Shire Jobs

Description:

Position Purpose:    This position provides quality early childhood learning experiences. 

Position will provide, plan for, implement, and integrate child development activities for assigned children in such a 

manner that contributes to their growth and development in accordance with best practices for serving infants/toddlers 

and Head Start Performance Standards. 

Essential Job Responsibilities -Performance Indicators

Supervision 

• Responsible for no more than four (4) infants/toddlers at a given time; however, this may require supervising children not directly assigned to the Childcare Provider.

• Supervise volunteer workers in the classroom.

• Inform Center Administrator or Assistant Center Administrator of staffing needs and changes immediately.

Systems Evaluation and Development

• Following an approved curriculum, provide quality early childhood learning experiences in the following   functional areas in accordance with prescribed practices outlined in the Ongoing Monitoring Management System:

• Education and Early Childhood Development

• ERSEA

• Health and Hygiene

• NUT: Monitor USDA & ACF Guidelines

• Safe Environments and Transportation

• Communications

•   Provide constant and continuous supervision of children by sight and hearing daily during all indoor and outdoor activities, including sleeping/toileting areas. 

•   Organize and set up learning centers within the classroom at the beginning of each school year.  Infant environments should be adjusted as children grow and develop into toddlers.

•   Screen and assess each assigned child according to the prescribed schedule using an agency-defined assessment instrument within the first forty-five (45) calendar days of enrollment.

• Maintain up-to-date record-keeping system in accordance with Record Keeping and Reporting Management System.   Manually record results and give them to the Clerk for entry into the Child Plus Tracking System according to the prescribed schedule.

•   Ensure that infants/toddlers are fed in accordance with best practices and procedures in EHS Operational Manual and USDA's Feeding Infants Guide.

• Develop and utilize lesson plans, which reflect mandated elements and parental and cultural diversities and promote the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of EHS children bi-weekly.

• Observe children daily in their individual and group activities in the learning center and make appropriate notations on the child's anecdotal observations, group lesson plans, and individualized plans.

• Engage in activities that promote experimentation, exploration, problem-solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice-making; ask open-ended questions and listen respectfully to answers.

• Organize and maintain a system of accurate and current written records in accordance with Education Folder Checklist, lesson plans (group and individualized), local, state, and federal regulations, statutes, and policies.

•   Observe children daily for health concerns to include signs of child abuse or neglect; report concerns immediately to Center Administrator/Assistant Center Administrator and record, as appropriate, in manual records.  

• Adhere to cleaning and disinfecting guidelines for the health and safety of both children and providers in accordance with procedures set forth in the operational manual.

• Provide daily handwashing and toothbrushing in accordance with established hygiene procedures.

• Prior to children's arrival, conduct a visual inspection of classroom to assure, at a minimum, emergency lighting is in good working order, electrical outlets are covered, and that quipment and materials present no safety threat to human life; report concerns immediately to Center Administrator/Assistant Center Administrator

• Assure daily walk-through of playground areas is conducted prior to children's outdoor activities in the absence of custodial staff.

Program Coordination

• Assist with EHS training as appropriate to allow feedback regarding prescribed practices and to enhance skills and knowledge regarding the delivery of services or related record keeping.

•   Record child attendance daily for each assigned child and report absences to Family Community Worker, Center Administrator/Assistant C.A. 

• Ask open-ended questions and listen respectfully to children's answers during play activities.

• Utilize positive approaches to behavior management during indoor and outdoor activities each day.

• Cooperate with the supervisor to continuously maintain the required staff-to-child ratio throughout the operational day.   

•   Maintain classroom in neat and orderly fashion (free of clutter and debris) daily; remove objects immediately deemed hazardous to human life.

• Make referrals to the center administrator or assistant center administrator and family community worker on children with behavioral concerns or suspected learning disabilities; maintain records and follow-up bi-weekly, at a minimum, until the referral concern is addressed.

• Develop and utilize lesson plans, which reflect mandated elements and parental and cultural diversities and promote the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of EHS children bi-weekly.

• Conduct an inventory of all classroom equipment and resources annually and submit needs to Center Administrator or Assistant Center Administrator.

•    Monitor use of supplies, equipment, and materials to assure sufficient operating levels are available at all times; report waste and abuse to Center Administrator/Asst. Center Director immediately; prepare and submit request for replenishment as needed in accordance with established Request for Supplies (RFS) procedures.

•   Maintain an accurate record of meals provided to each child daily.  Implement family-style meal service at each meal provided for children.

• Follow a daily schedule, which includes small and large group experiences, choice time, music, and

movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, meals, and snacks (2/2), and effective transitions between activities, including daily outdoor activities.

• Assist Family Community Workers and other staff with recruiting eligible children and expectant mothers, at a minimum, to fill vacancies to include children with disabilities.

Public Relations

• Assist in orientation of parent committee(s) and county council(s); provide informational resource materials and training as appropriate.

• Design and present formal presentation(s).

• Attend Parent Committee Meetings when requested to establish and support positive rapport with parents as requested by Center Administrator and District Administrator.

• Promote a consistent exchange of information in all directions.