Many clients utilising our nursery staff recruitment services in Clifton for the first time are unsure whether they need to recruit permanent or temporary Early Years staff for their Bristol setting.
We thought a blog post outlining some of the main considerations would be useful for nursery managers and owners in various BS postcodes.
Temporary or permanent?
Recruiting the right nursery staff is vital for every Early Years setting in Bristol.
This applies to any nursery, preschool or Early Years setting. The quality of the team directly impacts children’s learning, development and wellbeing.
The strength of a nursery staff team also directly contributes to the commercial success of a Bristol Early Years business.
When a vacancy arises in a setting, the first question most managers or owners ask is: Should they recruit permanent or temporary staff?
The answer depends largely on set factors, such as the setting’s needs, budget, existing staffing levels and long-term plans.
What are the benefits of recruiting permanent Early Years staff?
Hiring permanent Early Years practitioners in a Bristol setting can provide stability, consistency and continuity of care.
Building a reliable team in a nursery helps children develop secure relationships with familiar adults, supporting their emotional wellbeing and early learning.
Permanent Early Years workers also become familiar with your setting’s routines, policies, safeguarding procedures and curriculum.
Permanent nursery workers can develop strong relationships with parents and colleagues over time, contributing to a positive and cohesive environment.
From a management perspective, permanent recruitment in Bristol nurseries is often a good long-term investment.
Recruitment, onboarding and employment costs need to be considered. But in business terms, a stable, committed permanent workforce in an Early Years setting can reduce the disruption associated with frequent staff changes.
Reasons why permanent Early Years recruitment works
Having provided permanent Early Years candidates to Bristol nurseries since 2009, we see it working well for nurseries that have the following to consider:
A long-term vacancy within the nursery team
A desire to strengthen staff retention and team stability
Consistent support for children’s learning and development
Expanding setting provision and planning for future growth
Our team of Early Years recruitment experts in Clifton can guide you further when it comes to ensuring your next permanent staff hire is a success.
What are the benefits of recruiting temporary Early Years staff?
Temporary Early Years workers offer Bristol settings flexibility when they need additional support at short notice.
This may be to cover sickness, maternity leave, annual leave or an unexpected increase in demand.
Temporary nursery practitioners can help maintain required staffing levels.
Recruiting temporary candidates can also be useful during busy periods, seasonal fluctuations, or while looking for the right permanent worker.
Rather than rushing into a long-term appointment, a nursery owner or manager can take time to recruit exactly the right staff member for the team.
Working with a specialist Early Years recruitment agency in Bristol such as Class makes it easier to source suitably qualified and experienced Early Years practitioners when needed.
When temporary Early Years recruitment is best
Some of the reasons why temporary Early Years staff recruitment may be the best option for a nursery in Bristol include:
Urgent cover for staff absence
Nursery experiences fluctuations in staff requirements
Short-term support is needed during recruitment
Flexibility is required without commitment to a permanent role
Permanent or Temporary Early Years staff?
There is no definitive solution, and we advise all Bristol Early Years settings based solely on their bespoke and individual needs and requirements.
Permanent staff are generally best suited to ongoing vacancies and long-term workforce planning, while temporary staff offer flexibility and can effectively address immediate staffing challenges that can arise.
For many nurseries in Bristol, a combination of permanent and temporary Early Years staff offers the best approach.
A strong permanent team provides consistency, while access to temporary practitioners helps manage unexpected absences and challenging demands.
When looking at whether to recruit permanent or temporary Early Years staff for your Bristol setting, consider your budget, staff-to-child ratios, recruitment timescales and needs of the children.
Every recruitment decision should support children’s safety, well-being and care within the setting.
Class Recruit places permanent and temporary Early Years staff with nursery settings in the following areas of Bristol:
Yate, Kingswood, Downend, Speedwell, Keynsham, Lyde Green, Emersons Green, Bradley Stoke, Filton, Horfield, Southmead, Clifton, Redland, Westbury, Stoke Bishop, City Centre, Southville, Bedminster, Knowle, Ashton Gate and Flax Bourton.
For more information on how we can help you with both permanent and temporary Early Years staff recruitment across Bristol, please contact our team in Clifton on 0117 930 4000 or by visiting here.