We are seeking an experience and qualified practitioner who is an enthusiastic, reliable, and dedicated person, with a genuine passion for working with small children, to join our fun and friendly team of practitioners within our busy pre-school and forest school in Stevenage. This position is 38 or 45 week per year, and the option of working additional weeks in our holiday club during some school holidays.
Purpose of Role:
To work as part of the team, to support the provision manager in providing safe, high quality education and care for children between two and five years. To fulfil legal and statutory requirements, contribute to and implement playgroup polices; in addition to becoming a key worker for a group of children and communicating their progress on a regular basis with their parents by the completion of your studies or when the time is right to do so.
Main Duties:
- To ensure that the provision is a safe environment for children, that equipment is safe, standards of hygiene are high, and safety procedures are implemented at all times.
- To set up provision activity equipment before the children arrive at the provision and tidy away equipment and clean down the hall at the end of each session.
- To lead on provision activities and offer appropriate stimulation and support to the children.
- To work closely with the children, other members of staff and parents.
- To help ensure there is a good, happy and positive atmosphere at all sessions.
- Take time to listen and respond to children, encourage participation and support them in their development.
- To maintain equality of opportunity for all children within the provision.
- Attend staff meetings
- Liaison with provision Manager/Deputy
- Be prepared to observe children and hand over to relevant key worker for that child.
The Children:
- To assist with meeting the personal and emotional needs of children
- To provide adult interaction with children in the setting
- To be aware of the settings confidentiality policy
- To be the key person for a group of children at the provision, to be responsible for those children and to ensure that their progress is regularly observed and effectively assessed. You will be expected to celebrate the child’s achievements with their parents/carers and work together with them to provide appropriately for their child’s wellbeing, enabling them to make progress.
- To communicate with parents/carers, informing them about the provision and its curriculum, exchanging information about their child’s progress and encouraging parental involvement.
- To follow guidelines and procedures for safe-guarding children as recommended by the registering authority; report any accidents or incidents to the provision leader.
- To change the nappies of smaller children
Records and Planning
- To participate and help with the drawing up of daily, weekly and monthly programmes of activities and events in accordance with desirable learning outcomes, as defined by the EYFS framework, and to monitor the effectiveness of the pre-school learning environment.
- To ensure records are properly maintained, such as: daily attendance register, accident & incident report books.
- To read and be familiar with the provision’s policies and the statutory requirements for sessional care.
- To contribute to, suggest changes and implement all provision policies and procedures.
- To maintain documentation in accordance with Data Protection Act.
- To keep confidential any information regarding children, their families or other staff members.
Training:
- To undertake training courses and practical training as required.
- This job description is as currently applies which will be reviewed regularly as part of development and performance review and may be subject to other variances. You may be required to undertake other tasks that can be reasonably assigned to you from time to time.
- To attend team meetings and contribute relevant ideas
Person Specification:
- Passion and enthusiasm for working with children
- An interest in the care, learning and development of young children
- Ability to maintain client confidentiality
- A positive approach to completing relevant short courses and qualifications
- A positive approach to learning and gaining new skills through teamwork and training opportunities.
-Understanding of the importance of Health and Safety and Food Hygiene in the workplace
- Ability to work as part of a team and work on one’s initiative
- Good communication skills