Child Care Teacher in Richmond

Utilizing the Reggio education approach, the Child Care Teacher plans, develops and implements child creative and adaptive lesson plans and provides a safe, secure and engaging environment for children six weeks to six years of age. As part of a teaching team, the Child Care Teacher ensures that interactions with children support their self-esteem and promote their growth and development. The Child Care Teacher makes learning a fun process that allows and encourages children to explore their full potential.

Responsibilities

• Plan, develop and implement lesson plans for assigned classroom.
• Document children’s daily progress and activities and prepare reports to parents.
• Ensure that the classroom is clean and neat and free of health hazards or infection control risks.
• Supervise teacher aides and volunteers assigned to their classroom or within their scope of practice throughout the centre.
• Provide support for the program goals designed to promote autonomy, significant respect for the abilities of children, involvement of parents and enriched experience which aid in maximising the potential of the developing child and family.
• Demonstrate understanding of how Reggio concepts are implemented in both the indoor and outdoor classrooms.
• Perform in adherence to licensing and/or Accrediting Body Requirements and Standards.
• Develop Lesson Plans/Goals designed to nurture and promote cognitive, social and motor development.
• Plan for and promote gross and fine motor development, language skills and independence.
• Focus on enhancing self-concepts and self-esteem through positive interactions with children and families.
• Prepare, review and maintain assigned written reports and records for each child.
• Follow established policies, procedures and regulatory guidelines in an effort to support best practice for children and families.
• Actively participate in staff meetings, special sessions and mandatory CE events.
• Maintain collaborative team relationships with other teachers/staff.
• Meet with other teachers, team leader, Site Supervisor or Director to communicate needs of the children, staff and area.
• Review data provided on each child and provide for a smooth transition into and out of the area for both parents and children.
• Utilise infection control procedures and demonstrate safe consciousness in assessing environmental needs.
• Ensure that classroom tables, chairs, cabinets, cubbies, cots, toys and bookshelves are cleaned routinely to ensure that infection control risks are minimised.
• Clean/sweep floors to remove materials that may pose a safety hazard (food, water, paper etc.).
• Remove broken toys, report unsafe wood surfaces or running surfaces.
• Ensure that staff are stationed on the playground to allow for adequate supervision and response time for the children’s needs and coverage for station are consistently maintained.
• Ensure that bleach and cleaning solutions are prepared correctly, are labelled with date and time and are in a locked area.
• Assist in coordinating environmental needs with team to ensure a safe, clean, well-stocked area that meets the children and family’s needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned and/or participate in special projects in order to support the mission of the client and department.
• Accept alternate assignments, as required.

Education

Required Education

• Two (2) year degree in early childhood education, child psychology, psychology or closely related field.
• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of 40 hours of coursework in early childhood education or related field (i.e. Child Psychology, Children’s Literature).
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Education

• Bachelors or Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education.

Licensure/Certification

Preferred Certifications & Licensure

• Child Development Associate (CDA) Certificate.

Experience

Required Skills & Experience

• Previous experience working with children ages six (6) weeks to six (6) years of age (paid or unpaid).
• Two (2) years of formal experience.
• Frequent bending, climbing (steps, ladder, other).
• Reasoning abilities, problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to hear effectively, speak clearly, write legibly.
• Reading and comprehension abilities, logical thinking abilities.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to manage frequent and intense customer interactions.
• Ability to adapt to frequent change, handle multiple priorities.
• Ability to work in a noisy environment.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience specifically working with children six (6) weeks to two (2) years old.
• Familiarity with the Reggio philosophical approach to education for children.