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Steiner Nature Kindergarten Teacher

Little Sophia Inc

Background

Little Sophia is a not-for-profit, inner-city Steiner long day kindergarten. We currently offer playgroup and two Steiner Association approved kindergarten programs within a long daycare setting. Little Sophia has two rooms, Dragonfly and Kingfisher, catering for 19 and 20 children respectively each per day.

Our new Nature Kindergarten Program will be offered two days a week on a Monday and a Friday afternoon and will include a Steiner Kindergarten program within an outdoor setting. The program will take place both in the surrounding bushland and in our garden at Little Sophia Kindergarten.

Three teachers will work across these two programs in 2022.

Nature Kindergarten Program

The Nature Kindergarten program will be developed by the Nature Kindergarten Teacher to offer the approach and principles of our Steiner Early Childhood within the setting of our local natural environment. It will foster a sense of belonging through connection with the land and place. Our aim is, to develop a program through which rhythms and seasons of the year can be experienced in a more immediate and truthful way through the sensory experiences of being in nature.

Children’s sense of reverence for the environment, role modelled by all the educators, will be deepened in the new Nature Kindergarten Program and the foundation for creative problem-solving in a natural context will be laid by playing with materials provided by nature. The development of the will forces is supported through free play arising out of the children’s inner impulses and imagination, whilst the rhythmical structure of the sessions provide warmth and balance through circles, stories, songs and verses as well as the sharing of food.

The cognitive, social and emotional demands on the children in nature rather than in the formed space of the physical walls of the kindergarten in conjunction with the recognition of anthroposophical knowledge of child development are dictating our approach for the Nature Kindergarten Program. The importance of such a program within the context of an inner-city Kindergarten is in line with Steiner’s early childhood pedagogy as well as meeting the needs of our community.

Primary role: The Nature- Kindergarten Teacher

The teacher works 18 hours per week - 11.5 hours with the children and 6.5 hours of planning and management duties. The teacher will work on Mondays and on Friday afternoons with the children. The teacher will be onsite Friday mornings for management meetings. The program will run for 48 weeks of the year. When the Nature Kinder teacher is on school holidays as per the award, the program will be led by assistants in between terms and follows the rhythm of the term.

Development and implementation of the new Program

The Nature Kindergarten Program will be developed by the Nature Kindergarten Teacher out of their knowledge of Steiner Early childhood pedagogy and special interest in Nature-based Programs. Whilst the direction and aim for the program is established, the successful applicant will take responsibility to generate a program meeting these objectives. The design of the framework will require leadership qualities and strong communication skills to work cooperatively with assistants to form a team and develop the content of the new program.

Children will attend both Home Kinder and Nature Kinder throughout the week, and it is essential that all teachers work cooperatively together to deliver a holistic program over the 5 days of the week. They must share information about children and families, resources, strategies and develop general programs together. Whilst each teacher is ultimately responsible for their program, it is essential that all teachers work together to maintain consistency and harmony in their approach, care and interactions with the children.

Kindergarten in a Steiner Early Childhood setting is a play-based program that engages the will forces of the child in strong daily, weekly and seasonal rhythms. Imaginative play is alternated with structured, teacher-led activities. The seasonal focus of stories, songs and festivals foster reverence and wonder in the natural world.

The role of the Kindergarten Teacher within a Steiner Kinder is of deep significance. The teacher must be a model worthy of imitation to all. At all times the Steiner Teacher must demonstrate respect, patience, gentleness, strength, and care for all. The Steiner Teacher’s role is to provide activities and opportunities that help the imagination unfold through play. All children are encouraged to express themselves and their opinions and to undertake experiences that develop self-reliance and self-esteem.

The Steiner Teacher’s work and care of the children interweave with that of their team to create a secure and gentle environment that allows children to explore and learn through play. The teacher leads the educational team in developing the kindergarten program, and in creating the rhythm and structure of the children’s day. Each teacher works collaboratively with their team to develop harmonious experiences and coordinated approaches in their activities.

Nature of the Role

There are several key aspects to the role of Nature Kindergarten Teacher at Little Sophia Kindergarten:

  • Development of a new nature based Steiner Program

  • Teaching Practice

  • Management responsibilities

  • Professional development

  • General, Administrative and other activities

The Nature Kindergarten Teacher will:

Teaching Practice

  • Present a high-quality Steiner educational program for children

    • Morning circle, known by heart that reflects the children's needs and physical expression

    • Blessings, verses, fingerplays that link to the season and occasion

    • A story, told orally by heart

    • Artistic activities that reflect children's developmental stage and/or seasonal experience

  • Plan and implement a Nature kindergarten program that meets both the Steiner early childhood pedagogy and regulations set out in the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework and the National Quality Framework, and make this visible through documentation

    • Valuable documentation of child’s learning

    • Planning based on children's developmental needs, abilities and interests

  • Maintain good communications with parents concerning the progress of their child

  • Ensure children and families feel respected and supported

  • Employ a variety of effective teaching strategies to successfully implement the kindergarten program and support child development

  • Provide critical reflection of their practice and the ongoing self-assessment of strengths, identified issues and goals

  • Prepare and lead seasonal festivals, parent meetings and information evenings as required

  • Communicate effectively with Rangers of Parks Victoria and develop Programs enriching the Nature Kindergarten.

Management Responsibilities

  • Lead the Nature Kinder with all of its staff, providing educational leadership while working as a member of a collaborative teaching team with educators, teachers and office staff

  • Develop a new program for a Steiner Nature Kindergarten and take full responsibility for it

  • Attend all Management Group meetings on Friday mornings, flexibility may be required at additional times to respond to urgent situations

  • Create a respectful, supportive and collaborative environment for staff

  • Work cooperatively with the other teachers at Little Sophia Kindergarten using a collegiate team approach, to share knowledge, experiences and the running and planning of the Kindergarten Programs

  • Hold responsibility whilst equally working collaboratively to resolve issues that arise within the kindergarten

  • Communicate and collaborate with Parks Victoria staff to ensure a respectful, supportive and collaborative relationship

Professional Development

  • Have a commitment to learning and personal professional development

  • Attend appropriate seminars and courses and professional development sessions

  • Mentor, guide and encourage student teachers, and volunteers

  • Maintain relationships with professional associations

  • Participate in the Professional Reflection and Review processes at Little Sophia Kindergarten

General, Administrative and other Activities

In addition to the normal load of a teacher, the Nature Kindergarten teacher is expected to:

  • Attend the weekly Management meeting

  • Have a solid understanding of Parks Victoria requirements for off-site learning

  • Have experience or be confident in their ability to develop a Nature-based Steiner Kindergarten Program

  • Support and attend College meetings

  • Create and maintain a beautiful, cared for and presented play area when on site

  • Plan, prepare and organise end of term festivals that relate to the seasons

  • Be available to meet with Management Group and/or other teachers as necessary

Essential skills and competencies

Specialist skills and knowledge:

  • Sound knowledge and understanding of Steiner early childhood learning and development theories and learning styles

  • Confidence in development and implementation of a new Program

  • A strong understanding of Steiner curriculum approaches and a thorough knowledge of the Early Years Learning Framework, National Quality Framework and Child Safe Standards

  • Sound knowledge of legislation governing the operation of children’s services, as well as a solid understanding of the quality areas under the National Quality Standard

  • A thorough understanding of the ECA Code of Ethics and be able to support other staff understanding of this Code

  • Reinforce the principles laid out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

  • The ability to coach and mentor, as required, other educators in the development of a robust educational program

  • The ability to facilitate professional discussions and lead and support critical reflection in all aspects of program delivery across the service in consultation with relevant stakeholders

  • The ability to plan, work and manage time effectively with minimal supervision

  • Ability to work with other teachers to develop and implement the Nature Kindergarten program.

Interpersonal skills:

  • Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to professionally communicate with the Governance Committee (employer), families, other staff and professionals

  • Ability to challenge and support other educators to improve their approach to teaching children

  • Well-developed leadership and self-motivation skills

  • Ability to identify and utilise people's strengths and build constructive and productive relationships

  • Ability to work cooperatively within a team environment to share information and resources and develop programs

  • Ability to ensure confidentiality of information

Essential requirements:

  • Hold a suitable degree in Early Childhood or (equivalent or above) recognised under the ACECQA and have experience working in education and care services.

  • Knowledge and or experience of Rudolf Steiner Educations

  • Teaching experience in early childhood Steiner education programs preferred but not essential

  • Must be able to fill the position of Nominated Supervisor if required under the Education and Care Services National Regulations

  • Hold and maintain a current provisional or registration as a teacher under the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT).

  • Hold a current approved first aid qualification, approved anaphylaxis management training and approved emergency asthma management training, in accordance with the Education and Care Services National Regulations and service policies

Salary and Conditions:

  • Salary and Conditions are in accordance with the Early Childhood Teachers Award (VECTEA) 2020

Key Selection Criteria:

  • Have knowledge of and experience in Steiner early childhood curriculum

  • Have experience or be confident in the ability to develop a Nature Steiner Kindergarten Program

  • Have a strong understanding of the approved Early Years Learning Frameworks (EYLF), National Quality Framework (NQF) and Child Safe Standards; demonstrated ability to apply Centre Policies and National Child Care Regulations in an early childhood environment

  • Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver high-quality kindergarten programs based on VEYLDF and EYLF, that meet the emotional and developmental needs of children

  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, to share ideas, resources and equipment and to develop programs

  • Excellent interpersonal skills including demonstrated ability to:

    • communicate respectfully and effectively with children, other teachers, staff, parents/carers, and the Governance Committee (employer)

    • work in a cooperative, flexible and professional manner within a team environment

    • resolve conflicts or differences of opinion in an amicable, professional and collegial manner

    • support other educators to improve their approach to teaching children to undertake self-reflection and professional development and be self-motivated; to identify and utilise people's strengths and build relationships

    • ensure confidentiality of information

Staffing structure across the kindergarten

Little Sophia is committed as an organisation to working without unnecessary hierarchical structures in an anthroposophical framework. For new staff joining Little Sophia, a commitment to fundamental anthroposophical principles are critical to this key component of the organisation's operational planning to function effectively and honouring the spirit and intention of the kindergarten

Applications

Full description of the role is available on our website http://www.littlesophiakindergarten.org.au.

Please send your questions to [email protected], using the subject line: Steiner Nature Kindergarten Teacher enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Click Apply Now to submit your application.

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