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Foundation Stage Teacher Job Description and Person Specification

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Badgerbrook Primary School Badger Drive, Whetstone, Leicester, LE8 6ZW www.badgerbrook.leics.sch.uk

Dear Applicant We are delighted that you have shown an interest in the role of Foundation Stage Teacher at Badgerbrook Primary School. Badgerbrook is an extremely popular primary school and has a reputation for high standards of behaviour and achievement. We strive to create a special place where all children, parents, governors and staff feel valued and respected. We work together to create a happy, friendly and caring learning community where everyone enjoys coming to school. We are looking for a Foundation Stage teacher who is:  inspirational, dedicated and committed to creating a stimulating learning environment  an outstanding classroom practioner with high expectations of pupil attainment, progress and behaviour  committed to developing the full potential of all children  able to play a key role in the planning of an exciting, creative and engaging curriculum In return we can offer you a friendly and caring school environment with extremely wellbehaved and motivated pupils. We are committed to providing excellent professional development opportunities for all members of staff. The information in our application pack and on our website will support you in understanding the context of our school and our priorities. If you believe you are the right person for this post and would like to apply, please look very carefully at the job description and person specification. If you would like to visit the school please contact Mrs Crichton, our Deputy Headteacher, on 0116 2752353 to make arrangements. Application is via a completed Leicestershire County Council application form with a supporting letter. The supporting letter should relate to the specification and be personalised to demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria of the post. Please also check that we have the details of your referees, one of whom should be the Headteacher/Principal of your current or most recent school, and another should be someone who is able to comment on your performance at work from a position of responsibility, not as a peer. Please note that CVs will not be accepted as applications. This position is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check for a regulated activity. Please return completed application forms and supporting letters to Carol Webb, School Business Manager, either by email to [email protected] or by post to the school address. The closing date for applications is mid-day on Thursday 2nd May 2013. Interviews will st be held Tuesday 21 May at the school. Thank you for your interest in this position. I very much hope that you will consider making an application for this exciting opportunity. Yours faithfully Fiona C Jones Fiona Jones (Mrs) Headteacher

School profile The school, which is a two form entry primary school, is situated in the village of Whetstone, 5 miles south of Leicester. Children come from a variety of social backgrounds and, mainly, private housing. Due to the good reputation of the school, pupils are drawn from a very large local area. Each year the Foundation Stage intake of 60 is full. We offer full time attendance from the start of the Foundation Stage for all pupils. Currently 108 children (27.5% of the school population) are out of catchment. Badgerbrook Primary School opened in September 1992 to serve a new housing estate in the south of the village. It opened with just 72 children on roll but within five years it had outgrown the original building and a two-storey extension was opened in 2001. Two small classrooms were extended in 2008 and other internal modifications to accommodate the pupils and the curriculum have taken place over the years. The building has been wellmaintained since it opened. There are currently 392 children on roll (48% girls and 52% boys). There is well-equipped ICT suite and a separate, well-maintained and well-stocked library, a large hall with gym equipment and a recently added kitchen serving approximately 150 hot meals each day. Each classroom is equipped with an interactive whiteboard and a visualiser enabling ICT to form an integral part of teaching and learning. Badgerbrook has a high reputation for its sporting achievements and for its choral excellence. Many sporting activities are offered as part of the Extended Schools programme. A number of peripatetic music teachers visit the school weekly to offer tuition in various musical instruments which supports the operation of our school band. The school choir performs at a variety of venues in the local area as well as in performances at school. The school also has links with the local churches and church leaders or youth workers lead key stage assemblies each week. Badgerbrook has achieved many awards including: Activemark, Beyond Bullying, EcoSchool, Healthy Schools, ICTMark and the International School Award. The school has ‘Let’s get Cooking’ accreditation, is part of the Get Set Network for the London Olympics and works in partnership with the University of Leicester and the University of Northampton. The school has links with all the local pre-school groups. The Foundation Stage teachers often visit the pre-school to introduce themselves to the children and to make the transition to our school easier. There is a well-developed induction programme for new pupils and their parents.

School Management Structure Badgerbrook currently has 392 children divided into 14 classes, 6 in Key Stage 1 and 8 in Key Stage 2. The Leadership Team currently consists of the Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, 2 Assistant Headteachers with responsibility for Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 1 with EYFS and the School Business Manager. . Currently there are 19 teachers (both full and part-time) working at the school, including the Senior Leadership team. We also employ 22 support staff for teaching and midday supervision. There are 6 administrative support staff, including a part-time ICT technician.

Characteristics of the School (from 2012 RAISEonline summary report)     

Size of school is very large Percentage of boys is slightly higher than girls (52%) Percentage known to be eligible for FSM is low Percentage ethnic minority is low Percentage SEN pupils is average

Academic Achievements National curriculum assessment results 2012 (SATS) KEY STAGE 1 Reading Writing Mathematics

KEY STAGE 2 English Mathematics

Percentage of children achieving Level 2 or more 98% 97% 97%

Percentage of children achieving Level 3 or more 43% 7% 31%

Percentage of children achieving Level 4 or more 92% 95%

Percentage of children achieving Level 5 or more 44% 41%

Our Beliefs and Aims At Badgerbrook we want everyone to achieve their personal best, be happy, highly motivated lifelong learners, able to express their feelings and ideas. We want them to be confident and independent learners and thinkers, able to work independently and with others and able to use technology effectively. We want them to adopt safe and healthy lifestyles, to value and respect themselves, others and the world in which they live and to make a positive contribution to society. In order to achieve this we aim to provide a broad, balanced, creative and challenging curriculum, create a stimulating, active and well-resourced learning environment and provide a variety of learning and teaching styles to stimulate all. We aim to create a tolerant, caring, supportive school which promotes equality and mutual respect and provides a happy, safe and secure environment. We promote strong partnerships between home, school, other services and the local community and we strive for continuous improvement in all we do. " alt="site stats">

“This is an outstanding school with outstanding leadership, management and governance”. Ofsted report September 2011

Curriculum Our curriculum is broad, balanced and based on our principal aim, which is to enable every child to achieve their personal best. Our intention is:       

To have a curriculum which is broad enough to provide all pupils with a good general education, which will leave them well-equipped to face the challenge of life in secondary school and beyond To have a curriculum which is flexible enough to respond to the need for change To help pupils acquire knowledge, skills and practical abilities, including those of problem solving and decision making, and to foster the effective use of language To help pupils appreciate achievement in art, music, science, technology and literature and to encourage excellence in all its forms To help children understand the world in which they live To foster the skills and understanding needed for the children to take their place successfully in society To understand respect for religious and moral values

Moving On At the end of Year 6 the children move on predominantly to Thomas Estley Community College. This important step includes a number of visits and activities organised both in school and at the college in order to make the transition a smooth and stress-free process for pupils and parents. Such activities include special science days, sports days, taster days and visits by college teachers to the Badgerbrook pupils. The transition is usually an easier process for our pupils because of the size of Badgerbrook and its building and the movement of classes around the school.

FOBs (Friends of Badgerbrook) There is a strong and active PTA which has purchased many extra items for the school and currently pays for a school librarian. FOBs also organise social activities which are well-attended and supported by parents.

Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointment to this post is subject to an enhanced DSB/CRB check

Badgerbrook Primary School Whetstone Foundation Stage Teacher Job Description Job Title: Foundation Stage Teacher Job Purpose:  To implement and deliver an appropriately broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum for pupils  To support a designated curriculum area as appropriate  To monitor and support the overall progress and development of pupils  To facilitate and encourage a learning experience which provides pupils with the opportunity to achieve their individual potential  To contribute to raising standards of pupil attainment and achievement  To share and support the school’s responsibility to provide and monitor opportunities for personal growth and enjoyment  To support the ethos, aims and vision of the school in accordance with the five outcomes of Every Child Matters  To carry out duties as assigned by the Headteacher. Line Management:  

The Foundation Stage Teacher will be responsible to the Headteacher in all matters The Foundation Stage Teacher will be responsible to the relevant member of the Senior Leadership Team in respect of curriculum and pastoral matters.

Duties and Responsibilities Specific to the Post:          

Implement agreed school policies and guidelines Support initiatives agreed by the Headteacher and staff Contribute to the school’s development plan and its implementation Plan and prepare lessons to meet the needs of all pupils based on the new Early Years Curriculum Provide a stimulating classroom environment Report to parents on the development, progress and attainment of pupils Communicate and co-operate with outside agencies Organise and direct the work of support staff within the classroom Participate in the performance management system for the appraisal of their own performance Contribute to whole school activities

Curriculum Coordinator Responsibilities (To be agreed):         

Develop own expertise in the agreed subject area To keep abreast of the agreed subject area through research, continuous professional development etc To produce written policies and guidance and communicate with staff To oversee the effective use of curriculum resources in the agreed subject area Ensure ‘best value’ in the procurement of resources in the agreed subject area Ensure legal compliance with statutory curriculum guidance Coach colleagues to ensure good practice Monitor and assist in the evaluation of the subject area Network and liaise with colleagues in other schools

General duties: You are required to carry out the professional duties of a teacher as set out in the latest Schoolteachers' Pay and Conditions Document. In addition the post is subject to compliance with:    

School policies and guidelines on the curriculum and school organisation including Health and Safety and e-safety National Professional Standards for Teachers National Standards for Subject Leaders The Conditions of Service for School Teachers in England and Wales and with locally agreed conditions of employment

All teachers have a responsibility for providing and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons s/he is responsible for or comes into contact with. This job description will be reviewed at the beginning of each academic year and at other times if required. Any amendments will follow consultation with you and will be consistent with your conditions of employment. The Local Authority grievance procedure applies in relation to any dispute arising in connection with this job description and any amendment. The appointment is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service/Criminal Records Bureau Enhanced Disclosure Form. Leicestershire County Council is seeking to promote the employment of disabled people and will make any adjustments considered reasonable to the above duties under terms of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to accommodate a suitable disabled candidate.

BADGERBROOK PRIMARY SCHOOL, WHETSTONE PERSON SPECIFICATION – FOUNDATION STAGE

Qualifications

Experience

Essential Qualified Teacher Status An enhanced DSB/CRB check will be required for this appointment

Desirable Evidence of continuous professional development and commitment to further professional development

Experience of successful teaching in Foundation Stage and/or Key Stage 1

An interest in further developing a curriculum area within the school

Experience of using the new Early Years Curriculum

Leadership of Foundation Stage

Evidence of a high level of competence as a Foundation Stage teacher Knowledge & Understanding

The Foundation Stage teacher should have an excellent knowledge and understanding of:  A range of frameworks that support the education, development and wellbeing of children in Early Years and Key Stage 1 – Early Years Curriculum, National Strategies and assessment, school improvement, Ofsted Framework etc  Child protection, Health and Safety procedures and their application in a school setting  A creative and connected curriculum  The importance of outdoor play  The importance of developing positive relationships with parents  The importance of developing positive links between school and all its stakeholders  The importance of developing close links between the school and the wider community  Effective teaching and learning styles  How the curriculum supports the ethos and values of the school

Involvement in SEND/Inclusion

Skills & Attitudes

Community

The Foundation Stage teacher will be able to demonstrate:  An understanding of child-centred learning  An excellent understanding and working knowledge of the new Early Years Curriculum  A commitment to accelerating pupil progress and reaching challenging targets  An ability to motivate and inspire children  An ability to foster excellent relationships with parents and carers  An ability to prepare and present induction meetings, parenting classes and workshops  An ability to encourage independent learning  An ability to create an effective, stimulating and visual learning environment  Excellent personal relationships within a team  Effective communication (both orally and in writing) to a variety of audiences  An ability to use ICT confidently to enhance children’s learning and embed cross curricular learning  A commitment to be involved in the whole life of the school The Foundation Stage teacher will be able to demonstrate:  An understanding of the school’s role in the community and the importance of home school liaison  An ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with parents

In addition, the Foundation Stage teacher might also be able to demonstrate:  A commitment to providing extra-curricular activities  A willingness to lead and coordinate an area of the school

In addition, the Foundation Stage teacher might also be able to demonstrate:  Experience of working with governors and the wider community

Personal characteristics

The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate:  A love of learning and a commitment to providing an inclusive educational experience for all pupils  An ability to integrate children with special needs into the life of the class, planning for their progress and creating opportunities for them to thrive  Commitment and a hard-working ethos  An ability to work as part of a team  Good organisational skills and the capacity to work under pressure

In addition, the successful applicant might also be able to demonstrate:  Specialist subject skills