EYFS Deputy Manager

The EYFS Deputy Manager is expected to support and nurture the Catholic ethos of the school, as outlined
in the Mission Statement and Aims of the School. He/she will be expected to contribute to
the work of the EYFS department.

The EYFS Deputy Manager should inspire departmental colleagues and all students who study in their
curriculum area with a love for their subject, leading them to explore it and value it for their whole life.

All staff at Thornton College are expected to contribute outside the classroom, within the co-curricular and
school trips provision., Spiritual

• To lead and facilitate opportunities for spiritual growth and development: prayer, reflection,

collective worship and assemblies.

• To promote trust and respect in your relationships with colleagues and pupils based upon the Gospel

Values of Peace, Justice, Truth and Love, in accordance with the Mission Statement of the College.

Childcare and Education

• To ensure all practice and provision meets the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.


• To ensure all aspects of the EYFS, and regulatory requirements are delivered to the

highest standard.

• To promote high standards of quality in respect of the environment, resources, and

experiences offered to children.

• To develop educational practices to ensure children are school ready.


• To develop numeracy and literacy skills to a high standard.


• To ensure that the curriculum offers rich and stimulating experiences appropriate to the age

and stage of development for all children.

• To support the development of good practice with regards to inclusion.


• To create and maintain a culture of self-evaluation and reflective practice throughout the

Pre- Reception and EYFS generally.

• To ensure each child is developing in line with the EYFS and that staff are maintaining

accurate assessment records.

• To ensure that children are kept safe, and that staff are aware of and follow

Safeguarding Procedures.

• To promote and facilitate positive partnerships with parents.


• To facilitate high-quality induction for new children and their families.


Health and Safety


• To monitor the day-to-day operation to ensure the health and safety of the children, their

parents, the EYFS team and any visitors to the EYFS.

• To maintain an excellent working environment with all maintenance issues dealt with quickly

and safely.

• To adhere to all health and safety policies and procedures.






• To be fully aware of all safeguarding procedures, including emergency and security procedures.


• To pay due regard to the School's Health & Safety Policy, including one's own H&S needs and those

of others; particularly those for whom you have a duty of care.

Operational


• To support the Head of EYFS to facilitate inspections by regulatory bodies and implement

any recommendations.

• To be responsible for ensuring that all complaints and concerns are actively resolved promptly

and follow the school's policy.

• To provide outstanding communication to parents.


Marketing


• To proactively represent Thornton for all marketing events including tours


• To promote and advance the interests of Thornton


• To liaise with the Head and the Director of Admissions to ensure all information related to the

EYFS is current and up to date.


Wider Responsibilities


• To contribute to the Appraisal process.


• To complete appropriate training courses as requested.


• To carry out reasonable staff duties as required.


• To attend school functions as arranged across the staff as a whole or within particular departments.


• To participate in the wider life of the School, supporting events; such as shows, concerts, the

Summer Fete, Christmas Fayre, Open Days etc.

• To attend and participate in all INSET and staff meetings


• To provide cover for absent staff when necessary.


• To assist where possible, in promoting the School.


• To assist at the annual events as highlighted by the Headteacher, to include information evenings.


• To liaise with parents and the Head of Prep regarding unauthorised absences.


• To attend, where relevant, Parents' Evenings. Part Time staff are expected to attend all relevant

Parent Evenings, including those held on days when they are not scheduled to teach during the day.
Where this is not possible, reports or recorded telephone meetings will be required for all students
expected to attend the evening.

Day-to day Tasks


• To plan and prepare appropriate and stretching activities and materials alongside the EYFS

manager to ensure the progress of all children across the curriculum

• To regularly communicate with parents and carers about their children's development and

progress as their 'Key Worker.'

• To monitor children's progress, identifying and dealing with any issues, ensuring each child makes

excellent progress

• To assist the EYFS Manager in all administrative duties associated with EYFS.


• To liaise closely with the Reception teacher / EYFS Manager to ensure seamless transition

and appropriate standards

• To give due attention to the educational needs of children who are EAL, SEND and MAT


Skills Necessary to Fulfil Role, Our vision for the Pre-Reception is to provide an environment where children are nurtured and cared for,
ensuring that early attachments are positive and secure. We know the importance of establishing secure
attachments on future success. We, therefore, place great emphasis on ensuring that our children are
given every opportunity to develop positive relationships with adults and each other. We are keen that
Thornton Pre-Reception is seen as a place of educational excellence that promotes all aspects of the EYFS,
including a developmental education that prepares our young children for school.

The Deputy Manager will be instrumental in ensuring that the journey for each child is an exceptional one
that not only takes into consideration the individual child and their developing personality but also has a
sight on the key attributes needed to be 'school ready'.
The role of the Deputy Manager is to ensure that high standards of care and education are maintained at
all times and to lead the setting in the manager's absence.



All staff are responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of students at Thornton College by
ensuring compliance with the school's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy at all times. It is a
requirement of all staff to report any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of students to the
Designated Safeguarding Lead. All staff are required to follow the School's Health & Safety Policy and their
obligations to ensure that they contribute to a safer working environment for all.

All staff are required to undertake whatever else may reasonably be requested by the Head Teacher in
support of the Aims of the School. Job Descriptions are subject to annual review.




This is a term time plus 1 week appointment. The hours of work are 7:45am -4.45pm, five days per week,
with a total of one hour's break for lunch each day.



Job Descriptions are subject to annual review.

All staff are responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of students at Thornton College by
ensuring compliance with the school's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy at all times. It is a
requirement of all staff to report any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of students to the
Designated Safeguarding Lead.

All staff are required to undertake whatever else may be reasonably required by the Headteacher in
support of the Aims of the School

Qualification Full and relevant Childcare and
education Qualification equivalent
to NVQ Level 3.
Good level of general education to at
least GCSE level in English and Maths
or
equivalent.
Knowledge Good knowledge and understanding of
the Early Years Foundation stage
curriculum.

A good understanding of literacy
/phonics and numeracy teaching and
learning at pre-reception age and
ability to plan and teach to enable all
children to be Reception-ready.




Skills Able to lead in the absence of the
EYFS Manager
Able to form excellent relationships
with children.
Able to form good relationships with
other staff.
Able to establish effective
communication with parents.
Able to proactively engage parents
in their child's development and
education.
Able to model and share our school
ethos with children, parents,
colleagues and visitors.
Able to communicate well and
establish firm/consistent boundaries.
Able to observe children and enable
them to make progress in their
thinking and understanding.
Able to plan next steps for individual
children., In-depth knowledge and
experience of working in
EYFS
Understanding of the key
attributes needed for a child
to be 'school ready.'

A good understanding of
ISI standards and criteria
and ability to work with
the EYFS Leader to
produce documentation
required by the
Independent Schools
Inspectorate.

Thornton College is a leading independent Catholic day and boarding school for girls, offering a warm and
nurturing educational environment alongside a rigorous and exciting curriculum.

There are approximately 400 children in our Pre- Reception, Pre-Prep, Prep and Senior departments, aged
from 3-19. Over 50 girls board on a weekly or termly basis and many more take advantage of our occasional
boarding option.

The School is part of the wider Jesus and Mary Trust that educates young people in 29 countries across the
world. It is set within 25 acres of beautiful parkland just outside Buckingham and within easy reach of Milton
Keynes, and conveniently located between Oxford & Cambridge. Children of all Christian denominations, of
other faiths and of no faith are welcome in our school. All are equally valued, and all are equally important.

Thornton is a school that parents and girls can trust to deliver the highest standards of education coupled
with outstanding pastoral care. We are dedicated to blending academic excellence with a richness of
opportunity beyond the classroom. We believe that teaching and learning should be both challenging and
enjoyable for students of all abilities and we aim for the highest possible standards. Our academic results
are testament to the way the girls are challenged and motivated to give their best in all they do.

The provision of single-sex education during formative years enables students to grow in confidence, whilst
enjoying an education that is specifically tailored and that recognises the different ways in which girls learn.

There is an exciting School Development Plan, which has the continued strengthening of the school's
academic standing as the priority. Following the successful opening of our award-winning Science and Prep
Classroom building and our Expressive Arts Studio, we opened a Sixth Form in September 2016 which has
grown, thrived, and proven to be a successful addition to our school. In October 2022, the school received
'Excellent' in all areas in its ISI inspection , with inspectors commenting upon the 'dynamic teaching' and the
'positive attitudes to learning' displayed by 'pupils of all ages' and most recently, the CSI judged the school
to be 'Outstanding' in all areas noting the school's 'commitment to the flourishing of every member of the
community.'

A competitive salary will be offered on Thornton College's own pay scale. The successful candidate will
also qualify for a generous school fee remission.

Training

Thornton College is committed to professional development of staff and will support further in-service
training as required. There are generous INSET and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) budgets.