Recruitment and Retention in Early Years

From Hiring to Retaining: Early Years in Practice.

Recruitment and Retention in Early Years

For: Universal EYFS* (excluding Schools and OOS)

Live Training Date: Tuesday 3 November 2026, from 9.30am - 12.30pm

The Belmont Hotel, 20 De Montfort Square, Leicester, LE1 7GR

Please note, bookings for this training will close three working days before the session date.

This 3-hour in person training session is designed to equip nursery managers with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively recruit and retain high-quality staff. It covers key aspects of the recruitment lifecycle, including job analysis, attracting candidates, screening, interviewing, and onboarding, as well as strategies for staff retention.

The session uses interactive activities, breakout groups, and practical exercises to ensure participants gain actionable insights they can apply immediately in their setting.

This is a highly practical and engaging course that consistently receives excellent feedback from participants. The normal cost for this course is £95 per delegate; however, we are delighted to offer it free of charge, with only a refundable deposit required to secure your place.

Course aims and objectives

· Comprehensive: Understand the entire recruitment lifecycle, from job analysis to onboarding.

· Practical: Learn how to create effective job descriptions and evaluate candidates through real-world scenarios.

· Engaging: Explore innovative ways to advertise job roles and showcase nursery culture.

· Collaborative: Work with peers to solve recruitment challenges and share retention strategies.

Actionable: Develop skills to implement effective interview techniques and staff retention plans.

Learning outcomes

· Describe the key stages of the recruitment lifecycle and their importance.

· Develop clear and comprehensive job descriptions tailored to nursery staff roles.

· Identify and utilize effective advertising platforms and employer branding techniques.

· Conduct structured and effective interviews using best practices and scoring methods.

· Design onboarding programs and retention strategies to support long-term staff engagement.

Take-Away Element

This session equips nursery managers with practical tools, actionable strategies, and enhanced skills to effectively recruit and retain high-quality staff. Participants will gain insights into the recruitment lifecycle, from creating job descriptions to conducting interviews and onboarding new employees. They will also explore innovative advertising methods, retention techniques, and collaborative solutions through peer discussions and interactive activities. By the end of the session, managers will feel confident in applying these strategies to attract, select, and retain the best candidates for their nurseries.

Trainer:

Dean Lloyd - The Protocol Group

Due to a high volume of ticket holders not attending we have now implemented a refundable £10 event booking fee. If you attend the event we will return the £10 you paid at the point of booking. Unfortunately if you do not attend you will forfeit the £10.

Important Event/Course Information:

The direct link to join the live session will usually be included in the ORIGINAL confirmation email sent from Eventbrite when you complete the booking – this confirmation email is sent to the email address you enter for the ticket holder. Please check with the person who will be attending the session that they have received this email and can see the link to join at least 2 days prior to the session at this point please contact eytraining@leics.gov.uk if you cannot find/see the link to join. Subsequent emails sent from Eventbrite are reminders only (may not include the link to join).

The Booking and Cancellation Policy applies to this course/event.

Description supplied by the event organiser.