Job Description

Job title: Pre-school Assistant

Responsible to: Supervisor

Purpose of the job: To work as a key person and as part of the pre-school team under the direction of the Supervisor. To provide safe, high quality education and care for young children which meets the individual needs of children attending the setting.

Safeguarding requirement: East Hanningfield Pre-school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. It is a requirement of all staff that they share this commitment and follow the prescribed policy and procedures to continuously promote a culture of safeguarding across the whole organisation.

Main duties

1. To assist with the planning of the curriculum using the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for guidance.

2. Ensure that each child is working towards desirable learning outcomes conforming to the timetable set out by the Pre-School.

3. To help to set up the playroom for the daily programme and to help tidy away and clean the pre-school provision at the end of session if required.

4. To act as a key person to a small group of children, liaising closely and building an effective relationship with parents/carers and ensuring each child's needs are recognised and met.

5. To work in partnership with parents/carers and other family members.

6. To advise the Supervisor of any concerns, e.g. health and well-being of children, parents or the safety of equipment, preserving confidentiality as necessary.

7. To take action to support the setting to achieve and maintain a minimum good Ofsted rating at the next inspection.

8. To be responsible for providing a high quality of teaching providing appropriate stimulation play experiences and support to the children.

9. Ensure observation and record keeping for keyworker children and staff peer on peer observations are completed daily and passed on to keyworkers or supervisor.

10. To ensure that children are kept safe and that you understand when to follow child protection procedures.

11. To assist at snack times and encourage good manners and to ensure healthy eating is promoted within the setting at snack time and lunchtime

12. To actively participate at team meetings, supervision meetings and appraisal meetings.

13. To attend training courses as required and to take responsibility for personal development.

14. To keep completely confidential any information regarding the children, their families or other staff, which is acquired as part of the job.

15. To be aware of and adhere to all the setting's policies and procedures: including those relating to confidentiality, equality and diversity, health and safety, fire precautions, dropping off and collection of children, food safety, cleanliness of the setting, safeguarding, setting hygiene and whistleblowing. This is not an exhaustive list of the setting's procedures.

16. To ensure that adequate records are kept and updated regularly and work with parents and to encourage their involvement by completing written reports to supervisor and next steps termly etc. .

17. To promote the setting to current parents and potential customers.

18. To comply with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation.

This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties and the post holder will be required to undertake any other reasonable duties discussed and directed by the line manager. The post holder is also expected to be flexible and adaptable in their approach to fulfilling their duties.

Person specification

Essential criteria

1. Willingness to learn and undertake further training.

2. Level 2 early years education and childcare qualification or equivalent, and a commitment to obtaining a level 3 qualification.

3. Previous experience of working with young children.

4. Sound knowledge of child development from birth to five years.

5. Knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

6. Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures.

7. Good communication skills.

8. An understanding of play-based approaches to children's learning and development.

9. A commitment to continuously promote a culture of safeguarding.

10. A commitment to equal opportunities.

11. A commitment to working effectively with young children and families.

12. A friendly and flexible approach at work which facilitates the development of effective relationships.

Desirable criteria

1. Level 3 early years education and childcare qualification or equivalent, and a commitment to obtaining a level 4 qualification.

2. Current First Aid at Work qualification.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and does require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check. Applicants must be prepared to disclose any convictions they may have and any orders which have been made against them.

Information about the School

East Hanningfield Preschool is a friendly and nurturing environment for our children who attend. All staff members are mums, or grandparents so we have first hand experience of how to look after the children in our care.

East Hanningfield Pre-school originated as a playgroup in 1969 as the village doubled in size. Parents in the village and parish formed a committee and opened in September 1969.

Then the playgroup in 1974 officially become a Pre-school in 1995.

We have up to 30 children aged two to five attending our five-morning sessions, which run East Hanningfield Pre-school hours are from 9 am to 12 pm.

Lunch club is also available every day to children aged over two and a half years old. This lasts an hour and starts at noon. We now also open every afternoon until 3.00 pm. Age restrictions apply on Monday afternoons as this is a dedicated for children who are rising school age.