Kimberley Napper

As the Assistant Director, I oversee the operations of the service, lead, guide, and support the team which provides high quality early childhood education and care to children.

This includes:

• Developing relationships that support and partner with families;

• Ensuring the service is compliant with the Education and Care Services National Law and regulations and other relevant legislation;

• Ensuring that the policies of the organisation are implemented;

• Ensuring the organisation’s Quality Improvement Plan is implemented and that the organisation works towards exceeding the National Quality Standard for Early Education and Care; and

• Ensuring that the service and staff acts on the organisation’s commitment to continuous improvement wherever possible.

Responsibilities under the National Quality Standard:

Quality Area 1

Educational program and practice

• Contribution to the design of documentation and ensuring its implementation by all staff;

• Monitoring staff practices including teaching, implementation of learning and workplace ethics and performance;

• Facilitate opportunities for educators to participate in reflective practice, promoting the ongoing cycle of planning, documentation and evaluation;

• In collaboration with the Educational Leader, ensure that staff plan and document children’s learning to make their learning visible;

• In collaboration with the Educational Leader, ensure staff maintain ongoing records of the children’s development, and records of children’s assessments against learning outcomes; and

• In collaboration with the Educational Leader, lead critical reflection and evaluation of children’s learning and ensure this information is used as a primary source for future planning.

Quality Area 2

Children’s Health and Safety

• Evaluating risks in the environment to staff and/or children and delegate to make changes;

• Support the development of a team approach to maintaining a safe, hygienic and aesthetically pleasing environment for staff, children and families; and

• Ensure there is a genuine commitment to the need for each child to be given individual attention and comfort.

Quality Area 3

Physical Environment

• Ensure that planning of environments and the maintenance of the aesthetics of the environment are achieved in collaboration with the children; and

• Lead, guide and support staff to create a safe, supportive, stimulating and educational environment for the children.

Quality Area 4

Staffing Arrangements

• Attend staff meetings, family meetings and management meetings as required, actively contributing;

• Delegate tasks to others with the appropriate skills;

• Mentor and lead the staff and guide and support them in their position. Encourage staff to critically reflect and improve their own practices and understand the benefits of this for the service and children;

• With guidance and mentoring from the Director, manage staff performance and maintain professional standards expected at the service;

• Attending and participating in training as required;

• Contribute to planning staff meetings;

• Assist the Director to facilitate centre staff meetings, encourage input from all staff in the development of the agenda focusing on professional value to staff, and outcomes for children and families;

• Respect and support colleagues by establishing and facilitating positive and ethical channels of communication that are based on principles of mutual respect, equity and fairness;

• Provide effective and fair leadership to staff; and

• Demonstrate strong leadership skills in education and management.

Quality Area 5

Relationships with children

• Develop and demonstrate positive behaviour strategies and support staff in implementing these with children; and

• Work with other team members in the inclusion, support and care of all children.

Quality Area 6

Collaborative partnerships with families and communities

• Liaise with families and community in a positive manner upholding the services values;

• Provide verbal and written information, as delegated by the Director; and

• Maintain an environment of open and honest communication.

Quality Area 7

Governance and Leaderships

• Complete tasks which have been delegated from the Director;

• Accept supervision and provide direction;

• Effective time management skills;

• Contribution to policies, procedures, QIP and all relevant documentation required;

• Complete any relevant and associated documentation;

• Guidance of staff behaviours, attitudes and work place performance in collaboration with the Director;

• Work in collaboration with the Director to guide and make requests of staff to improve performance; and

• Monitoring of staff performance in a fair manner, reporting staff success and any issues to the Director;

• Actively monitoring staff compliance with policies, National Regulations and Law, NQF, job descriptions, code of conduct and ethics and any other relevant documents;

• Maintaining relevant documentation and sharing with Director where required;

• Regular contact with Educational Leaders in collaboration with Director to monitor staff progress

• Support and mentor educators and staff in the consistent, accurate and timely completion of all centre records in relation to the day to day functioning of the centre, including but not limited to individual program plans and records, accident, illness, medication and attendance records, as well as records and authorisations for excursions;

• Attending training as required and directed;

• Attending meetings (including parent, management, liaise etc.) as required and directed;

• Maintain regular meetings with Director, Educational Leader and consultants;

• Maintaining appropriate documentation for the purpose of staff development, performance management and appraisal processes in collaboration with the Director;

• Ensure implementation of practices as directed by Director using mentoring, guidance and delegation;

• In collaboration with Director, diplomatically and appropriately manage work related issues raised by staff/families.

• When communicating with staff, families, community and children, professional communication will be used at all times;

• In the absence of the Director, I assume the role of the responsible person in charge and report back to the Director when required;

- Lead a team of educators to plan, implement, assess and review high quality and diverse educational program based on the Early Years Framework and with reference to the NQS, considering the developmental needs, interests and abilities of all the children attending the service.

- Actively support every child to participate in the program and ensure that the program promotes children’s agency, choices and influence.

- Deliver and guide educators to deliver effective and valuable documentation of children’s learning in accordance with the centre philosophy and the Learning Outcomes.

- Ensure staff and children utilise effective health and hygiene practices, including meeting all regulations relating to food safety and preparation, medical management plans, risk management plans, policies and procedures.

- Work cooperatively, ethically and respectfully with other educators, and support each other’s professional development.

- Develop and maintain respectful, supportive, collaborative and responsive relationships with children and their families.

- Ensure all practices and procedures are in accordance with the NQS and reflect the philosophy, policies and procedures of the service.

- Contribute to the continuous improvement of the service through reflective practice and as directed by the director/ coordinator and educational leader.

- Complete any collection of data, medical or other records required in a timely manner, and in accordance with the service’s policies and procedures and the NQS.

- Assist the director/coordinator or assistant director/coordinator in matters relating to leadership, pedagogical leadership, management support, service administration, as directed.