Job description
Location: Alvaston Infant and Nursery School, Derby
Hours: hours a week
Contract type: Permanent pending a successful 6 month probation period
At Alvaston Infant and Nursery School, we are always striving to be the best that we can be and with the exciting addition of our 2-year-old nursery, our school is growing in number. Therefore, we are excited to advertise for 2 new Head of Year roles.
The successful candidate will be a dynamic and passionate teacher and leader with a record of successful teaching and learning across EYFS/ KS1. They will be able to use their wealth of knowledge to lead the teaching and learning in their classroom and across their year group, ensuring that all children get the outstanding educational entitlement that they deserve. They will have deep-rooted subject knowledge and will understand the importance of a sequential and progressive curriculum. We are looking for someone who has had experience of leading an area of responsibility within their school and driving standards to improve the outcomes for children and the wider community.
Posts at our school do not come around often, but, we are an innovative school who is constantly striving to become better – we are always looking for the next opportunity to grow. We forever evolve and adapt to the meet the needs of our precious children and our united community, whilst ensuring the wellbeing and workload of our staff are never compromised. Our school is a very happy place, whereby everyone is treasured and whereby everyone thrives – our staff are talented, bouncy and energetic and relationships are at the heart of all that we do – they bind us together. Everyone in our school brings something, they are valued and always heard. We are determined to ensure that every child, family and staff member, within our school community gets the very best.
We are a three-form entry school with over 50 staff. All year groups have a 90 children per year group intake and numbers in our school remain healthy – we are a first choice for families. We have recently expanded our nursery due to parent demand. All teachers in a year group have specified PPA time, together, in a morning to work collaboratively with one another. There will be a dedicated Senior Leadership Team comprising of the Headteacher, Deputy Head, Assistant Heads and our School Business Manager. The successful Head of Year will become a Leader in school and will have protected non-contact time, weekly, as well as off-site days with the Leadership Team.
In addition, we are looking for someone who:
• Is a champion for every child – they will never give up.
• Has exceptionally high standards of themselves, other professionals and children in their care.
• Has a nurturing, caring attitude towards children and all members of our school family.
• Understands the need to keep our children safe at all times and is aware of policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety, security and confidentiality.
• Gets to know children as both people and as learners. They will have unconditional positive regard for children.
• Oozes positivity and enjoys working collaboratively and professionally with others – we love a good debate in order to advance our learning and secure the best outcomes to move forward.
• Develops relationships with our families, understanding the demographic of the school and diversity of our families. They will ensure all children have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop.
• Has a very high standard of written and spoken English.
• Is a role model to their team, leading by example to inspire and motivate a team of teachers and teaching assistants to provide the best education for our children.
• Has an outstanding understanding of planning, teaching and assessing learning across EYFS/ KS1. They will respond to emerging needs and make adaptations to provision, where appropriate, consulting with other leaders.
• Understands how assessment data can be gathered and used to support teaching and learning, using this to make adaptations to provision. This will involve leading pupil progress meetings with their team.
• Lead others to ensure that the classroom environment both indoors and outdoors is conducive and supportive of the children’s learning and that these environments are maintained to the highest of standards.
• Is a solution seeker, proactively and independently foreseeing and addressing issues and informing the Senior Leadership Team, as needed.
• Takes lead of their year group, communicating with parents and organising experiences and events.
We can offer:
• Beautiful children who care about themselves and others around them – they will melt your heart and inspire you to be your best!
• A special environment in which you will work - you would be well supported by the Senior Leadership Team and your family of colleagues.
• Happy and dedicated staff who are deeply committed to the children and each other. As a result, they work extremely closely, care for one another and support every member of our school family to be the best that they can be.
• Friendly families with huge hearts.
• A supportive, knowledgeable Governing Body, who are fully immersed in school life and who will always make time to listen.
• Excellent opportunities for you to develop professionally, through the close supervision and mentoring of our talented staff.
• The chance to be a part of a very special team who recognise that everyone has a part to play in our journey to achieve the very best for our school and the community that we serve.
In addition we can offer:
• Flexible time for holidays/days off, through lieu time, given back at a date of your choice (so long as it also meets the needs of the school).
• At least one highly skilled teaching assistant in every class.
• Time for you to attend family events that matter to you such as visiting your child’s school for an assembly, paid.
• Timetabled, weekly PPA (covered by a regular teacher, employed by the school) with the other teachers in your year group.
• Dedicated non-contact time to manage your leadership responsibilities.
• Dedicated report writing time to help with your workload.
• Skilled staff who you can work alongside.
• Dedicated practitioners who also support with key children to help them with their individual needs.
• A skilled SEND Team who work across the school with children who need them the most.
• The BEST school family who will always look out for you.
However, nothing on paper will ever come close to the feeling you get when you walk through our school doors! The walls ‘hug’ you and you never want to leave! Don’t take our word for it, come and see for yourself – we would love to welcome you and for you get a snapshot of what it feels like to work in such a special place!
Please contact the school office on 01332 571704 to arrange a school visit and we will gladly show you around!
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people, and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. To comply with safer recruitment and our own rigorous policies and procedures, we will complete all actions to ensure that any potential candidates are suitable to work with children. An Enhanced Disclosure Barring Service disclosure will be sought from the successful candidate, prior to them starting the position. Please ensure that you have read our Child Protection Policy and Privacy Notices, attached to the job advert. Our safeguarding policies should be accessed on our school website:
We are an equal opportunities employer and love to celebrate how diverse our school is. We welcome