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Resume example

Nursery school teaching assistant resume example

An ATSEM (agent territorial spécialisé des écoles maternelles) works in a French nursery school class, for children aged three to six, alongside the teacher.

The employer is the town council, not the Éducation nationale, which shapes the job. In the morning you welcome children at the classroom door, help with coats and toilet trips, then prepare paint, glue and materials for the workshops the teacher has planned. You often run one small group while the teacher works with another. At lunch, many ATSEM supervise the canteen, then settle the youngest for the nap in the dormitory. After class you clean and tidy the room and the materials. You also reassure crying children in September and spot those who seem tired or unwell.

Resume example

[First name Last name]

ATSEM | Nursery School Classroom Assistant

[City] · [phone] · [email]

Profile

ATSEM for [x] years in a petite section class, working with the same teacher each year. I run small-group workshops, supervise the canteen and nap, and look after classroom hygiene and the preparation of materials.

Experience

ATSEM, École maternelle [Name], Town of [City]

[month year] to present

  • Assisted the teacher in a class of petite section children, preparing materials for daily workshops
  • Ran a weekly cooking workshop with small groups, following the teacher's learning objectives
  • Supervised the nap and adapted settling routines for children who struggled to fall asleep
  • Supported a child with an individual care plan for asthma, in coordination with the school and parents
  • Maintained classroom hygiene and organised the storage of materials

Resume headlines

  • ATSEM | Nursery School Classroom Assistant
  • Nursery School Teaching Assistant, CAP AEPE
  • Early Years Assistant for Petite and Moyenne Section Classes

Summaries for your profile

Entry level

Holder of the CAP Accompagnant éducatif petite enfance with placements in a nursery school and a crèche. I can prepare workshop materials, help children become independent with dressing and toilet use, and supervise the nap.

Experienced

ATSEM for [x] years in a petite section class, working with the same teacher each year. I run small-group workshops, supervise the canteen and nap, and look after classroom hygiene and the preparation of materials.

Career change

Former childminder with [x] years of experience caring for toddlers at home. I passed the ATSEM concours in [year] and want to bring my knowledge of young children's routines to a nursery school team.

Tips

  • State whether you have passed the ATSEM concours or are applying as a contract worker.
  • Mention the CAP Accompagnant éducatif petite enfance in full, as it is the reference diploma.
  • Describe the class levels you know: petite, moyenne and grande section.
  • Include canteen, nap and periscolaire duties, which towns often combine with the role.
  • Apply to the town hall's human resources department, not the school.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Sending the application to the school headteacher, who is not the employer.
  • Describing yourself as a teacher or teaching assistant with teaching duties.
  • Leaving out cleaning tasks, which are part of the job description.
  • Forgetting to mention your status (titulaire, lauréat du concours, contractuel).

Working as a nursery school teaching assistant in France

Search for ATSEM or agent territorial spécialisé des écoles maternelles; contract posts may appear as agent faisant fonction d'ATSEM or agent d'animation périscolaire. ATSEM are local civil servants in category C, employed by towns or intercommunal bodies. Permanent posts require passing the ATSEM concours, whose external route requires the CAP Accompagnant éducatif petite enfance (formerly CAP Petite enfance). Passing the exam places you on a list, after which you apply to towns yourself. EU, EEA and Swiss nationals can sit the concours; other foreign nationals can usually only be hired as contract staff. Offers are published on the local authorities' public job board.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need to pass a competitive exam to work as an ATSEM?

To become a permanent civil servant, yes: the ATSEM concours is organised by regional management centres (centres de gestion). The external exam requires the CAP Accompagnant éducatif petite enfance. Towns can also hire contract staff without the concours, sometimes under another title such as agent d'animation.

Who should I send my resume to?

To the town council (mairie) or the intercommunal body that runs the schools, usually its human resources or education department. Job offers for ATSEM appear on the town's website and on the public sector job board for local authorities. The school headteacher has no hiring role.

Is experience in a crèche relevant?

Yes. Experience with toddlers in a crèche, as a childminder or in a leisure centre shows you know young children's needs. Describe concrete tasks such as preparing activities, helping with meals and supervising naps, which are close to the ATSEM's daily work.

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