Early Years Assistant

ROLE SUMMARY:

Davenport Lodge Nursery School has been delivering education since 1968. We provide a happy, secure and stimulating environment where children from birth to rising five learn and have fun together. We firmly believe that every child is capable of great success and our dedicated staff work with the children to achieve their personal best. High expectations and success within a positive environment encourage children to be confident, independent learners.

We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and dedicated unqualified Early Years Assistant to join our team at Davenport Lodge. Consideration would be given to support the right candidate with an apprenticeship to Early Years qualifications.

This is a supportive role that involves working as part of the school team to provide a safe, high quality early years environment for young children. This role will be working under the direction of the Head and to give support to the teaching team within the nursery school, supporting the existing teaching team with routines and organisational matters and monitoring children’s safety through appropriate levels of supervision.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To assist with the planning of the curriculum by providing safe, creative and appropriate educational opportunities for all children within an inclusive environment,  preparing activities, organising programmes and arranging equipment
• To ensure that activities are carried out in a safe and responsible manner in accordance with statutory responsibilities, and to advise the room leader of any concerns over children, equipment etc.
• To follow all school policies, including those regarding safeguarding and confidentiality
• To contribute to the school’s highest standards of physical and emotional care, health and safety, and personal and food hygiene at all times
• Working creatively with children within the EY framework, as instructed by the room leader
• To be involved in positive interactions with children by supporting or providing stimulating activities that respond to their interests and developmental needs
• Ensuring all children have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop
• Working with range of people including school staff, visiting professionals and agencies, parents, children and families,
• Work requires bending, kneeling and crouching for periods of time and may also involve lifting or holding children during planned activities, and changing nappies/toileting duties.
• Understanding and being able to implement inclusive practices into the setting, to ensure all children have the opportunity to learn, interact and fulfil their potential 
• Working with the room leader to establish an appropriate safe and secure learning environment.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE:

Essential
•    Ability to plan effective learning and care programmes either under appropriate supervision and guidance or in collaboration. 
•    Ability to work independently using own initiative.  
•    Ability to evaluate own learning needs and actively seek learning opportunities 
•    Ability to relate well to children and adults including colleagues, other professionals and parents
•    Ability to demonstrate and promote good practice in line with the ethos of the school
•    Ability to manage multiple tasks, whilst ensuring children, colleagues, parents and carers are respected and listened to.
•    Ability to communicate effectively with adults and children
•    Good written, verbal and non verbal communication

Desirable
•    Proven experience of working with children  
•    Experience of working in early years in a school environment
•    Experience of working as part of a team
•    Ability to interact with children and support their involvement in a range of activities including outdoor play
•    Experience of maintaining written records of children’s achievements including observations
•    Ability of working with parents or families

Personal Qualities

Essential
•    Proactive and positive team player, able to work constructively as part of a team
•    Enthusiasm for learning and working with children
•    Caring, friendly, approachable, open, welcoming, and personable
•    Able to maintain confidentiality at all times

Desirable
•    Reflective approach and commitment to personal development
•    Able to provide consistently high levels of quality care and education opportunities to all children

Qualifications

Essential
•    Willingness to participate in other development and training opportunities

Desirable
•    Relevant Level 2 qualification eg. Level 2 Certificate for the Children & Young People’s Workforce, NVQ Level 2 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development (CCLD) or equivalent qualifications 
•    Completion of Safeguarding Awareness course (Group 2)
•    First Aid certificate

SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

Inspired Education Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practices and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

School Application Form

Please download and complete the below application form and attach this with your application. Please note your application will not be considered if you have not attached a complete application form. Inspired UK Application Form (Non-Teaching) 2023-24.docx