Montessori- Trained Early Years Education Assistant

Montessori- trained Early Years Education Assistant

 

Looking for a tree-change? Join us in 2025 to experience the ‘Treetops Difference’.

 

Treetops is a small, caring educational community, located in the Perth Hills. Due to continued growth in student numbers throughout the school, we are seeking an enthusiastic Early Years Education Assistant to work in our Children’s House (years pre-kindy, Kindy and Pre-Primary). This a full-time position, with the role to commence from Term 1 2025.

Our staff enjoy small class sizes, pro-social student behaviours and a proactive behaviour management process, a supportive and approachable administrative and leadership team, as well as a beautiful working environment. We are dedicated to fostering children’s independence, curiosity, and a love of learning

This is a unique opportunity to be a part of one of Perth’s well-established and innovative learning communities.

 

Our ideal candidate will:

· be a qualified Education assistant with ACECQA-approved Diploma Course (Eg Advanced Diploma of Montessori Studies or AMI Montessori Diploma Early Childhood (3-6))

· or Certificate IV in Education (Teacher Aide) or Certificate IV in Education (Teacher Aide/Assistant)

· Preferred recognised Montessori qualification preferred (0-3 or 3-6 years) Diploma of Education (Montessori)

· Dedication to Montessori Principles: You share our commitment to nurturing independence, curiosity, and lifelong learning.

· Prior experience in early childhood or Montessori settings is valued.

· Be able to work both independently and as part of a team

· Be a positive, hard-working, flexible, and collaborative professional

· Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

 

To apply

Your application should consist of a covering letter addressing your skills and experience and explain why you believe you are suited to work at Treetops (max. 2 pages) and a current resume, including at least 2 work-related referees, with one being a current Line Manager.

Please email your application to: Helen Underwood (HR Manager) at [email protected]

Applications close: The closing date for all applications is 3rd December 2024.

 

Job Description

Key Objectives

To carry out the professional duties of an Education Assistant in accordance with the school’s policies and procedures, under the direction of the Class teacher and Head of Primary.

Essential Criteria for Candidate

· Be a qualified Education assistant with ACECQA-approved Diploma Course (Eg Advanced Diploma of Montessori Studies or AMI Montessori Diploma Early Childhood (3-6))

· or Certificate IV in Education (Teacher Aide) or Certificate IV in Education (Teacher Aide/Assistant)

· Preferred recognised Montessori qualification

· Experience in a Early Years setting, ideally a Montessori classroom

· Current Working with Children Check (WWCC).

· Be able to work both independently and as part of a team.

· be a positive, hard-working, flexible, and collaborative professional.

· have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

· Willingness to embrace the ethos of Treetops School, especially respect for the individual, while delivering an innovative and academically-challenging education.

· Experience in multi-age grouping.

· Open to learning new skills and techniques.

· Ability to work collaboratively and energetically within a highly differentiated student-centered school culture.

The Treetops Approach

We believe that:

· Students should be presented with a challenging and broad academic environment that encourages intellectual inquiry and critical thinking.

· Education is the shared responsibility of students, family, and school.

· Nurturing curiosity and creativity is the key to stimulating exploration and discovery throughout life.

· Students learn best when they are actively engaged in authentic learning experiences.

The Treetops Culture

We treat everyone at Treetops as unique individuals and foster their talents and gifts through careful mentorship and guidance, based on mutual respect. At Treetops, we provide an environment that allows these talents to flourish; one that is innovative, progressive and grounded in trust, compassion and respect.

Key Relationships

Reports to the Class Teacher.

In addition, maintain and develop effective working relationships with other EAs in the classrooms , students, parents and guardians, school leadership team, Primary school specialist teachers and with Administration staff.

Child-Safe School

Treetops adheres to the highest standards of contemporary child safe practices. We adhere to, and fully support, the objectives of the WA Commissioner for Children and Young People.

Specific Duties of this Role

· This position comes under the direction of the Children’s House teacher(s).

· Preferably, they should have knowledge of Montessori principles and practice.

· The classroom environment should be prepared during the opening weeks of school. Materials should be complete, in good repair, and maintained in accordance with Montessori's principles of beauty, order, and simplicity. This may include washing classroom dishes, repairs of materials, and daily cleaning tasks.

· The aide helps establish a classroom culture of calm, productive work. Supervise the classroom when necessary and work with individual students or small groups of students as directed by the class teacher.

· Provide behavioural guidance to students in a manner that is firm but respectful.

· The Education Assistant may be required to, at times, assist students with undressing, washing, dressing, toileting and, where necessary, bag soiled clothing and clean affected areas.

· Teaching assistants may be needed to attend the School Library with students – checking in and out books and ensuring books are returned, and students supported in choice of books.

· Aides may be required to target specific tasks and general assistance to students with disabilities, such as specific learning difficulties, as directed by the teacher.

· Teaching Assistants should always attempt to maintain the school ethos of enabling independence and work in such a way that students do not become 'aide dependent'.

· Teacher assistants must also ensure that they do not inadvertently restrict a student's access to the teacher in comparison with other students.

· Ensures that total confidentiality is maintained in regards to all matters related to the students, their families and the School.

· It should be noted that at all times the point of contact for progress or behavioural concerns remains with the class teacher. Teacher assistants are not required to make contact with nor feedback to parents.

Personal Qualities

· Demonstrated attention to detail.

· Experience working with diverse students and providing differentiated learning.

· Flexible and adaptable to changing requirements.

· Sets high standards and expectations.

· A highly motivated individual.

You can expect

· Supportive and approachable academic management team, and enthusiastic team of teachers and support staff.

· Successful and well-resourced school.

· Small class sizes with multi-age groupings.

· Students who manage pro-social behaviour and a proactive behaviour management process.

· Comprehensive remuneration package including extended school holiday periods and staff wellness days.

· This is a full-time position, which may be ongoing..

· A beautiful, peaceful, working environment