Kindergarten Teacher
Milkwood Steiner School
Contract: Fulltime contract, commencing 2023. The contract offered is a maximum term contract, commencing as soon as possible and concluding at the end of the 2023 school year (15 December, 2023). The successful applicant may then be offered a permanent, ongoing contract at Milkwood Steiner School, commencing 2024.
Closing Date: 3pm Wednesday 31 May 2023
Milkwood Steiner School is situated on Larrakia land (Darwin) in the tropical north of Australia, delivering a Steiner Curriculum to 100 students from Kindergarten to Class 7. Our school has unique large tropical style buildings with classrooms that open out on to broad verandas, with a playground that extends to a beautiful native bushland. Due to an increase in enrolments, Milkwood is added an additional Kindergarten class in 2023. We are seeking another teacher to join our College.
We are a thriving, growing school, with a welcoming community and children from diverse cultural backgrounds. Our College of Teachers are committed to applying the richness of a Steiner Education to the unique cultural and environmental context of Australia’s Top End. We are seeking a colleague who has a strong desire to grow our school with us.
Milkwood teachers are supported by highly experienced teacher assistants and a rich release/specialist subject program. A Learning Enrichment teacher supports teachers, classes and individual students with diverse learning needs as needed.
Milkwood’s Kindergarten is a beautiful, home-like environment with a Steiner, play-based program for children in the years they turn 5 and 6 years old. The teacher is supported by Teacher Assistant, and also works closely with Indigenous Elders, Families, Principal and the College of Teachers, to integrate Indigenous Knowledge across the Kindergarten curriculum.
Applicants should note that a future stage of this growth will be a transition to registration as a preschool under ACECQA. In future years, the Kindergarten teacher’s role will include addressing the National Quality Framework (NQF) for children’s education and care, while remaining true to Rudolf Steiner’s indications for early childhood, and Milkwood Steiner School’s Values, Vision and Strategic Plan. As we prepare for this next stage, the Kindergarten Teacher will require the skills and experience to work with the Belonging, Being and Becoming: Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), and a familiarity with the NQF. However, this is not a requirement for 2023.
Indigenous applicants who do not meet the Steiner Teaching qualification requirement, but have a willingness to engage in Steiner Teacher Training or a Mentorship by senior staff at the school are strongly encouraged to apply, and will be provided with support and mentoring to join our College.
Key Responsibilities
- Work effectively with the College of Teachers, Principal and Administration Staff
- Plan, implement, document, assess and report on teaching programs aligned to the National Quality Framework, Belonging, Being and Becoming: Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) in future years (*not required in 2023).
- Develop educational adjustment plans and other adjustments for individual students based on best practice interventions for inclusion, wellbeing, and learning.
- Maintain accurate records of class attendance, engage with incident reporting, behaviour management reporting and mandatory reporting as required.
- Supervise a range of student activities including support and welfare programs, Festivals, and other.
- Communicate regularly with parents via email, phone or face-to-face, via parent-teacher conference (Term 2 & 4) and group information sessions (Term 1 & 3).
- Attend relevant meetings, including a reasonable number of planning meetings, at the discretion of the Principal.
- Ensure appropriate behaviour of students in class, around the school and whilst on excursions or camps.
- Care for the classroom and manage the classroom budget, ensuring that the aesthetics, layout, and management of the room reflect the cultural values of Milkwood Steiner School and support teaching and learning.
Qualifications
The applicant must be a Registered Teacher in the NT (TRB), and provide a current Ochre Card, Police Check and First Aid Certificate (or be able to provide these prior to the contract start date).
Key Selection Criteria
Essential
- A commitment to the principles of Steiner Education, including qualifications and/or commitment to Professional Development in Steiner Education
- Demonstrated experience planning, delivering and assessing a child-focused Steiner curriculum, with classroom management and organisational skills
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and community including demonstrated skills in communication
- A love for children and an inclusive approach that values diversity and wellbeing, and child safety
- Excellent understandings of self-care and insight into own support needs
Desirable
- Early Childhood Teacher qualification
- Specialist subject area training, skills, strengths or interests
- An interest in specialised areas of the school’s professional and cultural life (eg. child studies, festivals, adult education, eurythmy, community camps, mentoring)
Enquiries and applications to the Principal by 3pm Wednesday 31 May: principal@milkwood.nt.edu.au
Applications to include
- Cover Letter addressing the selection criteria
- CV and registration documents
- 2 referees
