EYFS Leader

Start date:    August 2021

Location:    Abu Dhabi, UAE

Contract type: Full Time

Contract term: July 2023, renewable

Al Basma is a popular,  high performing ENC School in Al Bahia, Abu Dhabi. We are seeking an experienced EYFS Leader to work closely with the Senior Leadership Team at our BSO accredited school (EduBase No.143834) commencing August 2021.

Our seven form entry school caters for 1400 children from FS1 to Y13 with over 200 students enrolled in our FS section for the coming academic year. We opened a state of the art Primary block for Y3 to Y6 in September 2020. The expansion enables us to accommodate an additional 1000 students over the next five years. As a result, the EYFS section has expanded to include 3 FS1 classes this year.

The successful candidate will have overall responsibility for the day to day running of the FS section. They will lead a settled and established team of teachers, TAs and class helpers. As such this is predominantly a non teaching post with a small allocation of FS intervention group sessions. 

All stakeholders embrace our motto ‘Striving to be the Best’ which is embedded in everything we do collectively and individually. As such, we place great emphasis on the professional development of all of our staff. The successful candidate will be expected to play a central role in leading the performance management and ongoing professional development of their team. This will include overseeing the progress of NQTs, ECTs and AO candidates within FS through UK accredited induction programmes.

The school aspires to create a global community of critical thinkers, creators, innovators and leaders who will have a positive impact on the world of tomorrow. We pride ourselves on being a happy and vibrant community where students, parents and teachers enjoy coming to school. Our well-behaved students and supportive parents originate from 50 countries and speak 28 languages which makes us a truly international community. The campus is well resourced and boasts excellent facilities. Our FS section includes 10 classrooms and is located in a self contained unit including additional dedicated spaces joined to the main school building.

As an all through school serving children from age 3 to 18 we follow the 2014 National Curriculum of England and the EYFS Framework. The successful candidate will have responsibility for introducing the new EYFS Framework from September. They will be responsible for ensuring that  planning, intervention, personalised pathways and the curriculum implemented in EYFS is play based, child led and data driven. They will also be responsible for assessment, recording and reporting within the FS section.

The school gained BSO (British Schools Overseas) accreditation in May 2016 following a successful inspection in its second year of operation. In January 2017 in its third year of operation it had its second ADEK inspection and was placed in Band A – ‘a high performing’ school. Moving from satisfactory in 2015 to  good in 2017, it was graded very good with outstanding features in its third ADEK inspection in January 2019. Most recently, in February 2019, the second BSO inspection graded the school good with many outstanding features, with the inspectors commenting on the school’s remarkable rate of improvement.

Al Basma is located in Al Bahia, a quiet and safe neighbourhood of Abu Dhabi near to the international airport and Yas Island. Dubai is a 35 minute drive from the school. For further information please see the school information below, visit our website www.albasmaschool.ae or Instagram account @abbsalbasma

ABOUT YOU

The successful candidate will show a genuine commitment to creating an inspiring and stimulating child-centred learning environment. Candidates should be committed to ongoing school improvement and feel comfortable in a climate of innovative and creative development.

We welcome applications from candidates with:

6 years of experience in Early Years education including 4 years experience where they can evidence outstanding practice.

Upon appointment the successful applicant may 

• An Internationally recognised BEd in Early Years Education or Primary Education (age 3 plus) with QTS or EYTS or equivalent and a minimum of 6 years experience in education with 4 years where they can evidence outstanding practice.

or

• An Internationally recognised Bachelor’s Degree in an aspect of Early Childhood with QTS or EYTS or equivalent and a minimum of 6 years experience in education with 4 years experience where they can evidence outstanding practice.

or 

an internationally recognised Bachelor's Degree in an ENC subject plus a teaching qualification such as PGCE or PGDE (age 3 plus) with QTS or EYTS or equivalent and a minimum of 6 years experience in education with 4 years experience where they can evidence outstanding practice.

Please note two supporting references, an experience letter and a police clearance certificate, ACRO or DBS no more than 3 months old must be provided.

OUR PACKAGE

Our remuneration package for Section Leaders appointed from overseas includes:

• Two-year contract and visa (renewable)

• Tax-free salary

• A one bed apartment or accommodation allowance

• Settling-in allowance

• Annual flight allowance

• Excellent international medical cover

• End-of-service gratuity

• Fee discount for dependent children

TO APPLY

Interested applicants should click on the ‘Apply now’ button below to complete the application form, upload their CV and a letter outlining how their experience to date has prepared them to fulfill the roles and responsibilities set out in the application pack in a culturally diverse school in the UAE.

Applications will be processed on receipt. Suitable candidates who meet the above compliance criteria will be contacted with the package details and asked to confirm they are a firm candidate. Shortlisting is scheduled for the 16th of May with the interview process scheduled to commence on the 18th of May.

Interviews will be conducted on Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams for all candidates, as agreed with each candidate, or an alternative mutually agreed platform.

Whilst we appreciate all applications, only those compliant candidates selected for interview will be contacted.

This advert is posted by CES, our school management company, unsuccessful applicants may be contacted by CES on behalf of one of our sister schools in the UAE. If you do not wish your application to be shared with other schools in our group please state ‘Al Basma Only’ when you submit your application.