Pre-school Assistant

**Responsible to**:
Pre-School Manager and the Pre-School Committee

**Hours**:
Mondays and Tuesdays as full days as a minimum, with further hours available and can be negotiated on an individual basis. This is a term time only position.

**Salary**:
Dependent on qualifications and experience.

**Overview**:
We are seeking a passionate and dedicated Preschool Assistant to join our team. As a Preschool Assistant, you will play a key role in nurturing and educating young children, fostering their social, emotional, and cognitive development.

**Responsibilities**:

- Create a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment for preschool-aged children. Offering an appropriate level of support and stimulating play experiences.
- Assisting with setting up and packing away at the start and end of each day.
- To act as a key person to a small group of children, making observations and updating your key children’s scrap books and records. As well as liaising closely with and building effective relationships with parents and carers to ensure that each child’s individual needs are recognised and met.
- To assist the Pre-School Manager with the planning of the curriculum using the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
- To ensure that children are kept safe at all times and the adherence to welfare requirements are met and that Safeguarding procedures and Risk Assessments are followed.
- To advise the Manager of any concerns, e.g. health and well-being of children or families, any safety of the environment or equipment, and preserving confidentiality at all times.
- To support children with meal times within the setting, including teaching children the skills of good hygiene, following Food Hygiene practices and having a good awareness of Food Allergens.
- To actively attend and participate at team meetings, supervision and appraisal meetings.
- To attend training courses as required, taking responsibility for personal development.
- 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, whistleblowing and complying with GDPR requirements.
- To ensure that adequate records are kept and updated regularly.

**Person specification**:
Essential criteria
- Willingness to learn and undertake further training.
- A minimum of level 2 in early years education and childcare qualification or equivalent, with commitment to obtaining level 3.
- Previous experience of working with young children.
- Sound knowledge of child development from birth to five years.
- Being able to undertake training to enhance the knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
- Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures.
- Good communication skills.
- An understanding of play-based approaches to children’s learning and development.
- A commitment to continuously promote a culture of safeguarding.
- A commitment to equal opportunities.
- A commitment to working effectively with young children and families.
- A friendly and flexible approach at work which facilitates the development of effective relationships.

Desirable criteria
- Level 3 early years education and childcare qualification or equivalent, and a commitment to obtaining a level 4 qualification.
- Current First Aid at Work qualification.

Safeguarding requirement: Cherry Tree 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.

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.

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.

**Job Types**: Part-time, Permanent

School type:

- Preschool

**Education**:

- GCSE or equivalent (preferred)

**Experience**:

- Childcare: 1 year (preferred)

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: Pre-School Assistant