NAPIER KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATION

POSITION AND PERSON DESCRIPTION –

TEACHER AND HEAD TEACHER POSITIONS AS STATED BELOW

THE ASSOCIATION

Napier Kindergarten Association has operated as a community based, not for profit organisation since 1951. It is overseen by a governing board of 9 members, 8 of whom are elected by parent and life members, as well as 1 member elected by employees.

Our Association has 16 kindergartens (2 of which are based in Wairoa), 72 teachers, 1 teacher aide, 15 Kindergarten Support Workers and any number of relievers and additional support personnel.

All kindergartens under the Napier Association’s umbrella have offered 20 Hours ECE since July 2007.

All Napier kindergartens operate the Info Care Kindergarten programme which caters for all administration work, including rolls, bulk funding returns, annual returns, waiting lists, frequent absences etc. This programme also makes the claiming of the WINZ subsidies easy to manage.

The Association is an equal employment opportunities employer, and actively practises good employer philosophies.

The Association is a member of the national kindergarten body, New Zealand Kindergartens Incorporated.

All of our kindergartens offer a curriculum based on Te Whāriki.

We are committed to delivering high quality education by employing fully trained registered teachers with a minimum of 1 teacher to every 10 children.

All of our kindergartens are licenced for children aged 2 to 5 years and offer a six hour session for all or some of the children enrolled.

We offer excellent professional development opportunities and non contact provision within the guidelines of the Kindergarten Teachers Collective Agreement. All teaching employees are required to attend an annual two day conference in Napier during one of the term breaks. Additional individual PD opportunities are also available.

All permanent employees in positions of 15 hours or more per week are automatically included in our group life insurance scheme (paid for by the Association) which provides life cover of $100,000 (payable to your nominated person).

Salary level will be determined as per the Kindergarten Teachers Collective Agreement taking into account teaching qualifications and experience.

We offer an excellent mentoring programme for provisionally registered teachers.

The start date for all of these positions is the 23 July 2018.

.925 Teacher, Eskview Kindergarten (37 hours per week)

Eskview Kindergarten is situated in the small township of Bay View, approximately 9 km north, and within a 10 minute drive, of the Napier City Centre. The buildings and grounds have been maintained to an excellent standard and the kindergarten is very well resourced with a beautiful and engaging playground. Applicants can view more information about us on our website page @

Our Philosophy:

We provide a colourful and creative learning environment; rich in opportunities for children to be curious and stimulated within a harmonious atmosphere. We promote a respectful kindergarten, reflective of and embracing the local community and environment, which acknowledges the dual heritages of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Favourite 2016 ERO comment:

Children learn in a positive, supportive environment that reflects the kindergarten’s philosophy and semi-rural environment. A broad curriculum reflects the kindergarten’s commitment to the arts and physical activity. Early literacy, mathematics and science development is meaningfully integrated into learning contexts. Children lead their own learning and are highly engaged in cooperative and sustained play.

Our kindergarten acknowledges the importance of fostering warm, reciprocal relationships, both with the children and their families, and the vibrant local community.We are well known for the many community events held at our kindergarten.

Our kindergarten enjoys excellent parent and committee support. Parents take a strong interest in their children’s early childhood education at Eskview Kindergarten.

We are located within a semi rural community and operate on an all day licence. We offer 6 hour sessions,five days a week.

You would be working in a team of 4 experienced teachers with additional kindergarten support worker assistance.

Enclosed is an example of the professional standards/job description.

.925 Teacher (37 hours per week) hours of work will be:

Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 8:00 to 3:45 (inc 30 min provision for lunch break)

Wed 8:00 to 4:30 (inc 30 min provision for lunch break)

EskviewKindergarten Person Specifications

In addition to the duties described in the job description, we are looking for a teacher with the following skills, attributes, qualifications and abilities:

  • Full or provisional registration.
  • Are inspired, inspiring, passionate and committed to ongoing professional development
  • Are involved, personable, warm, welcoming
  • Are confident communicators
  • Value the care of children
  • Believe in and are willing to be partners with the Association and the kindergarten family vision
  • Are flexible, forward thinking and capable of using initiative.
  • Have excellent adult interpersonal skills – able to manage conflict resolution and contribute to a positive, respectful and professional team culture.
  • Are willing to operate within Association policies and guidelines.
  • Are capable of exercising good judgement and discernment.
  • Have a commitment to Te Reo me nga Tikanga Maori.
  • Have an interest in and empathy for sustainable education.
  • Have the ability to build and foster community spirit.
  • Can bring a sense of joy, warmth and enthusiasm to their work.
  • Have excellent time management skills.
  • Have competent computer skills (training will be provided in the InfoCare programme).
  • A willingness to expand knowledge of the cultures of the children attending the kindergarten.
  • The ability to market the kindergarten in a competitive environment.

.375 Job share Teacher Wairoa Kindergarten (15 hours per week)

Wairoa Kindergarten is situated in the Northern Hawkes Bay town of Wairoa, which is a small rural community. We have a relationship with another kindergarten in Wairoa which also operates under the Napier Kindergartens’ umbrella – Nga Tamariki O Nga Hau E Wha Kindergarten. We cater for children from a wide range of backgrounds both rural and town. Children attend from a large geographic area and are enrolled for anything from one to five sessions a week. We have a high proportion of Māori children and a diverse age range of two to five year olds enrolled.

We have a well resourced kindergarten set in large, attractive grounds.

Our philosophy is:

We inspire learning by providing a fun and challenging environment. We promote a collaborative, inclusive and supportive learning environment through the use of positive social interactions. We support and respect our community of learners.

The ideal applicant would be able to demonstrate a high level of commitment to understanding and applying Te Ao Maori concepts and how they link to the Te Whāriki curriculum in their daily practice and/or be willing to commit to growing in this area. They should have an interest in Place Based Learning using our community and environment to inspire learning, have developed strong, positive guidance strategies and have a good sense of humour.

While this position is permanent, it is also a job share position, which means that it automatically terminates when the other person in the job share position ends their employment. If that occurs there is the possibility a new job share arrangement could be entered into, but there is no obligation to continue the arrangement. Alternatively the position may be restored to its original size prior to being job shared and the remaining employee offered that position.

The days and hours of work for this position are:

Thursday8.00 – 4:30pm (8 hours paid)

Friday8.00 – 3.30pm (7 hours paid)

As our kindergarten has a number of two year old children enrolled, some experience and appreciation of the needs of two year olds and willingness to support their transition into kindergarten in a calm andreassuring way would be an advantage.

Our kindergarten operates on an All Day licence with 5 x 6 hour sessions. It has a roll of 40 children. There is additional non teaching kindergarten support provided. The teacher to child ratio is 1:10.

All Wairoa teachers are required to attend the Associations’ annual 2 day conference (held in Napier)with travel and accommodation costs provided for by the Association. Our Education Managers regularly visit Wairoa and provide opportunities for in house training and meetings.

We are prepared to negotiate assistance with relocation coststo those living outside of the Wairoa district for this position.

The successful applicant will be working in a cohesive, inclusive and high functioning team which encourages respect for diverse views, supports teachers with varying degrees of experience and supports teachers to excel and achieve.

Our two Wairoa based kindergartens work cohesively together in a number of areasand work towards fostering good working relationships, liaison and communication between the two kindergartens.

Wairoa Kindergarten Person Specifications

In addition to the duties described in the job description, we are looking for an experienced, capable, confident Teacher with the following skills and abilities:

  • Full or provisional registration
  • A strong commitment to Te Reo me nga Tikanga Maori
  • Demonstrated interest in and empathy for sustainable education
  • Proven excellent adult relationship management skills including ability to contribute to building a positive team culture.
  • A commitment to being a team player with strong communication and conflict resolution skills.
  • Friendly, positive, harmonious manner and attitude.
  • The ability to successfully manage change and to be flexible, forward thinking and capable of using initiative
  • Someone who can bring a sense of joy, warmth and enthusiasm to their work.
  • Proven ability to build and foster community spirit.
  • Embraces the opportunity to work with a diverse age range of children
  • Ability to work well with families and external agencies.
  • A commitment to going the extra mile.
  • A person who is passionate about early childhood education and has a commitment to participate in ongoing professional development both individually and as a team.
  • The ability to treat everyone with respect and dignity, regardless of their backgrounds
  • A willingness to expand knowledge of the cultures of the children attending the kindergarten.
  • A person who can work with a variety of socio-economic backgrounds
  • Excellent time management and organisational skills.
  • Competent computer skills (training will be provided in the InfoCare programme).
  • Interest in and empathy for working with special needs children

Head Teacher Pirimai Kindergarten (40 hours per week)

While Head Teacher positions are demanding, for those with leadership capability they are rewarding and satisfying.

The Head Teacher is essential to creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere where the importance of Māori as tangata whenua is evident as well as provision of an intercultural environment where all children's cultural backgrounds are acknowledged.

The Head Teacher must be able to demonstrate good leadership skills and the ability to develop visions and inspire others. It is essential the Head Teacher be a person of integrity with confident communication skills and good administrative skills.

The Head Teacher must be able to demonstrate the ability to form a cohesive, inclusive and high functioning team which encourages respect for diverse views, supports teachers with varying degrees of experience and supports teachers to excel and achieve.

We have an expectation that the Head Teacher will role model the highest standards of professionalism, quality teaching and integrity.This demanding role requires a Head Teacher to have strategies in place to ensure they can maintain their stamina and resilience.

The Head Teacher salary level is $ 78,269 with a further $ 2,000 Head Teacher allowance payable. In addition to the provision for professional time that is available to teachers, a further 32 hours per annum of Head Teacher release time is available.

Pirimai Kindergarten is sited next to the Pirimai Shopping Centre, approximately 6 kms from the city centre. The building is well maintained and attractive, the grounds are spacious and stunning following a major playground redevelopment.

Our Philosophy is:

Our kindergarten philosophy is founded in respectful and nurturing relationships where children, families and teachers are valued and welcomed. We believe that socialisation is a vital part of teaching and learning and children learn best through play that is joyful and fun.
We acknowledge Mâori as TangataWhenua and we are committed tobeing a kindergarten that reflects that responsibility while also committing to providing an inclusive environment for all cultures and abilities.
We embrace our beautiful natural environment and strive to teach our children about environmental sustainability and taking responsibility for Papatuanuki, our planet Earth. We will strive to teach the values and morals of our society including love, kindness and respect for each other.
We will do our utmost to provide an environment rich in literacy and numeracy, foster independence andprovide a level of challenge that encourages growth and development in children so that they develop theresilience needed to succeed in today's world.

We enjoy excellent parent and committee support. Parents take an active interest in their children’s early childhood education at Pirimai Kindergarten. The kindergarten has created a centre which is inviting to parents and encourages a high degree of interaction with families.

Pirimai Kindergarten operates on an All Day licence with 5 x 6 hour sessions which operate alongside 5 morning sessions of 4¼ hours duration. It has a roll of 40 children with 2 fulltime teachers and 3 part time teachers. There is additional non teaching support provided daily. The teacher to child ratio is 1:10.

Pirimai Kindergarten Head Teacher Person Specifications

In addition to the duties described in the job description, we are looking for a capable, confident Head Teacher with the following skills and abilities:

  • The ability to successfully lead staff and community through a period of change and to be flexible, forward thinking and capable of using initiative.
  • Proven, excellent adult relationship management skills including ability to manage conflict resolution and build a positive, respectful and professional team culture.
  • The ability to treat everyone with respect and dignity.
  • The ability to work closely, effectively and respectfully with senior staff (such as Napier Kindergarten Association management team) building trust and confidence.
  • Willing to take direction or seek advice from senior staff and operate within Association policies and guidelines.
  • Capable of exercising good judgement
  • Proven ability to demonstrate and articulate good team leadership and management skills.
  • Ability to identify and appropriately address performance issues, encourage and support teachers to meet expectations.
  • A strong commitment to Te Reo me nga Tikanga Maori.
  • Demonstrated strong interest in and empathy for sustainable education.
  • Full registration.
  • The ability to build and foster community spirit.
  • Friendly, harmonious manner and attitude.
  • Someone who can bring a sense of joy, warmth and enthusiasm to their work.
  • Excellent time management skills.
  • Competent computer skills (training will be provided in the InfoCare programme).
  • The ability to be able to work effectively as part of the wider management team (Head Teachers in the Napier Kindergarten Association are considered to be the “managers” of their kindergartens, and are expected to carry out leadership roles in their positions. There are 15 other Head Teachers within the Association, and some professional development and training opportunities for Head Teachers may be more directly focussed on management as opposed to curriculum based).
  • The ability to liaise effectively with a range of outside agencies.
  • A willingness to expand knowledge of the cultures of the children attending the kindergarten.
  • The ability to market the kindergarten in a competitive environment.

Where a kindergarten has a local kindergarten committee operating Head Teachers are expected to attend their meetings, which should be held at the kindergarten, outside of session times.

GENERAL PERSON SPECIFICATIONS: FOR ALL KINDERGARTEN TEACHER POSITIONS

It is essential that our teachers support their teams to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere where the importance of Māori as tangata whenua is evident as well as provision of an intercultural environment where all children's cultural backgrounds are acknowledged.

We expect our teachers to be persons of integrity, who are willing to work in an ethical and professional manner and to represent the Association and the teaching profession well at all times.

Our teachers must be willing to actively contribute towards creating cohesive, inclusive and high functioning teams which encourage respect for diverse views and support teaching colleagues with varying degrees of experience to excel and achieve.

It is a job requirement of the Napier Kindergarten Association that all teachers are first-aid trained, and must attend all staff meetings, professional development and in-house training meetings that are organised throughout any year.

A high standard of performance and professionalism is expected from teachers in the Napier Kindergarten Association. In return for this, the Association offers generous support and working conditions for all teachers.

The closing date for all positions is 5 PM Friday 25 May 2018.

It is preferred the successful applicants will begin their duties 23 July 2018.