Head of Early Years

Head of Early Years

Full time, permanent role

September 2021 or January 2022

Are you an outstanding leader and practitioner ready to lead our Early Years Team through the next phase of their development? This exciting opportunity has arisen as, after 6 years of outstanding leadership, the current Head of Early Years is leaving to pursue an exciting opportunity for her family overseas.

Royal Russell School educates over 1000 girls and boys between the ages of 3 and 18 and is situated on a beautiful green campus of 110 acres in the Shirley Hills near Croydon, only 30 minutes from Central London.  We have over 150 boarding students in the Senior School, and are proud of our day and boarding facilities that rank amongst the best in the South of England.  Our pupils, parents and staff experience a warm and friendly environment with strong pastoral care for every pupil alongside a comprehensive co-curricular and enrichment programme. In March 2016 the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) judged the school as ‘excellent’ in all areas and in October 2019 we successfully passed a full unannounced ISI compliance inspection.

The Head of Early Years (Nursery and Reception) is a key member of the Junior School Leadership Team, with the scope for School wide, strategic impact and leads our team of excellent teachers and teaching assistants in providing outstanding experiences and outcomes for all children.

This role is available from September 2021, however, a January 2022 start (Spring term) is equally acceptable to the School.

The new Head of Early Years will have considerable scope to lead and develop this crucial part of the Junior School, leading a team of experienced, motivated and friendly colleagues. 

The Early Years

Our Nursery children can join us the term after their third birthday and are the youngest members of the Royal Russell family. Our Nursery offers an outstanding environment for all children to learn, develop and thrive as part of the wider school community. The Early Years Centre is housed in a purpose built, self-contained part of the Junior School allowing for our children to have a safe and secure environment whilst still feeling part of the wider life of the school.

The Early Years are the foundation of many children’s journeys all the way through to the Senior School and beyond. The opportunities for children at Royal Russell are outstanding and our youngest children are at the heart of our whole School community.

Royal Russell is a family school and an incredibly supportive environment to work in. Colleagues feel welcomed and supported in the Junior School and have extensive benefits listed below. We welcome applications from candidates who have a willingness to contribute to the extra-curricular programme and support the pastoral life of our school. 

The Role

This role will suit an outstanding & experienced Early Years practitioner who is able to demonstrate the impact of their leadership skills, either in the Early Years sphere or a connected aspect of school leadership.  

You must be an excellent communicator and ambassador for the School. Playing a key role in marketing and admissions, you will be expected to embody the School’s values. You will be an essential point of contact between the School and home. It is vital that you can forge strong links with the parent body and create an empathetic and trust filled relationship.

The Head of Early Years plays an important, strategic role in the leadership of the Junior School as a member of the Junior School Leadership Team (JLT) and the Junior School Management Team (JSMT). The Head of Early Years is also invited to the whole school Senior Leadership Team (SLT) as required.

As part of the Admissions Team, you will promote and market the School to prospective families, assess children for entry and, alongside the Junior School Registrar, ensure the success of a number of admissions events throughout the year.

Alongside the commitment to promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young persons and vulnerable adults, you will be an excellent leader and team member as well as an outstanding classroom practitioner. The Head of Early Years teaches in either Nursery or Reception (0.4 FTE) and benefits from considerable leadership time (0.6 FTE). The Head of Early Years is expected to be available for events that extend beyond the school day.

Royal Russell offers excellent benefits including a competitive salary on our own salary scale which is above SNS with scope for progression. As part of the vibrant community of the historic Royal Russell School, you will work in our beautiful green parkland estate with easy access to transport links. Teachers automatically join the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), or you may opt into an alternative defined contribution pension with free life cover on a promoted salary scale. In addition you will have access to free car parking, free meals, a discount on School fees, and the use of our sporting and gym facilities. Full details of our staff benefits and recruitment procedures can be found on our School recruitment page at: https://www.royalrussell.co.uk/our-school/vacancies 

Applications will be considered on receipt and should arrive no later than 9:00 am Wednesday 19 May 2021. Interviews are expected to take place in the week commencing Monday 24 May 2021. We reserve the right to interview at any point during the recruitment process so early applications are encouraged.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and all appointments are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (including a check against the Children’s Barred List), and other pre-employment screening including a check on the Secretary of State list of prohibited staff.