Year 1 teacher | mainstream primary academy | harrow

CORE PURPOSE We require an exceptionally nurturing, enthusiastic Year 1 Teacher to guide young learners through the crucial transition from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) into structured Key Stage 1 education. Operating within a collaborative primary academy, the successful candidate will foster an emotionally secure, language-rich classroom environment that prioritises early reading mastery through systematic synthetic phonics, foundational numeracy skills, and the development of independent, confident social habits. THE SCHOOL Our primary academy operates as a warm, community-focused mainstream school dedicated to providing an inclusive, child-centred education. The campus boasts bright, modern Key Stage 1 classrooms featuring dedicated continuous provision zones, sensory learning spaces, and vibrant outdoor play facilities. The school’s behavior framework is entirely rooted in positive reinforcement, routine consistency, and emotional regulation, ensuring a calm, highly predictable, and safe environment where young children feel valued and eager to learn. KEY TASKS & DAILY OPERATIONS Phonics Screening Check Preparation: Deliver high-impact, daily systematic synthetic phonics lessons, ensuring all pupils develop robust blending, segmenting, and decoding skills to meet statutory check thresholds. Early Numeracy Foundations: Teach core mathematical concepts using concrete-pictorial-abstract (CPA) approaches, embedding deep number sense, place value, and basic arithmetic into daily practical routines. Transition & Continuous Provision Management: Masterfully manage the step up from Reception by blending structured, table-led National Curriculum tasks with purposeful, play-based continuous provision to maintain high engagement. Early Literacy & Fine Motor Development: Cultivate early writing stamina, correct pencil grip, letter formation, and sentence construction through creative storytelling, role-play, and fine motor skills activities. Proactive Parent & Carer Engagement: Maintain close, supportive partnerships with families through daily gate handovers, reading logs, and structured updates, ensuring a collaborative approach to each child's academic and emotional milestone tracking. PROFILE REQUIREMENTS Qualifications: Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or an equivalent recognized primary teaching qualification, backed by a strong understanding of early childhood development and the Key Stage 1 National Curriculum framework. Phonics Expertise: Proven experience or comprehensive training in delivering systematic synthetic phonics programs with a track record of driving strong reading progression. Nurturing Presence: A highly patient, warm, and creative classroom presence, capable of establishing clear, gentle boundaries while maintaining a joyful and stimulating learning environment. REGIONAL CONTEXT Multicultural Heritage & Green Suburbia: Situated in the historic, culturally rich North West London borough of Harrow, the school serves a wonderfully diverse, vibrant community. The area's blend of expansive suburban green spaces and rich multicultural heritage provides an ideal, inclusive backdrop for early geographical walks, seasonal outdoor learning, and celebrate-diversity modules. Connectivity & Infrastructure: The campus is exceptionally well-placed for commuting educators across London and the home counties, utilizing excellent road linkages via the A409, A41, and the M1 motorway corridor. Public transit connections are outstanding; the academy is seamlessly served by comprehensive London Bus networks and sits within easy reach of the Metropolitan Line, Bakerloo Line, and London Overground services via Harrow-on-the-Hill, Harrow & Wealdstone, or West Harrow stations, offering rapid, direct transit straight into Central London. APPLICATION INTAKE Please submit your current CV to begin the application process.