Early Years Phase Lead

We are currently looking to appoint a dedicated and experienced Early Years Phase Leader to lead and manage the Early Years phase and support the learning of children in the early years classes at Harris Primary Academy Kenley.

Job Purpose

In addition to their class teacher responsibilities, the phase leader will: 

• Lead and manage the Early Years phase (Nursery-Reception)
• Maintain a high and positive profile in the whole school community and consistently engage with school life beyond the classroom
• Take initiatives, generate new ideas, volunteer on occasions where extra hands are needed, take a lead in special events
• Play a part in whole school strategic development, supporting the Principal in the developing and monitoring of the Academy Improvement Plan
• Appraise support staff in your phase in line with the Harris Performance Management Policy
• Lead and motivate colleagues within your phase and beyond by setting the highest possible standards of practice in your classroom
• Report to the Governing Body as required regarding outcomes for your phase
• Attend governors’ and parents’ meetings as required
• Prioritise and manage your own time effectively, particularly in relation to balancing the demands made by class teaching and phase leadership
• Engage with local and national issues, looking outwards, making links beyond the school
• Coach and mentor teachers within your phase, including ECTs; lead CPD for your phase; support student teachers within your phase

About Us

The Harris Federation is one the highest performing multi academy trusts in the country. In Primary education the Academies have been judged to be the top performing group of schools compared to all other local authorities and academy trusts in England, in 2015, 2016 and 2017 by the highly respected Education Policy Institute.

Harris Primary Academy Kenley is an outstanding school. It is outstanding not just because of the academic achievements of the pupils but for many other reasons too. The pupils are diligent, polite and hard working. They have a love for learning and an inquisitive nature. The staff at the academy are talented and dedicated and our parents and wider community support what we do.

We believe that all children deserve the very best education and that as a result of this they should have every opportunity life has to offer.

Main Areas of Responsibility

• Class responsibility for one class in their phase
• Lead and manage the Early Years (N-Y1) phase
• In the absence of the Principal and Vice-Principals to take joint responsibility with the other Phase Leaders for leading the school
• Maintain a high and positive profile in the whole school community and consistently engage with school life beyond the classroom
• Take initiatives, generate new ideas, volunteer on occasions where extra hands are needed, take a lead in special events
• Alongside the Leadership Team and class teachers, identify appropriate attainment and achievement targets for pupils in your phase and monitor standards and achievement against these targets
• Work alongside the Inclusion Manager to support colleagues in the management of children’s behaviour in your phase
• Work alongside the Inclusion Manager to ensure access to the curriculum for SEND and EAL children within your phase
• Work with the other phase leaders to ensure progression in learning and continuity of the curriculum
• Establish and maintain good relationships with all our parents
• To monitor the health and safety of pupils and staff and liaise with the leadership of the school over any concerns
• To ensure effective organisation of additional curriculum activities in your phase

Other Activities

• To work as a member of the Leadership Team to monitor planning, teaching and assessment throughout the school in addition to monitoring planning, curriculum coverage and learning outcomes within your phase
• To advise and guide colleagues in the preparation, review and evaluation of policies in all areas of curriculum and work alongside curriculum managers to ensure curriculum policy is relevant to and embedded within your phase
• To organise and lead phase group meetings and keep a record of minutes and decisions taken
• To meet with parents, alongside class teachers to help resolve on-going concerns with pupils’ learning and behaviour
• To coordinate curriculum events from time to time in consultation with colleagues
• To work with teachers to ensure that learning environments are engaging, interesting and relevant with high quality learning taking place
• Induction of new staff to your phase
• Lead assemblies as required

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of three years' teaching experience
• Proven success in raising achievement as a subject leader
• Experience of leading, supporting and managing others, both individuals and teams, ensuring high quality performance
• Successful experience of monitoring and evaluating the quality of teaching and learning
• High level of ICT skills and experience of how new technologies can be used to raise achievement
• Experience of presenting to a wide audience including teachers, other managers, students and parents
• Good understanding of creative strategies for improving outcomes for young children in reading, writing, numeracy and speaking and listening
• A deep understanding of the Early Years curriculum, including the place of play and outdoor learning
• Experience of embedding innovative strategies for Assessment for Learning
• Recent and relevant experience of managing and implementing change successfully in a subject or phase or year group
• Experience of using coaching as a model for ensuring on-going professional development with teachers

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level to senior leadership.

In addition to the opportunities for career progression, training and development, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.