Classroom Assistant

Full time, full year

Highfield Priory is a flourishing, well established preparatory school and nursery in the Fulwood area of Preston. It was established in 1940 and has a reputation for excellence in academic subjects, sporting provision and the arts.

We are currently recruiting for a Classroom Assistant to join our friendly and long-standing team. This position will work mainly within our Junior department, with some cover in Infants and Early Years. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your career in a popular and high performing school and nursery.

Level 2 or above in a relevant Childcare and Education qualification is essential, the candidate must have experience of working within a school environment. An enhanced DBS check is required for this post. Candidates should have knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding and Child Protection procedures.

Hours of work full time are 8:00am-6pm Monday to Friday, with two 3:30pm finishes. During the holidays you will be required to cover in our Holiday club which operates 51 weeks of the year.

Overall purpose of the role is to provide a safe, supportive and caring environment for learning, developing positive relationships with the children, parents and colleagues whilst always maintaining strict confidentiality. To give assistance and support to all staff in the classroom, in whatever capacity, to enable them to perform their duties effectively and efficiently in the education and development of young children and to provide relevant stimulus and activity for children in the after-school facility and, if required, in the school’s Holiday Club.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

To assist with the school curriculum in consultation with teaching staff. With direction, take responsibility for the supervision of a group of children and to also work one to one with individual children, ensuring all aspects of each child’s development are given full consideration.

Assist with the delivery of Teaching and Learning, pupil assessment and regularly update child development records as requested by your line manager.

Supervise the children in the playground at break time and lunch time and in the dining room.

Be involved in developing and delivering a stimulating and creative atmosphere within the classroom.

Assist, as required, other staff on rotation, with the school’s Extended Care and Holiday Club facility

Understand and respect the need for consistency of care for the children: report for duty on time, maintain regular attendance, give appropriate notice of holiday requests and report non-attendance through sickness promptly and appropriately to your line manager.

Maintain and always follow all Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Develop a thorough knowledge of all the school’s operational policies and procedures, ensuring they are always followed and respected.

Follow all routines, duties, timetables, rotas, record keeping activities and any other reasonable duty as requested by your line manager.

Ensure that communication with children, parents and the staff team is polite and courteous.

Share relevant information and ensure that information passed between parents and staff is communicated to your line manager as appropriate.

Take responsibility for continued professional development by attending professional training courses (in-house and external), receiving constructive feedback, reading relevant material, attending inset courses and meetings as appropriate and as directed by the Head which may at various times be outside working hours.

Maintain confidentiality in all issues related to children and their families, your own and other staff members issues and any other management or operational issues.

Involvement and enrolment in company training courses to be undertaken and completed which may, at various times, be outside normal working hours.

Provide staff cover within the school, pre-school and nursery as requested by the Senior Management Team.

Attend staff meetings if required, professional development training, (in house or external), inset courses and meetings as appropriate and as directed by the Head which may at various times be outside working hours.

Carry out other tasks required by the Head from time to time pertinent to the efficient running of the school.

Child Protection and Safeguarding

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers, online checks and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application

If you wish to apply for this position, please complete an application form,

available either on our website, or by contacting the school office on 01772 709624.