Quint Education recruits teaching, support and early years staff for schools and nurseries across Essex — on daily supply, long-term cover and permanent contracts.
We are education and childcare specialists rather than a general recruiter. Our work sits in early years, primary and SEND settings, which is why schools and nurseries in those phases tend to get a more relevant shortlist from us than from an agency covering everything from nursery to sixth form.
Schools and nurseries in Essex
Need cover tomorrow, a long-term appointment, or a permanent hire? For urgent cover we work to a 15-minute callback, and every candidate is compliance-checked before they reach you.
Looking for work in Essex?
Register once and we will match you to settings that suit your experience, across early years, primary and SEN.
Where we work in Essex
We recruit across the county and the Essex–London border, including Chelmsford, Colchester, Basildon, Southend-on-Sea, Brentwood, Harlow, Braintree, Epping Forest, Loughton, Chigwell, Billericay, Thurrock and Grays.
The border towns matter more than people assume. A practitioner living in Loughton or Epping may be a short journey from roles in both Essex and north-east London, and we will put you forward for both rather than restricting you to one side of a boundary.
Roles we recruit for
Early years and nursery
- Nursery Practitioners, Room Leaders and Third in Charge
- Deputy Nursery Managers and Nursery Managers
- Nursery Teachers and Montessori Teachers
- Bank and temporary nursery staff
EYFS and primary
- Teaching and classroom support staff
- Qualified Nursery Teachers and EYFS Teachers
- Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 Teachers
SEND
- SEN Teaching Assistants and SEN Class Teachers
- Qualified support workers with SEND experience
- Short-break service staff, supporting children and young people aged 5–19
Wraparound and support
- Breakfast club and after-school club staff
- Playworkers and childcare practitioners
- Nursery Chefs, Kitchen Assistants and nursery support staff
Three ways we recruit
Temporary and daily supply
Absence is rarely planned. We keep a pool of staff available on call and work to a 15-minute callback, so you know quickly whether a role can be filled rather than waiting without an answer.
Long-term cover
For maternity cover, extended absence, or while you recruit into a vacancy. Long-term contracts frequently run across a full academic year.
Permanent recruitment
Once your role is registered with us, we advertise it on major job boards and our own site, actively search for CVs, and send you only candidates who have already been screened.
Compliance, done before the candidate arrives
All our staff are DBS checked. We also obtain employment references, together with student or voluntary references covering at least the three years prior to placement.
You receive written confirmation of those checks for your single central record, which is what KCSIE Part Three requires of you when you take agency staff. Our guide to DBS checks for schools and nurseries explains what that confirmation needs to contain.
Talk to us about Essex
Whether you are a school or nursery that needs staff, or you are looking for your next role in the county, start here.
Useful reading
- Teaching assistant qualifications — what is actually required
- What is the EYFS? — including the September 2026 changes
- The SEND Code of Practice explained
- Safeguarding questions and answers
- SEN recruitment
Frequently asked questions
Does Quint Education recruit in Essex?
Yes. We recruit teaching, classroom support and early years staff for schools and nurseries across Essex, including Chelmsford, Colchester, Basildon, Southend-on-Sea, Brentwood, Harlow, Braintree, Epping Forest and Thurrock, on daily supply, long-term cover and permanent contracts.
What kind of education jobs are available in Essex?
We recruit nursery practitioners, room leaders and nursery managers; EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 teachers; teaching and classroom support staff; SEN teaching assistants and SEN class teachers; playworkers and wraparound club staff; and nursery catering and support roles.
Do you offer supply work as well as permanent roles in Essex?
Yes. We cover daily supply and emergency cover, long-term placements that often run across a full academic year, and permanent appointments. Many candidates start on supply to try several settings before committing.
How quickly can you provide cover for an Essex school or nursery?
For urgent and day-to-day cover we keep a pool of staff on call and work to a 15-minute callback, so you find out quickly whether the role can be filled.
What checks do your Essex candidates have?
All our staff are DBS checked, and we obtain employment references together with student or voluntary references covering at least the three years prior to placement. You receive written confirmation of those checks for your single central record.
Can I work in both Essex and London?
Yes, and we would encourage it if you live near the border. Towns such as Loughton, Epping, Chigwell and Brentwood are within reach of roles in both Essex and north-east London, and registering once puts you forward for both rather than limiting you to one.
Do I need a qualification to register?
Not necessarily. There is no statutory qualification requirement for teaching assistants in England, and many settings recruit on experience and aptitude. An enhanced DBS check is the genuine requirement. Early years roles are different, because qualifications must appear on the Department for Education approved list to count towards staff to child ratios.