Job Description

Post Title: Class Teacher

Location: Portland Spencer Academy

Salary/Pay Range: Main Pay Scale M1-M6 + TLR2a (31,650 - 43,606 + 3,391)

To start: ASAP (at the latest January 2026)

Duration: Permanent

Hours of work: Full Time

Reporting to: Principal

Main Purpose of the Role

The EYFS Phase Achievement Lead at Portland Spencer Academy will play a pivotal role in ensuring that the Early Years Foundation Stage (N1 to F2) provision remains highly effective, providing children with the best possible start to their education.

This leadership position is integral in shaping the educational experiences of our youngest children, particularly within a richly diverse and contextually challenging community, where more than half of the children are eligible for Pupil Premium and there is a significant proportion of SEND and EAL children from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

The EYFS Phase Achievement Lead is an excellent class teacher who will also embody the school's commitment to inclusion, excellence and community engagement, ensuring that every child's individual needs are met through high-quality teaching, effective team leadership and strong family partnerships. The role demands strategic leadership and operational oversight to maintain and build upon our school's continuous improvement, supporting the school's vision and values of nurturing potential, fostering resilience and celebrating diversity.

You are required to carry out your duties in line with the stated ethos and principles of the school and in line with your responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom you are responsible or come into contact with.

Support and contribute to the school's commitment to enhancing the learning provision, experience and outcomes, enabling all children to have the best possible start and life chances.

In addition to the above you may be asked to undertake any other duties which may reasonably be regarded as within the nature of the duties and responsibilities/grade of the post.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Leadership of EYFS Provision

Lead, develop, and sustain a highly effective EYFS unit that ensures children make excellent progress and have a positive, enriching start to their education.

Maintain high standards of pedagogy and curriculum delivery aligned with the EYFS framework and the school's vision.

Ensure the EYFS curriculum is inclusive, culturally responsive, and tailored to the needs of children with diverse backgrounds and additional needs.

Team Leadership and Staff Development

Lead and line-manage the EYFS team, supporting professional growth through coaching, performance management and targeted CPD.

Hold team members to account for their professional responsibilities and the progress of children in their care.

Facilitate CPD opportunities for the EYFS team and wider school staff, promoting evidence-informed practice and continuous improvement.

Collaborate with the Principal in deploying staff effectively within the EYFS unit to meet children's learning and welfare needs.

Data Accountability and Progress Monitoring

Be accountable for the assessment, tracking, and reporting of EYFS children's progress from Nursery 1 (N1) through to Foundation 2 (F2).

Use our data systems effectively to identify trends, gaps, and areas for intervention, ensuring all children, specifically vulnerable groups, achieve their full potential.

Family and Community Engagement

Build strong relationships with families, particularly new and vulnerable families, through home visits and parent workshops that promote engagement and support for learning at home.

Champion a welcoming and inclusive environment that values family involvement and community links in the EYFS phase.

Strategic Leadership and Collaboration

Attend and contribute to weekly senior leadership team meetings, providing updates on the EYFS unit's progress, challenges and development priorities.

Work collaboratively with senior leaders and subject leads to ensure alignment of EYFS with whole-school strategies and improvement plans.

Model exemplary leadership behaviours, promoting a culture of respect, high expectations, and shared responsibility.

Skills and Competencies

Strong Leadership and Management Skills

: Proven ability to lead a team, manage performance, and foster professional development within a Primary School setting.

Expertise in EYFS Pedagogy

: Deep understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, child development principles, and effective teaching strategies, especially for diverse and disadvantaged cohorts.

Data Literacy

: Skilled in analysing pupil progress data to inform teaching strategies and interventions, with a focus on closing attainment gaps.

Communication and Relationship Building

: Excellent interpersonal skills to build trust and rapport with children, families, staff, and external partners, including conducting home visits and parent workshops.

Strategic Thinking:

Ability to contribute to whole-school leadership, aligning EYFS priorities with broader school improvement goals

.

Cultural Competency and Inclusion:

Sensitivity and responsiveness to the needs of children from varied cultural and linguistic backgrounds, ensuring equity and inclusion in all aspects of provision.

Resilience and Adaptability

: Capacity to work effectively in a complex, high-needs context, maintaining a positive and proactive approach to challenges.

Role Modelling:

Demonstrate consistently high standards of professional behaviour, embodying the school's values and expectations.

Professional Development

The EYFS Phase Achievement Lead will have access to ongoing professional development opportunities both within Portland Spencer Academy and through the Spencer Academies Trust network. Opportunities will include leadership training, EYFS-specific pedagogical development, and participation in our EYFS networks that connect EYFS practitioners from across the Trust. The role encourages continuous learning and reflective practice, supporting the leader to remain abreast of national developments in early years education and to drive innovation within the school's EYFS provision. Professional growth will be supported through performance management processes aligned with the school's vision and commitment to high standards.

Safeguarding

The EYFS Phase Achievement Lead will uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and child protection, ensuring that all children in the EYFS phase are safe, nurtured, and protected. Responsibilities include promoting a culture of vigilance and responsiveness among the EYFS team, ensuring all staff understand and implement safeguarding policies and procedures in line with statutory guidance and school protocols. The role requires maintaining a safe physical and emotional environment for young children, including through risk assessments and safe staffing deployment. The EYFS Phase Achievement Lead will act as a safeguarding champion within the EYFS team, liaising with the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and external agencies as necessary. Commitment to maintaining confidentiality, professional boundaries, and ensuring that safeguarding is integral to all aspects of the EYFS provision.
These above-mentioned duties are neither exclusive nor exhaustive, the post- holder may be required to carry out other duties as required by the Trust.

Additional Information

The Spencer Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our students and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts are subject to enhanced DBS checks and completion of Level 2 safeguarding training.

Job Type: Permanent

Pay: 31,650.00-43,606.00 per year

Benefits:

Bereavement leave Company pension Cycle to work scheme Free flu jabs Free parking Health & wellbeing programme On-site parking Sick pay
Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person