Kindergarten Teacher

Job Description
Position: Appointed by: Reporting to: Appleblossom Kindergarten Teacher Trustees Early Years Coordinator

Hours:8:00-4:00 including some evenings for meetings and weekend days for festivals and other activities (38 weeks + 10 training days) Salary: Location: Start Date: 18,000 - 19,450 gross per annum (negotiable) Cambridge Steiner School, Hinton Road, Fulbourn, CB21 5DZ and up to two mornings per week at Fulbourn Nature Reserve 29 August, 2011 (5 September first day of term)

Main features of the position:

The Kindergarten Teacher will deliver our Steiner Early Years curriculum in our new Kindergarten for five days per week. The successful applicant will play a lead role in creating and establishing this Kindergarten group, which will become our fourth Kindergarten within the School from September, as well as in supporting the expansion of the provision of our extremely popular woodland Kindergarten initiative. Teaching will take place from 8.30am - 1pm, Monday to Friday, but the position is full-time to allow for successful completion of additional pastoral and administrative duties related to the role.

Job Responsibilities:
The first and foremost responsibility of the Kindergarten Teacher is to be concerned with the overall welfare of the children in the Kindergarten, and to care for and respond to their individual needs, as well as promoting and supporting the educational principles of Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Education and Care. The group of children will be between the ages of 3 and rising 7 years. Principal duties comprise of the following:

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Teaching and Pedagogy

Primary Responsibility: The Kindergarten Teachers have primary responsibility for the overall welfare of the children in their care. This includes: supporting the creative play, artistic and domestic activities; the celebration of festivals both seasonal and multi-cultural; creative discipline and work with parents, carers and families. The Kindergarten Teacher needs to be responsible for the full organisation and running of the Kindergarten, and work

as part of a team of teachers, assistants and other members of School staff including the Early Years Coordinator, School Management Team, Trustees, Mandate Group holders and volunteers where appropriate. 1.2 Steiner Waldorf Curriculum and Education: To implement the Kindergarten curriculum for Steiner Waldorf Early Years at a pace suitable for the childrens ages and development, with appropriate modifications deemed necessary for each Kindergarten. Policies and Procedures, Regulations and Rules: It is important that the Kindergarten Teachers familiarize themselves immediately with the rules of behaviour and ensure the adherence to our policies and procedures and to statutory obligations, particularly those relating to Health and Safety and risk assessments, Safeguarding (child protection) and Equal Opportunities, as well as to the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Steiner Waldorf Early Years Group (SWEYG) Standards and guidance. Preparation, Planning and Record-Keeping: The Kindergarten Teacher is responsible for adequate preparation and planning which includes attending to daily, weekly and longterm planning, and working with colleagues in a reciprocal way in order to facilitate this. The Kindergarten Teacher is also responsible for daily and weekly reviews of planning and activities, including keeping parents informed. The Kindergarten Teacher will put sufficient amounts of this preparation and planning process in writing so as to be able to work clearly with the assistant and colleagues, and for any cover teacher to be able to continue effectively with the children should the Kindergarten Teacher be absent. These documents will also serve to show Ofsted, assessors, supply teachers or others, the intended learning, progression, activities and rhythms in that particular Kindergarten group, and how the needs of specific children will be met. Child Assessments and End of Year Reports: It is expected that the Kindergarten Teacher will keep daily, weekly and termly individual child observations/assessments and undertake (with colleagues) individual child studies when appropriate or needed. The Kindergarten Teacher should also produce end of year reports for all the children within the Kindergarten. There is a statutory requirement to submit the EYFS Profile on every child in the year they turn 5, to the Local Authority. Classroom Care: The Kindergarten Teacher is responsible for the care and beauty of the classroom according to the Steiner Early Years curriculum, working with the seasons, sensory protection or the young child, and full understanding of the Health and Safety regulations of the School. Co-operation and Team Work: The Kindergarten Teacher is expected to work with the other Kindergarten and school teachers, assistants, administrative staff including the Early Years Coordinator, School Management Team, trustees and any other volunteer helpers as appropriate, and give advice and training if necessary, in line with the Waldorf consensual ethos. The Kindergarten Teacher may need to work together with the Safeguarding (child protection) Designated Person or Special Needs (SEN) Co-ordinator if required, and attend appropriate courses on SEN, Safeguarding (child protection) training, Health and Safety, Fire and First Aid. Working with an Assistant: Depending on the size of the group, the Kindergarten Teacher will work together with one or two assistants (according to the statutory child/staff ratio). It is the responsibility of the Kindergarten Teacher to ensure that the assistant is informed and understands and carries out his or her duties accordingly. The Kindergarten Teacher should support the assistant when needed. This includes giving and sharing teaching material such as ring times, verses, stories and activities in advance so they are

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able to familiarise themselves with and learn them. If the assistant is attending a training course, the teacher will need to take on responsibility for mentoring where necessary. 1.9Attendance at Meetings Essential to the Kindergarten Work: The Kindergarten Teacher is expected to attend a weekly Early Years Teachers meeting which is chaired by the Early Years Coordinator. This meeting is mainly for overall planning, Kindergarten pedagogy and administrative work. Another meeting for weekly planning and crafts preparation is attended by all teachers with child studies undertaken with each teacher/assistant team individually. Pre-term planning meetings and or Inset days take place regularly and should be attended by all the Kindergarten Teachers. It is also expected that they attend other meetings such as teachers meetings, Community Evenings, Teachers/Trustees meetings or Inset Days, (which could be meetings or training). Teachers also need to be available a week before the start of school in September and one week after the close of school in July for meetings or other work, where necessary. 1.10 Attendance at Faculty Meetings: The Kindergarten Teacher is expected to attend the weekly Faculty Meeting. The issues that are worked through during this meeting concern the school as a whole and incorporate planning and business, as well as pedagogy and child studies. An important part of this meeting is the study of anthroposophy and how this is carried into our teaching and our school community. 1.11 The Faculty of Teachers: All Kindergarten Teachers will join the Faculty of Teachers. The most important task that the Faculty of Teachers carry is the study of anthroposophy and Steiner Waldorf pedagogy, and as such the contribution of Kindergarten Teachers is necessary to the ethos of the School. The Faculty of Teachers, together with Trustees and Administrative staff, share responsibility for the educational development plan and future vision, staff recruitment, appraisals and grievances, pupil assessments, policies and procedures, teacher development, training and mentoring, school records, communication with and complaints of parents, careful monitoring of photos and material to be made public, and for maintaining the codes of practice and standards of education at the School. 1.12 Mentoring: Newly qualified teachers and teachers in training will have a mentor appointed to them for a minimum of one year where possible. Their mentor will make regular visits into the Kindergarten and will give help and support where needed. The Kindergartens will also be visited by an advisor from the Steiner Waldorf Fellowship (SWSF) and a Local Authority Foundation Stage moderator (Early Years and Childcare Partnership). They will also be inspected by SIS (Ofsted), who will observe teaching, planning and record keeping and adherence to the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. 1.13 Minimum and Maximum Teaching Hours Per Week: It is expected that the Kindergarten Teacher will be in and responsible for the Kindergarten during the term time 5 full days per week, and possibly during some evenings and weekends and occasionally during school holidays for festivals, classroom preparation, parents evenings and meetings, planning, pedagogical tasks, study / inset training or business and administrative tasks where necessary. Children attend the Kindergarten for 4.5 hours per day. The rest of the time may be used by the Kindergarten Teacher for planning, preparation, home visits, organisation and administrative tasks, as well as attending meetings, etc. 1.14 General Supplies: The Kindergarten Teacher will liaise with the Administrator and Finance Manager regarding the ordering and purchasing of all supplies. If a purchase is authorised, the Kindergarten Teacher may be required to order the item(s) directly on behalf of the Kindergarten. The Teacher will provide healthy snacks for the children and take into account special dietary needs of certain children as informed by the parents.

1.15 Administrative Work and Admissions: The Kindergarten Teachers should work together with the school Administrative staff including the Early Years Coordinator on financial and administrative tasks necessary for the day to day running of the Kindergarten including: admissions and meeting new families, budgeting, and registration. They will also be responsible for their individual Kindergarten files including ongoing observations and assessments, planning as well as participating in the development and reviewing of policies and risk assessments Each Kindergarten Teacher will be expected to take on a Designated Person role (e.g. Health and Safety, Safeguarding, First Aid, Equal Opportunities, Positive Behaviour). 1.16 Home Visits: The Kindergarten Teacher is expected to conduct home visits to each family in their Kindergarten approximately once a year. This visit allows a more complete picture to form in the teachers mind and informs the work with the child and the family. 1.17 Parents evenings: The Kindergarten Teacher is expected to host parents evenings at least once per term. The assistant or another colleague should be present at each parents evening, where possible. This gives the Teacher the opportunity to relay what the children have been busy doing within the Kindergarten, and enable the parents to experience some of the pedagogy for themselves through talks, crafts, songs or activities provided. The Kindergarten Teacher can also use these meetings for building the bridge between home and school, sharing with the parents the philosophy behind the Kindergarten pedagogy, which may enable the parents take to it into their own homes. This helps to give the child continuity and find a harmony between home and the Kindergarten. 1.18 Individual Parent Meetings: This gives the opportunity for the Kindergarten Teacher to share and discuss individual childrens progress and development at least once a term. Additional meetings can be organised if required. It is advisable for another colleague to be present and, where necessary, notes should be kept. 1.19 Confidentiality and Discretion: At all times the Kindergarten Teacher is obliged to respect professional confidentiality with regard to information about children, parents and staff at the school, and to be discreet about ones own personal private matters to parents. Staff must at all times comply with the Schools Data Protection Policy. 1.20 Preparation and Participation in Kindergarten and School Events: The Kindergarten Teachers take responsibility for organising the festivals within their own setting and sharing fairly in the work of preparation and participation in the joint events and festivals with the other Kindergartens and School. 1.21 Class Representative: The Kindergarten Teacher is expected to appoint a Class Representative chosen from among the parents to assist with day-to-day communication and organisation of tasks. They will be responsible for meeting with the Teacher and liaising with the parents and delegating tasks. 1.22 Organisation of trips and outings: The Kindergarten Teacher is primarily responsible for the organisation of trips and excursions as desirable. It is normal to ask for help from among the parents. A risk assessment must be written for every event or outing, and you will be breaking the law if you do not have one. All Teachers are required to meet the schools Offsite/Trips Policy requirement and procedures. 1.23 Working with outside agencies: The Kindergarten Teacher will at times need to liase with other agencies e.g. Steiner Waldorf School Fellowship, Steiner Waldorf Advisory Services, Kindergarten Steering Group (SWEYG), Local Authority Early Years Partnership, SIS (Ofsted), Social Care and the Department of Education.

1.24 Administering First Aid: A First Aid certificate must be undertaken and kept fully up to date, as the Kindergarten Teacher will be responsible for administering appropriate First Aid to the children when required. All incidents (whether or not they require First Aid) must be logged immediately in the Accident Book and the parents asked to sign. 1.25 Open Mornings: The Kindergarten Teacher is expected to open the Kindergarten to the public for a few minutes during the monthly Open Mornings, and should cooperate fully with the Admissions Officer and other staff regarding this.

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Parent and External Group Responsibilities

Community Evenings: The Kindergarten Teacher is expected to attend the Community Evenings, which are generally held each term. These provide a forum for communication where parents are invited to ask questions, raise issues and be involved in the vision of the school. It is also a forum where the coordinators of the many support (Mandate) groups are able to report on progress and recruit parents to become more involved. The Mandate Groups: The Kindergarten Teachers should offer support and encourage parents to join the different Mandate and volunteer groups, which are mainly made up of parents, each taking on responsibilities within the School. Current groups include Maintenance, Fund Raising, Publicity, IT. The Early Years Handbook: The Kindergarten Teachers should familiarise themselves with the handbook as it reflects the understanding of many of the aspects of the Kindergarten and school life. A copy of this will be supplied during Induction. The Kindergarten Teacher is always welcome to contribute to this if he/she notices issues omitted or incorrect. Parents Concerns and Complaints: The Teacher is often the first port of call for the parents grievances, especially pedagogical concerns. They should seek to resolve most grievances through meeting with the parents with the help of at least one colleague and with the support of the Early Years Coordinator and the Early Years Teachers meeting. If this is not satisfactory, they should encourage the parents to follow the correct Complaints Procedure.

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Kindergarten Teacher: Person Specification

Summary:
Cambridge Steiner School is looking for a committed Early Years professional with an interest in Steiner/Waldorf education, a proven ability to relate to and inspire children, and the capacity to communicate and cooperate well with colleagues and parents. Cambridge Steiner School is an Equal Opportunities and Safe Recruitment employer. All employees will be vetted for suitability to work with children and young people, and all appointments will be subject to the following:

Satisfactory CRB check Satisfactory references Proof of eligibility to work in the UK Satisfactory observation in the Kindergarten

Essential Criteria:

Steiner/Waldorf Early Years teaching qualification - equivalent to minimum NVQ Level 3, as recognised by the Childrens Workforce Development Council (CWDC); OR Qualified Teacher Status AND the ability to demonstrate an awareness of Steiner Waldorf teaching practices and principles; OR Early Years-related NVQ Level 3 qualification or equivalent, as recognised by the Childrens Workforce Development Council (CWDC) AND the ability to demonstrate an awareness of Steiner Waldorf teaching practices and principles;
AND

Experience of working with children within a Steiner Early Years environment; Ability to relate to and inspire children, and present as a positive role model;

Full awareness of Child Protection (Safeguarding) responsibilities, how to protect children, and how to handle concerns and related complaints, and knowledge of related regulations; Strong knowledge of Steiner/Waldorf teaching practices and principles, particularly for Early Years; Exceptional self-motivation and sense of responsibility; Ability to work as part of a team and independently, with excellent communication skills; Flexibility and positivity in attitude to work, with the sense of humour that is essential to the

role;

Preferred Criteria

Additional Early Years or related qualification(s); Experience of working with children within a woodland or outdoor setting; Experience of working with children with Special Educational Needs;

Training in one or more of: First Aid; Health and Safety; Fire Prevention; Equal Opportunities; Child Protection (Safeguarding);