Teaching Assistant (Maternity Cover)

We are looking for an outstanding candidate to provide the highest quality care and learning environment for our children aged from 2 to 4.

The Early Years Teaching Assistant will be responsible for supporting the Nursery Leader to deliver our Early Years Curriculum and is expected to inspire, excite and nurture all children through this crucial stage of their development.

This covers the main duties and responsibilities of the role. The role holder may be asked to carry out other activities commensurate with this from time to time.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To provide the highest levels of pastoral care, supporting children with medical or sanitary needs (with appropriate training)

• To implement a child centered, safe and welcoming, ‘Homely Environment’ with the EYFS Centre.

• To implement a safe, stimulating and varied programme of play and learning opportunities, ensuring the planning meets the needs of individual children.

• To make appropriate educational provision for children with SEND and those who may have EAL needs, with support from the Head of Learning Support.

• To assess children’s progress, maintain records and provide written reports to parents/carers in accordance with school policies and schedules.

• To carry out administrative duties related to the delivery of all aspects of outstanding teaching, including the use of technology to assist in lesson preparation, teaching and reporting.

• To be responsible for the organisation of the inside and outside provision, ensuring resources and equipment available are compliant and appropriate to meet the needs of the children.

• To work closely and professionally with colleagues to ensure the daily care, supervision and programmes are efficient and safe.

LIAISON WITH PARENTS:

To take reasonable steps to maintain cordial relations with members of the parent body, responding to requests for information and assistance.

To attend parent/teacher consultations as organised by the school.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

To take up the opportunity for continuous professional development through self-directed reading, courses and in-service training and maintain a good level of IT skills

To complete the required documentation and seek to fulfil individual targets agreed as part of the appraisal and performance management system.

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES:

To take responsibility for implementing an appropriate programme for nursery children, involving stimulating and relevant activities to develop individual’s physical and mental, thinking and motor skills.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Shows initiative alongside clear and balanced thinking and planning.

• Shows respect to all members of the school community.

• Is honest with a strong moral integrity.

• Demonstrates kindness and support to children, parents and staff.

• Always strives to do their best.

• Displays calmness and empathy, especially at times of pressure.

• Maintains and respects confidentiality.

• Is flexible in the role and enthusiastic about the role.

• Has a clear sense of humour.

STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS & EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:

Safeguarding & Child Protection

For this post applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including, but not limited to, reference checks with previous employers, online searches, prohibition checks and a criminal record check via the Applicants Disclosure and Barring Service (including Barred List Check). All offers of employment are conditional upon the satisfactory outcome of child protection screening checks.

Disclosures

We will appoint, train, develop and promote on the basis of merit and ability alone. It is a stipulation of the Governors and a statutory requirement that members of staff appointed to Worksop College should be shown not to have any criminal record, which might prevent them accepting a post at the College. Accordingly, the College requires permission from all members of staff to make an appropriate investigation. Offers of employment are subject to a satisfactory outcome of this enquiry.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitations of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are “spent” unless they are “protected” under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

Equal Opportunities

Worksop College is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to a policy of treating all our employees and job applicants equally. It is our policy to take all reasonable steps to employ and promote employees on the basis of their abilities and qualifications without regard to age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, marital or civil partnership status, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sexual orientation, trade union membership, religion or belief.

Benefits

Working at Worksop and Ranby House is as much about a lifestyle choice as it is about pursuing a satisfying career path. We have high expectations of our staff and reward with an attractive benefits package, which includes:

• Fee concessions for your children

• Workplace pension scheme

• Access to gym, sports hall and swimming pool

• Free meals provided when on duty

• Free onsite parking

Desired Criteria

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience of working within a Nursery/Child Care setting

• An understanding of the accountability and parental expectations placed on staff working in the independent sector

• Competent IT skills to support activities and IT based admin tasks

• Driving Licence including a D1 category

• Child Protection and Safeguarding Training (will be provided by the school).

• First Aid Training (will be provided by the school).

Essential Criteria

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• The desire to be an ambassador for the school in everything they achieve.

• A confident and effective communicator who will support the team and embrace change.

• A good understanding of child development, learning processes and factors that affect how pupils learn.

• Ability to resolve problems effectively by being ‘solution focused’.

• Excellent levels of organisation and time management.

• Work constructively as part of a team, understanding classroom roles and responsibilities and your own position within these.

• The ability to relate well with children, their parents and colleagues and to build positive working relationships.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:

• A full and relevant Level 3 EYFS qualification (as a minimum) or equivalent

• Knowledge and experience of delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage

• Evidence of being able to motivate, inspire and lead young children.

• Demonstrates experience of appropriate strategies for managing pupils’ behaviour and progress.