Drumduan School is looking for a Kindergarten Assistant to support the Kindergarten teacher in providing a nurturing, stimulating, home-like and sensory Waldorf environment for children from ages three to six, ensuring all children thrive, are happy and fulfil their potential.

Main Responsibilities:

To support the Kindergarten Teacher in their work and to help maintain the Kindergarten environment.

To be alert to the safety and well-being of all children and report any concerns immediately.

To assist the Kindergarten Teacher to the school and running of the Kindergarten class and work as part of a team of teachers, assistants and manager.

To attend to the needs of the children and to maintain the rhythm of the Kindergarten.

To be alert and aware of situations needing attention and to respond appropriately.

To help with the daily preparation of the room, materials and activities and prepare the morning snack.

To work with the children on craft and domestic activities; support listening skills in story-time and be actively engaged in the context of ring time: learning the songs and gestures.

To develop the skills needed for story-telling, puppetry, finger rhymes, songs, and poems.

To assist the teacher in managing children’s behaviour by maintaining consistent boundaries.

To supervise the children in the garden or on walks.

To take care of children needing comfort and first aid.

To assist with writing observations and tracking children’s development.

Attend and complete all statutory training and other professional development courses as required.

Participate and support the mentoring in any mentoring scheme established at Drumduan.

Engage with appraisals and performance reviews.

Maintain good awareness of Staff Handbook and Code of Professional Conduct, closely following guidelines and all requirements.

Work well with the Kindergarten Manager and Coordinator Leads Team and stay well informed about development plans and strategies.

 Report all maintenance issues promptly, following current procedures.

Actively support the upkeep of the Kindergarten room and garden.

Requirements:

Experience working in an Early Years setting (desirable).

Excellent communication and time management skills.

Willingness to work flexible hours at times.

Adherence to the policies and procedures of Drumduan School and compliance with the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act, Health and Safety legislation and upholding the standards set by the Care Inspectorate and Moray Council.

To be familiar with and able to work with the Steiner/Waldorf principles and framework for Early Years, The Curriculum for Excellence, The Child at the Centre, Building the Ambition and GIRFEC documents.

Must be eligible to work in the UK.

If Qualified to SCQF level 7 in (HNC/SVQ 3) Childhood Practice/Early Years and Young People, you could be currently working towards this. If Unqualified, willingness to work towards qualification.

Full, clean PVG membership.

Understanding and commitment to all Child Protection and Safeguarding policies and procedures.

To always act in a professional and confidential manner.

Able to communicate closely with the Kindergarten Manager and faculty in general.

Willingness and the ability to adapt are essential.

First Aid Certificate, Food Hygiene Certificate desirable.

Personal Qualities

Reliable.

Caring and nurturing.

Good verbal and written communication skills.

Positive, ‘can-do’ approach.

Flexible and adaptable.

Positive team member approach.

CONTEXT

Drumduan is a modern and progressive Steiner School located in the beautiful North-East of Scotland overlooking Findhorn Bay and the Moray Firth, with an emphasis on experiential education, nature connection, and the creativity that flows from children being given the space to develop in a low technology school environment. The school currently has students from Kindergarten to Class 12 in the Upper School with teaching and non-teaching staff.

Our school operates with a collective decision-making structure, the college of staff, at its centre. The Coordinator Leads Team aims to coordinate the running of the school to best support its pedagogical purpose.

In addition, there are School Development Groups (SDG) that are formed to hold fundraising initiatives together with the Parents, Teachers and Friends Association (PTFA). The Operations Team works closely with the SDG.