JOB DESCRIPTION and PERSON SPECIFICATION
DATE:
12 May 2016
POSITION:
Head Teacher
KINDERGARTEN:
Kidsfirst Kindergartens Wales Street
ADDRESS:
134 Wales Street, Halswell, Christchurch
PHONE NUMBER:
322 8046
CURRENT OPERATING ROLL: All Day Kindergarten (8.30am to 2.30pm) 40/30.
Refer to the Kidsfirst Kindergartens Wales Street home page on the website for
additional information.
Description of community:
Wales Street is a busy, vibrant kindergarten with high attendance. There are
approximately 60 children on the roll, with parents/whanau having high expectations
for their children’s learning.
Curriculum Emphases
 Whānau relationships- providing a sense of place and belonging is a very
important aspect of the kindergarten programme.
 Providing a calm, safe, engaging, and rich environment where children
develop an enthusiasm for learning.
 An inquiry approach supporting competent confident learners who are actively
involved in decision making, problem solving, creative thinking and taking
responsibility.
 Supporting children’s developing understandings of social competence,
respect for self and others, and implement teaching strategies linked to
current theory and wise practice to support this.
 A learning environment that is rich in language, literacy, numeracy, visual arts
and physically active play
Programme Priorities
 Being an intentional/purposeful teacher by providing inspiring environments.
 Children’s growing understanding of social competence, respect for self and
others, and taking responsibility within the programme.
 Building Tikanga Maori perspectives into the programme
 Weekly Planning discussions- linked to observations and children’s goals and
inquiry learning approach.
 Ways to highlight children’s learning through learning displays that invite
parent/whanau participation.
 Self review will be in depth and inform teaching and learning practices.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The following derive from the Kidsfirst Kindergartens Areas of Practice Quality
Evaluation Indicators (2013) which is available online
http://assets2.kidsfirst.co.nz/assets/QEI-Poster.pdf.
Head Teacher Leadership
A current, up-to-date Pedagogical Leader;
 Leading the teaching team in all areas of practice
 Inspiring teachers, building leadership capacity, and assisting team members to
set and attain robust professional goals
 Providing critical feedback on teaching practices to teachers on an ongoing basis
leading to continual improvement
 Effectively implementing “wise practice”1 that leads to improved learning
outcomes for children
 Ensuring the kindergarten’s wise practice is embedded and sustainable
 Effectively leading team dynamics, relationships and communication
 Who seeks and is responsive to professional feedback
A Strategic Leader demonstrating;
 Kidsfirst philosophy and values - articulated, implemented, and reflected in
programme and vision
 The kindergarten’s systems and processes are sustainable
 Recognition of the difference between professional and personal communication
and appropriate responses
 A professional demeanour with Kidsfirst colleagues and members of the learning
community, engaging with the wider sector and portraying the association
positively within the kindergarten and in the wider community
 A respectful and professional relationship with the Education Services team is
evident
Curriculum and teaching requirements
The successful applicant will be an intentional teacher who;
 Demonstrates understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of Te Whāriki and
implements wise practice.
 Participates in ongoing and appropriate professional development that informs
and is reflected in their practice
 Participates in both child and teacher initiated sustained, shared teaching
episodes to extend children’s thinking and value their contribution to the learning
experience
 Is committed to their own understanding as a Treaty partner as demonstrated
through professional growth and practice
 Has a commitment to and awareness of the principles of inclusion. This is evident
in and integrated within their professional practice
 Uses robust pedagogical documentation to support assessment, planning for
learning and self-review
1
Wise practice: Joy Goodfellow’s term that replaces “best practice” as there is no such static thing as best
practice. Wise practice expects teachers to be open, responsive, and reflective to new pedagogy.
Relationships with children
The successful applicant will;
 Value and respond to family/whānau aspirations for their children
 Value and respond to the social and cultural worlds and ways of learning of all
children
 Provide feedback to children that acknowledges their effort and success
 Establish relationships and connections underpinned by kaupapa Māori /Māori
pedagogy
 Be available to children so that they can revisit and share their learning with
others
Community requirements
The successful applicant will;
 Have strong, responsive, reciprocal and respectful relationships with
families/whānau, supporting children’s sense of belonging
 Be responsive to individual identities and learning complexities
 Demonstrate authentic partnerships with parents/whānau of all children
 Articulate and share the rationale for curriculum decisions with the kindergarten’s
community of learners
 Transitions are supported by effective partnerships between family/whānau,
services and schools
 Promote and encourage active participation, involvement and decision-making by
the kindergarten community in all aspects of the teaching and learning
programme and self-review
 Play an advocacy role to support the child and the family/whānau
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Personal Attributes that would best suit the needs of the kindergarten:
A Head Teacher who:
What does the Head Teacher need to bring to the position?
 The Head Teacher would need to be a collaborative leader that would lead and
guide a well-established, experienced and cohesive team.
 Is team/relationship focused; reflective and flexible in their approach.
 The Head Teacher would need to have a strong, positive team ethic which values
team input and shared decision making, and is willing to delegate and values
team members’ strengths and initiatives.
 The Head Teacher would need to be genuine, approachable, inclusive and willing
to give time to the parent community and maintain the warm inviting
environment.
 The Head Teacher would need to be willing to foster and work with the parent
fundraising group, a vital aspect of the ongoing development of the kindergarten
environment.
 Has a working understanding of what an intentional/purposeful teacher looks like
in practice.
 Has expertise in building relationships and supporting families/whānau from
diverse backgrounds
 Has a strong commitment to, and understanding of, bicultural practice
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Can lead the team in the areas of social competence, the principles of inclusion,
social justice and a children’s rights approach
Has confidence in leading the team with a socio cultural perspective of
assessment for learning
Can lead the team in using informal discussions with parents/whānau, wall
displays, Educa and children’s profile books to inform and engage
families/whānau in children’s learning.
Who is energetic, enthusiastic, shows initiative and is able to articulate and listen
to others points of view.