Nursery Teaching Assistant

The Nursery Teaching Assistant’s primary focus will be to work under the professional guidance of a teacher in delivering lessons planned by or with teachers and/or supporting pupils in groups. To work with teachers as part of a professional team to support learning in classes. The Nursery Teaching Assistant will be expected to progress pupils’ learning and to assess, record and report on development, progress and attainment as agreed with the teacher. The Nursery Teaching Assistant will also supervise whole classes occasionally during the short-term absence of teachers e.g. during training courses.

Support for Pupils

• Use detailed knowledge and specialist skills to support and progress pupils’ learning in both the indoor and outdoor environment.
• Assist with the development and implementation of Individual Educational Plans (IEP).
• Establish productive working relationships with pupils, acting as Key Person to a group of children.
• Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all pupils within the classroom.
• Support pupils by recognising and responding to their individual needs.
• Encourage pupils to interact and work co-operatively with others and engage all pupils in activities.
• Promote independence and employ strategies to recognise and reward achievement.
• Provide feedback to pupils in relation to progress and achievement.

Support for Teacher

• Work with the teacher to establish an appropriate learning environment both indoor and outdoor.
• Work with the teacher in lesson planning, evaluating and setting up the environment as appropriate.
• Monitor and evaluate pupil responses to learning activities through observation and planned recording of achievement as necessary.
• Provide objective and accurate feedback and reports to teachers on pupil achievement, progress and other matters, ensuring the availability of appropriate evidence.
• Be responsible for keeping and updating records as agreed with the teacher, contributing to records and reports to parents as requested.
• Promote positive values, attitudes and good pupil behaviour, dealing promptly with conflict and incidents in line with established policy and encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own behaviour.
• Liaise sensitively and effectively with parents/carers as agreed with the teacher within your role/responsibility and participate in meetings and contribute to reports.
• Provide general clerical/admin support, e.g. produce resources for agreed activities etc.

Support for the Curriculum

• Implement agreed learning activities/teaching programmes, adjusting activities according to pupil responses/needs in both indoor and outdoor environments.
• Implement local and national learning strategies, e.g., early years framework and make effective use of opportunities provided by other learning activities to support the development of relevant skills in both indoor and outdoor environments.
• Support the use of ICT in learning activities and develop pupils’ competence and independence in its use.
• Help pupils to access learning activities through specialist support.
• Determine the need for, prepare and maintain general and specialist equipment and resources.

Support for the School

• Be aware and comply with policies and procedures relating to safeguarding and child protection, equal opportunities, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, always reporting concerns to an appropriate person.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure all pupils have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop.
• Contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of the school.
• Establish constructive relationships and communicate with other agencies/professionals, in liaison with the teacher, to support achievement and progress of pupils.
• Attend and participate in regular meetings and events.
• Participate in training and other learning activities and performance development as required.
• Recognise own strengths and areas of expertise and use these to advise and support others.
• Provide appropriate guidance and supervision and assist in the training and development of staff as appropriate.
• Undertake planned supervision of pupils’ out of school hours learning activities.
• Supervise pupils on visits, trips and out of school activities as required.
• Be supportive to all aspects of school life including those taking place outside school hours.

Person Specification

• Recognised Level 3 Early Years Qualification and relevant experience.
• Training in the relevant strategies, e.g., EYFS curriculum.
• Experience of working with children of relevant age in a learning environment.
• Ability to use own initiative and work independently.
• Ability to communicate the excitement of learning and inspire children to engage in learning indoors and in the outdoor environment.
• Ability to use ICT effectively to support learning.
• Full working knowledge of relevant policies/codes of practice/legislation.
• Working knowledge and experience of implementing Early Years curriculum and other relevant learning programmes.
• Good understanding of child development and learning processes.
• Understanding of statutory frameworks relating to teaching.
• Ability to improve own practice/knowledge through self-evaluation and learning from others.
• Ability to relate well to children and adults.
• An understanding of classroom roles and responsibilities and your own position within these.
• Ability to apply behaviour management strategies, which contribute to a purposeful learning environment.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and contribute to group thinking, planning etc.
• Excellent communication skills with adults and children, verbally and in writing.
• Motivate, inspire and have high expectations of pupils.
• Creative approach to problem solving.
• Ability to adapt quickly and effectively to changing circumstances/situations.
• Ability to work calmly under pressure.
• An awareness of, and commitment to, equalities issues.
• Ability to record and assess pupil progress/performance etc.
• Ability to comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, data protection.
• Willingness to engage with supervision sessions.