Sensory Playgroup Facilitator (mornings)

ECE / ECEA / Certified Teachers Only (Internationally certified OK) | Starting January 2027

Location: Victoria/Saanich, BC

We have a unique opportunity for someone looking for a flexible, part-time position in early childhood education, and the potential to grow with a small local business!

Please read the entire post before applying, as this is for a role that could be shifting within 6 months.

I am the owner and operator of Yes to Mess Victoria, a growing art and sensory play business offering thoughtfully prepared, child-led messy play experiences for children ages 6 months to 5 years.

We currently offer weekly outdoor sessions and will be expanding into local recreation centres four mornings a week starting in January 2027.

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays (as needed)

Pay: $35–$50/hour, depending on program enrollment

You will act as my substitute educator for Yes to Mess sessions when I am unavailable due to illness, vacation, or other commitments.

This includes a planned 10-day vacation in February 2027, when teaching coverage will be needed.

Sessions generally run between 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM or 12:00 PM, depending on the day. Additional paid time will be provided for setup and cleanup.

Responsibilities include:

• Facilitating welcoming, engaging, child-led art and sensory play sessions. Caregivers are present. Your role is the facilitate only, you will not be providing childcare.
• Preparing and setting up play invitations and materials.
• Supporting children's exploration, creativity, problem-solving, and independence.
• Engaging warmly and professionally with caregivers and children.
• Maintaining a safe, inclusive, and inviting play environment.
• Cleaning and organizing materials following sessions.

Please note: These teaching hours are on-call and not guaranteed, apart from any shifts scheduled and confirmed in advance.

This is where the position gets exciting!

Yes to Mess is growing quickly, and my long-term goal is to gradually step back from teaching every session so I can focus on expanding the business.

Ideally, as enrolment grows, the successful applicant could eventually take over regular Monday and Tuesday teaching sessions while I stay home with my youngest. If we grow further, there would be potentially to take on more mornings of guaranteed hours on your preferred days.

There is real potential for this position to evolve into a consistent, part-time early childhood teaching role with additional hours and responsibilities as we expand!

We are looking for someone who is passionate about early childhood education and genuinely enjoys working with young children and their families.

Requirements:

• ECE, ECEA, or Certified Teacher qualification. International certifications are welcomed.
• Valid First Aid and CPR certification.
• Current criminal record check, or willingness to obtain one before January 2027 (paid for by the business).
• Strong understanding of child development and developmentally appropriate practice.
• Familiarity with child-led learning, inquiry-based approaches, and the developmental benefits of sensory play.
• A warm, friendly, patient, and welcoming personality.
• Reliability, flexibility, and the ability to work independently.
• Physical ability to lift and carry large and sometime heavy objects (i.e. folding tables/ pop up shelters) for sessions.

Experience with sensory play, process art, outdoor education, or Reggio Emilia-inspired approaches would be a wonderful asset!

Most importantly, we want someone who understands that the process matters more than the product, who is comfortable embracing a little mess, and who believes in giving children the freedom and respect to explore, experiment, and learn through play.

Please email yestomessvic@gmail.com with:

1. Your resume.
2. A short introduction about yourself and your teaching philosophy or approach to early childhood education.
3. Confirmation of your ECE/ECEA/teaching qualifications.
4. Confirmation that you hold valid First Aid/CPR certification and a current criminal record check, or are willing to obtain one before January.

You can learn more about our business and get a feel for our educational philosophy on Instagram:

@yestomessvic

If you're an educator looking for a unique, flexible opportunity to combine childcare with creative, play-based teaching - and potentially grow alongside a small local business - we'd love to hear from you!

Come help us say YES to Mess!