Nursery manager in corridor
International Recruitment & Visa Support

The staffing crisis has a solution.
Most nurseries just haven't found it yet.

We recruit qualified, graduate-level early years professionals from proven source markets — fully visa-managed, ratio-ready, and more affordable than you think.

See How It Works Discover the SOC 2315 Advantage
4–6 Months average
placement timeline
£14k DfE grant toward
EYTS qualification
1:8 Better child-to-staff
ratio than Level 3
100% Early years
sector focus

You've been trying to fill the same roles for months. Maybe years.

The UK's early years staffing crisis isn't a temporary blip — and the usual routes aren't working.

Nursery manager overwhelmed at desk
🔍

"Qualified Level 3s simply don't exist in your area"

You're advertising. You're paying agencies. You're interviewing people who don't show up. Meanwhile, your ratios are stretched and your existing team is burning out.

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"Agency fees are unsustainable"

Temporary cover costs you more per day than a permanent hire costs per week — and agencies offer no retention guarantee. You're paying repeatedly for the same unfilled problem.

⚠️

"Your staff ratios are your regulatory risk"

One unfilled role doesn't just affect operations. It puts your Ofsted compliance at risk, limits your funded places, and forces other staff into unsafe coverage positions.

🗺️

"You don't know what you don't know about international routes"

The visa and sponsorship process feels complex, expensive, and uncertain. Most providers have never explored it — which is exactly why their competitors are doing it instead.

📉

"Good candidates leave before they settle"

You've hired internationally before and it didn't work. No structured onboarding, no relocation support, no retention follow-up — and they were gone within six months.

There's a better route — and we manage every step of it

One partner. End-to-end international recruitment. Built for early years.

From vacancy to UK arrival — we manage every stage, so you stay focused on your setting.

🎓
SOC Code 2315 · The Route Most Nurseries Don't Know About

The Nursery Education Teaching Professional Pathway

Graduate early years professional

Early years professionals recruited under SOC code 2315 (Nursery Education Teaching Professionals) are a game-changer for settings struggling with Level 3 shortages. They're graduate-level, immediately ratio-ready, and come with government funding built in.

🎓

Graduate-level qualification

Level 6 equivalent — far above Level 3 — bringing classroom-trained pedagogy to your setting from day one.

💷

Paid at unqualified teacher scale

Until they achieve EYTS, they're paid at the unqualified teacher pay scale — substantially lower than a qualified EYT.

⏳

Four-year grace period for EYTS

Candidates have up to four years to complete their Early Years Teacher Status — no immediate pressure on your setting.

💰

£14,000 DfE grant included

The Department for Education provides a grant of up to £14,000 toward their EYTS qualification. You get a more qualified professional — the Government helps fund their development.

"They count in your ratios from day one. They're more qualified than a Level 3. And the Government helps fund their development. This is the most underused advantage in early years recruitment."

Our 8-Step End-to-End Process

Typically 4–6 months from vacancy approval to UK arrival

TCSA consultant and nursery owner reviewing the recruitment process
1

Workforce Planning & Role Definition

Confirm profiles, salary bands, timelines and visa requirements

2

Sponsor Licence Support

Partner immigration lawyers guide the process; we coordinate in an early years context

3

Candidate Attraction in Source Markets

Targeted advertising and networks in South Africa and Commonwealth markets

4

Screening & Shortlisting

CV review and initial interviews assessing suitability, communication and cultural fit

5

Joint Interviews With Your Team

Structured interview packs tailored to early years — EYFS, safeguarding and pedagogy

6

Qualification & Safeguarding Checks

Verify education credentials, references and safeguarding expectations

7

Visa Processing & Documentation

Certificate of Sponsorship, visa application and full compliance documentation

8

Relocation, Settlement & Onboarding

Life in the UK orientation, travel, accommodation, banking and 90-day check-ins

Book Your Free Recruitment Consultation

What nurseries say after their first international hire

Don't take our word for it. Here's what happened for settings just like yours.

Nursery manager, West Midlands "

We'd been short-staffed for 14 months before we spoke to TCSA. Within five months we had two ratio-ready practitioners from South Africa — better qualified than anyone we'd interviewed locally.

Nursery Manager, West Midlands · 42-place setting
Nursery owner, South East England "

The SOC 2315 route was something we'd never heard of. TCSA explained it clearly, managed the whole visa process, and our new hire is halfway through her EYTS — funded by the DfE grant.

Owner, South East England · Single site
Operations director, group of settings "

What impressed us most was the onboarding support. They didn't just hand over a candidate and disappear. We had structured check-ins at 30, 60 and 90 days.

Operations Director · Group of 4 settings
What Matters Most to You Level 3 (UK Hire) SOC 2315 via TCSA
Available to hire in your area ✗ ✓
Graduate-level education ✗ ✓
Better child-to-staff ratios (1:8 for 3–4 yr olds) ✗ ✓
Starting salary under £30,000 ✗ ✓
£14,000 DfE grant toward training ✗ ✓
Full visa & relocation support ✗ ✓
Structured retention follow-up ✗ ✓
Ratio-ready from day one ✓ ✓
See If This Is Right for Your Setting

The cost of not acting is higher than you think.

Here's what agency dependency is actually costing your setting — and what international recruitment changes.

The Agency Spiral

What You're Currently Paying

Agency temp fee (per day) £150–£250
Typical gap period 6–12 months
Estimated 12-month agency spend £18,000–£45,000
Temp retention rate Low
Ofsted compliance risk High
The TCSA Route

What a Permanent Hire Looks Like

TCSA recruitment fee One-time placement
DfE grant offset Up to £14,000
Candidate retention rate High (visa-invested)
Ongoing agency dependency Eliminated
Ofsted compliance risk Ratio-ready day one
Consultant reviewing government guidance for sponsor licence

What You're Probably Wondering

Typically 4–6 months from vacancy approval to UK arrival. This covers sponsor licence guidance (if needed), candidate attraction and screening, visa processing, and relocation planning. We'll give you a milestone plan at the start so there are no surprises.

Most settings recruiting internationally will need a Skilled Worker sponsor licence. We work with partner immigration lawyers to assess your position, guide you through the application, and ensure your ongoing sponsor duties are clearly understood.

Our fee is calculated as a percentage of annual salary, with a staged payment structure tied to milestones — you're not paying everything upfront. Replacement and refund provisions also apply if a candidate leaves early. Book a free consultation and we'll walk you through the full fee structure.

We include replacement and refund provisions within our contract. But in practice, candidates who have gone through a visa and relocation process are significantly less likely to leave than locally-hired staff. They've invested too — and we support their settlement from day one to make sure it works.

Yes. SOC 2315 candidates are classified as Nursery Education Teaching Professionals and count in your staffing ratios from the point they start work, subject to standard UK verification checks. This is a key advantage of the pathway — no waiting for qualifications to be recognised.

The DfE grant of up to £14,000 covers a significant portion of the EYTS qualification cost. Your candidate has four years to complete it, so there's no pressure to enrol immediately. We help you navigate the grant application process as part of our service.

Book a Free Consultation — No Obligation
The Nursery Owner's Complete Guide to International Recruitment and SOC 2315

Before You Go…

Download our free guide: 'The Nursery Owner's Complete Guide to International Recruitment & SOC 2315' — everything you need to know before your first consultation call.

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Further Reading for Nursery Leaders

Consultant reviewing visa documents at desk
Staffing & Recruitment

What is SOC 2315 and Why Every Early Years Setting Should Know About It

The immigration code that gives nurseries access to graduate-level practitioners — with better ratios, lower costs, and Government funding built in.

Read more
UK early years nursery setting entrance
Staffing & Recruitment

The Real Cost of the Level 3 Shortage — And What to Do About It

How much the ongoing recruitment crisis is actually costing early years providers, and the international route that's quietly solving it for forward-thinking settings.

Read more
Team onboarding meeting with new international hire
Staffing & Recruitment

International Recruitment: What Good Onboarding Actually Looks Like

The difference between international hires who leave within six months and those who build long-term careers — it comes down to what happens after arrival.

Read more