Job Description: Room Leader
This organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
The role of the Room Leader is to work with the Nursery Manager, nursery staff and other Room Readers to promote, encourage and implement good practice throughout the setting and to be a role model and mentor to fellow team members.
What makes a ‘Leader’ at Little Owls Nursery?
At Little Owls Nursery a Leader is someone who has the vision to see what needs to be done, and motivates, guides and energise people to perform excellently
An effective ‘Leader’ at Little Owls Nursery
- Creates an inspiring vision of the future
- Motivates and inspires people to engage with that vision
- Manages delivery of that vision
- Coaches and builds a team, so that it is more effective at achieving the vision
- A Little Owls Leader brings together the skills needed to do these things
Direct Report
The Room Leader reports directly to the Nursery Manager.
Key Responsibilities
1. Promoting the Nursery
a) Support the Nursery Manager in maintaining positive links and effectively promote the facility within the local community.
b) Effectively communicate information to prospective customers and to provide guidance, support and reassurance to new customers. c) Communication and working in partnership with families and carers to facilitate and support children’s learning.
2. Care and Child Development
a) Implement and maintain high quality working practices to create an exceptional learning environment for all children within our care
b) Promoting the welfare of the children and ensure the children are kept safe and Child Protection Procedures are followed where necessary. To support the implementation of the curriculum in line with the requirements of he Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Ofsted registration and Inspection criteria.
c) Responsible for organising and developing the nursery learning environment and resources in order to facilitate the learning process.
d) To support the nursery in its delivery of EYFS, with special responsibility for coordinating one or more of the following principles or associated aspects relating to the Early Years Foundation Stage across the whole of the nursery.
I. The Early Years Foundation Stage Principles
II. A Unique Child
III. Positive Relationships
IV. Enabling Environments
V. Learning and Development
e) To ensure all knowledge and information relating to their area of responsibility is kept up to date and to disseminate relevant information to the whole team.
f) Meeting requirements for the planning, observation, assessment and recording of children’s development.
g) Ensuring records of progress are maintained.
h) Maintain effective planning, assessment and record keeping.
i) Ensure parents/carers are kept fully informed and included in record keeping, monitoring and reviewing the progress of their child.
j) Establish and maintain relationships with the children to facilitate their learning and development and maintain relationships with parents and carers to further support the children.
k) Interacting with and supporting children to foster enthusiasm for learning.
l) Promote the use of informed observation and other strategies to monitor children’s activity, development and progress systematically and carefully and to use this information to inform, plan and improve practice and provision.
m) Support practitioners to prepare and use a range of resources suitable for children’s ages, interests and abilities taking into account of diversity promoting equality and inclusion.
n) Promote children’s rights, equality, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice in all aspects of the setting.
o) Actively support the development of children’s language and communication skills.
p) Maintain a positive and proactive culture amongst practitioners in being able to identify and support children whose progress, development or well-being is affected by changes or difficulties in their personal circumstances, ensuring team members know when to refer them to colleagues for specialist support.
q) Under the guidance of the setting engage with local schools and Early Years Settings.
r) Promote equality of opportunity and positive behaviour management strategies.
s) Set a visible leadership example to staff, children and their families, and the wider community.
3. Personal
a) Maintain a positive attitude at all times with children, parents, carers, visitors and work colleagues. Be enthusiastic and energetic in your role.
b) Work as a team with other team members and undertake any other duties as reasonably requests by line management.
c) They are providing a role model for less experienced team members by following best practice at all times.
d) Support and supervise team members with their day-to-day duties.
e) Motivate, be inspirational and support a team of early year’s practitioners in the delivery of best possible practice to meet the needs of parents, children and families.
f) Support and mentor team members in the skills and behaviours that safeguard and promote good outcomes for children.
g) To support staff in monitoring the quality and effectiveness of provision to include the tracking and progress of the children.
h) Encourage other practitioners to have high expectations of all children and to demonstrate commitment to ensuring they can achieve their full potential.
i) Work with other Room Leaders also implementing the EYFS curriculum to ensure a consistent approach.
4. Training
a) To provide induction and on-going training by way of mentoring, and where applicable, team meetings.
b) To support team member’s professional development in order to further develop services.
c) Provide support to students to completing training placements within the setting.
5. Finance
a) Support your line manager in deploying people and resources and equipment efficiently and effectively.
6. Facilities
a) Ensure efficient and effective use of available resources reflecting diversity. b) Undertake a shared responsibility and to ensure the premises, garden and equipment are well maintained and meet Health and safety/EYFS requirements. c) Ensure the nutritional needs of the children are met and the Food Safety Regulations are complied with.
7. Health and Safety a) Take responsible care for the Health and Safety of themselves and colleagues who may be affected by acts or omissions at work. b) Demonstrate the highest standard of hygiene and cleanliness of the children at all times. Ensuring the premises and the environment are safe, clean, tidy and well maintained to a high standard. c) Completion of risk assessments.
8. Quality Assurance a) To support the aims and objectives of the nursery development plan and assist the Manager in the organisation of a high quality establishment, ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of the nursery on a day-to-day basis. b) To be fully conversant with all policies, practices and procedures operated within Little Owls Nursery and abide by them c) Strive to achieve targets set for improvement of quality of care and education. d) The duties of the Room Leader are in addition to those of the Nursery Practitioner and are available upon request.
Equal Opportunities
Little Owls Day Nursery and Pre-School actively promotes and are committed to equality and diversity for all our children and staff. Applicants will be considered on merit only, irrespective of race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion or belief.
This post is classed as having a high degree of contact with children and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act 1974. An enhanced disclosure will be sought through the Disclosure Barring Service.
A copy of the Company’s Equal Opportunities Policy and Disclosure Information Policy is available upon request as well as forming part of our Employee Handbook.
The duties and responsibilities listed above describe the post as accurately as possible. However the post holder is expected to accept any reasonable alterations, which from time to time may be necessary.
Personal Specification
Relevant Experience
- Essential - Proven experience in a junior management role
- Essential - Excellent Early Years Practice
- Essential - Working in partnership with parents and other agencies
- Essential - Customer care
- Essential - Managing a team of people
- Essential - Experience of selling to the public
- Essential - 2 Years experience of working with children in an Early Years environment
Education & Training
- Degree level of education Desirable
- Essential - Level 3 Early Years Education and Childcare qualification in either NVQ, NNEB or other acceptable qualification as stated in the QCA guidelines)
- Desirable - A recent First Aid qualification
- Desirable - Basic Food and Hygiene
- Desirable - Ideally hold a recognised management qualification
- Essential - Experience of working with children aged 0 - 5 years
General & Special Knowledge
Essential - Knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and Ofsted regulations and inspection criteria
Essential - Demonstrate an up to date knowledge of current thinking in developments in Early Years
Essential - Have an awareness of Health and Safety legislation and Equal Opportunities
Essential - Sales and marketing skills
Desirable - Knowledge of Employment Law
Skills & Abilities
- Essential - A good role model, able to lead and inspire a team
- Essential - Good IT skills, specifically Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Essential - Be able to demonstrate reliability and have a good attendance record
- Essential - A confident and sensitive communicator with both adults and children
- Essential - Be able to work as part of a team
- Essential - Have excellent organisation and time management skills
- Essential - Be able to work under pressure without supervision
- Essential - Be self-disciplined and patient
- Essential - Be honest, reliable and flexible
- Essential - Have the ability to ensure the delivery of superb care and education
- Essential - Have a professional attitude and manner
- Essential - The ability to implement and manage change
- Essential - The ability to liaise with outside bodies in a professional manner
- Essential - Self-motivated
- Essential - The ability to problem solve and resolve to a satisfactory outcome
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent
Pay: £25,000.00-£29,500.00 per year
Benefits:
- Childcare
- Company events
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
Experience:
- Nursery: 1 year (preferred)
- Childcare: 1 year (preferred)
- Management: 1 year (preferred)
Work Location: In person
