Early Years Teacher (QTS)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Have a sound knowledge and understanding of and upholding safeguarding procedures and strategies ensuring that all children in your care or who you come into contact with are safeguarded and appropriately supervised at all times.

Under the direction of the head/deputy to lead in the development of the curriculum, and plan appropriate learning activities which offer high quality learning experiences to children from 3 to 5 years. In addition to work with the Early Years lead for birth to three to ensure continuity of the EYFS curriculum

To contribute directly to the delivery of the outcomes agenda for individual children and families, including undertaking key person duties for a group of children (where appropriate):

• Developing a loving and secure relationship with each child in the key person’s care.
• Helping each child to become familiar with the setting and confident within the setting.
• Looking after each child’s care and welfare needs e.g. dressing, toilet training, eating, sleeping, being comforted.
• Building trusted relationships with each child’s parents, ensuring there are regular opportunities to share information on the child’s development from home and in the setting.
• Support each child’s individual learning journey through on-going observation, assessment and planning in partnership with parents/carers and other colleagues.
• Complete reviews of the key child, in partnership with multi-agency colleagues and parents/carers, as appropriate (eg. at aged two, leaver’s record).

To effectively lead and co-ordinate the nursery practitioners based in the nursery room and contribute to the day to day management and deployment of staff across the centre.

To establish the role of key person and the key persons system within the nursery classroom and to be flexible and dependable to meet the needs of a nursery class and extended day service.

To demonstrate a clear understanding of the needs of all children, including those with SEND.

To undertake the role of SENCO if required/work alongside the SENCO to ensure children with SEND are supported appropriately using associated activities including STPs and Team Around the Child meetings(TAC) in partnership with parents and other professionals.

Under the direction of the head/deputy to lead in the drafting and evaluation of curriculum policies to ensure that good practice is documented, disseminated and consistently sustained.

To work with other teachers/ room leaders to monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and learning throughout the centre (see below), providing models of good practice, and supporting individual staff to meet required standards.

To lead on planning across the centre for the ‘specific’ areas of learning in the EYFS curriculum with particular emphasis on early literacy, including phonological awareness and early mathematics.

Play a lead role in developing, implementing and evaluating effective systems for observation, assessment, planning and record keeping and be accountable for ensuring all children make progress and achieve positive outcomes, and moderate assessments of all key persons in the nursery team.

Use evaluative tools and analysis of data to measure impact and produce reports as appropriate.

To keep up to date with best Early Years practice, local and national policy, in order to disseminate to colleagues in the setting.

Consistently demonstrate and model the positive values, attitudes and behaviours expected of children.

Act as a role model for other practitioners in developing and maintaining a partnership with parents that values their contributions and involves them in their child’s education, including support for the home learning environment and ensuring smooth transitions for the child and parents into and out of the setting.

To create and maintain, with the assistance of other workers, a stimulating, well-resourced and welcoming environment, both indoors and outdoors, to support children’s growing independence and co-operation.

To raise awareness throughout the Centre of the importance of play both indoors and out.

To establish and sustain a safe environment and employ practices that promote children’s health and safety, including risk assessments and daily checks.

Together with the Head, and senior staff to plan and deliver a programme of in-service training and advise on individual CPD opportunities for other members of their nursery team.

To support with observation, assessment and planning in the Stay & Play sessions.

To ensure that all children are shown respect for their languages, religions and cultures.

To ensure that the activities and resources offered positively support children of both sexes, all classes and all backgrounds.

To develop and maintain good relationships with other local under fives facilities, including schools and voluntary organisations.

To have a sound knowledge and understanding of and uphold safeguarding procedures and strategies ensuring that all children in your care or who come into contact with you are safeguarded and appropriately supervised at all times.

To undertake regular Child Protection training at a level commensurate with the role.

To work, with the Head and staff, to ensure that the Centre is appropriately resourced to meet the needs and interests of children from birth to 5 years.

To be a mentor for students on placement at the Centre and, where appropriate, to encourage their participation in planning and developing activities with the children.

The nature of the job requires a high degree of initiative, confidentiality, tact and discretion when giving or receiving information, which could be confidential.

To undertake other duties commensurate to the grade of the post.