to keep them manageable.
• Full funding and extra time off for relevant courses and qualifications, plus three paid training days a year and regular cycles of research, observation, feedback and coaching — because we believe everyone’s always learning.
• Smaller adult-child ratios (1:3 for 2-year-olds, 1:5 for 3-year-olds, 1:6 for 4-year-olds) so you can build real relationships and meet every child’s individual needs.
• £1,500 if you refer someone who joins us as an Early Years Teacher.
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Putting your wellbeing first
• 6 weeks’ holiday during our preschool closures: 2 weeks at Christmas, 1 week at Easter and 3 weeks in August — plus all bank holidays outside these periods. 2 weeks’ paid leave after 3 years continuous service.
• Option to request additional leave for what matters most to you.
• 5 days of fully paid sick leave from your first day.
• Auto-enrolment in our pension scheme with The People’s Pension.
• Paid-for access to confidential mental health check-ins with qualified therapists, whenever you need them.
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A little extra, just for you
• Part employee ownership — share in our success. Up to 15% salary boost every quarter occupancy stays above 75%
• Free breakfast, lunch and tea every day, plus great coffee and nutritious snacks.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave after two years’ continuous service.
• 10% discount on preschool childcare, plus emergency on-site childcare for children up to 7 years old.
• Clothing allowance for our comfy (but completely optional!) hoodies and t-shirts.
• Season pass loan and cycle to work scheme.
Our values
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Well-grounded
Education is our main focus, and children won’t learn unless they love coming to preschool each day. Our approach is grounded in well-known educational philosophies including Montessori, Froebel and Vygotzy. We constantly develop our expertise using the latest research in early years learning, so we can give your child the highest-quality education.
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Positive
We take great pride in the work we do and consider our foundational role in a child’s journey a deep privilege. We work with – and learn from – our parents and carers, as you are the experts in your own children. By building a positive foundation for learning at a young age, our high-quality education helps your child become a learner for life. We respond positively to challenges, supporting children, parents and teachers as we learn together.
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Thoughtful
Through our extensive early years education research and hands-on experience, we’ve learned that what works for one child might not work for all. We pay close attention to the details that matter to our children and their families, and we actively encourage feedback. Mindful of all aspects of our practice, we ensure our teachers have dedicated, paid time to reflect each day.
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Understanding
We instil an aptitude for learning and an ability to communicate ideas from a young age. We understand the importance of language development in early years education, and keep this at the heart of our curriculum. Our children learn to give detailed and nuanced answers to questions and develop the vocabulary to describe their emotions, helping us understand their individual needs.
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Fair
We believe in a fair and honest world. We reserve one in five of our places on bursary to children from low-income families, ensuring that a high-quality preschool experience is accessible to all, while providing enduring benefits for every child. Our staff training has a focus on inclusion and diversity, so all children can develop their sense of self-worth and a deep respect for others. We constantly strive to integrate more environmental sustainability into our leadership, pedagogy and operational practice.
5★ Rated