ROLE DESCRIPTION:

Role: Early Years Deputy Manager (Outdoor Practitioner)

Location: GroWild Kindergarten, Unit 3 Sapphire House, Roundtree Way, Sprowston, Norwich, Norfolk, NR7 8SQ.

Who are we? We are a Forest School setting based in 2.2 acres of woodland in Norwich. We offer an exciting opportunity for kids to play, explore, make, climb, build and learn new skills in a woodland environment. The activities we offer are both adventurous and educational, enabling children to become immersed in their experiences, take risks, learn new skills, make life-long friendships and connect with the natural environment.

Who are we looking for? ? A unique opportunity for an experienced Deputy Manager/Outdoor Practitioner to join us in supporting the Nursery Manager in leading our unique early years Forest School provision for 2-5 year olds in Norwich. We are looking for dynamic individuals who are ready for the next challenge in their career and want to join a team of like-minded folk educating children in a natural and play based environment.

Hours: Initially 32 hrs per week, view to extend to a full time position (40 hours per week), working between the hours of 7.45am - 5.45pm. Monday to Thursday initially (negotiable/flexible). Job share considered.

Salary: Dependent upon experience/negotiable.

DBS clearance: Please note that as this post will involve working with children your appointment is subject to you receiving satisfactory DBS clearance.

Deadline for application: 12th March 2021

Expected start date: April/May 2021

Areas of Responsibility and Key Tasks:

As Deputy Manager, you’ll support the Nursery Manager in leading a team using your existing skills, experience and passion for child-led learning in a forest school/outdoor environment. You will have the energy and enthusiasm required to support the development of the setting.
To motivate, lead, role model to and inspire your team of practitioners and help them to grow as educators within the Forest School ethos, especially in the absence of the Manager.
To support the Manager to inspire the team, parents/carers and others to adopt a play based approach for children in our care through communication, feedback and CPD sessions.
To be fully committed to the company play and learning ethos and to promote the forest school ethos and principles.
To be able to look at a natural play space that would appear empty to the untrained eye and see the open-ended and child-led learning opportunities.
You will be responsible at all times for high standards of care and education of children in accordance with requirements and company policies.
Your role may also involve children who have been identified as SEN and you will need to support and scaffold the needs of the child ensuring equal opportunities and a nurturing environment for them to succeed, signposting parents/carers and liaising with relevant care teams where applicable.
Lead and empower children to succeed, drawing on playfulness, energy, charisma and child-led exploration.
To create and maintain an engaging, fun and supportive environment, demonstrating flexibility in planning and running sessions in response to varying/changing needs of children. To ensure your team do so too!
To support learners in the setting to; learn outdoor skills, become resilient, develop social and environmental awareness, grow in confidence and navigate their way to learning boundaries and risk taking. To be able to evidence this and support emotional learning in this environment.
To be a key worker for children attending and to support your team appropriately to manage their key worker ratios.
To ensure days are spent following children's interests in the moment; climbing trees, cooking on the campfire, exploring the woodland, making a mud pie - scaffolding an environment for child-led, play based learning. You will be committed to predominantly working outdoors and you will be happy to get muddy and ensure you are prepared and comfortable to work in this environment.
Ensure you and your team supervise children at all times, protecting their safety and making sure that they are engaged and enjoying themselves.
Observe and track children's development with the use of active daily and weekly reflection including Tapestry. To be prepared to report and discuss this reflection regularly with management and team members. To ensure all relevant reflection is regularly recorded according to company policy and that your team adhere to this policy.
To ensure all administration is completed by the team where applicable.
To ensure you have a full understanding of your job role and actively look for training and CPD opportunities to further promote your knowledge and understanding within the role.
To be aware of and comply with all company policies and procedures.
To administer basic first aid as the need arises and undertake first aid training where required.
To observe confidentiality and confidentiality policies at all times.
Facilitate OFSTED inspections and support the Nursery Manager to implement recommendations.
To assist with successful recruitment of suitable candidates as the provision expands. To identify training, evaluation and staff training plans.
Keep up to date with current childcare developments, policy and practice.
To implement the EYFS using the forest school approach.

Essential Person Specification Skills and Understanding:

A minimum of Early Years Level 3 qualification (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/early-yearsqualifications-finder).
Experience of working and implementing the EYFS statutory framework.
Thorough knowledge and understanding of safeguarding.
Sufficient understanding of the english language.
A strong team working ethos and ability to work collaboratively with all team members.
Experience of leading forest school/outdoor/teaching sessions.

Essential Behavioural Characteristics:

A flexible and proactive work ethic and a positive attitude.
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong relationships with your team and parents/ carers. To be able to communicate effectively.
Adaptable, flexible and able to use your own initiative on a daily basis.
Strong communication, presentation and interpersonal skills with a proven ability to disseminate information to a variety of audiences and ages.
A flexible and proactive work ethic and a positive attitude.
A reflective practitioner, being able to review and document your own practice and that of your team.
Punctual, highly organised, reliable and a driven team-player.
Ability to work independently and adopt a flexible approach.
Ability to work as part of a small team.
Creative approach to environmental education activities.

Desired Person Specification Skills and Understanding:

Recent experience of being a Deputy Manager or leading an Early Years team
Forest School/Outdoor or relevant teaching qualification.
Forest School/Outdoor First Aid qualification.
Training in Tapestry.
Paediatric First Aid Certificate.
Food Hygiene Certificate.
Safeguarding Training.

Circumstances:

Able to work week days: Monday to Thursday initially (negotiable/flexible)
Full UK driving licence and own transport
A willingness to undergo training where applicable including safeguarding, first aid, radicalisation, company policies and risk.
To ensure any relevant childcare qualifications that are necessary for your job role are up to date and certificates provided to management.
Job share opportunities will be considered

Apply Here

Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not be identified. A full agreed job role will be provided on offer of position.