Foundation Phase Teacher

There is something rather special about teaching in the Foundation Phase.

It is where curiosity is still gloriously untamed, questions are plentiful, play is serious business, and a child’s early experiences of school begin to shape how she sees herself as a learner.

St Cyprian’s School is looking for an innovative, reflective and passionate Foundation Phase Teacher who understands both the joy and the significance of these formative years, to join us from January 2027. We are looking for an excellent classroom practitioner with a strong understanding of early childhood development and developmentally appropriate practice — someone who knows that young children do not all develop according to the same timetable, and who can recognise what each child needs in order to take her next meaningful step.

Our ideal teacher understands that excellent Foundation Phase teaching is neither entirely child-led nor entirely teacher-directed. It is the thoughtful weaving together of explicit teaching, purposeful play, exploration, inquiry and intentional instruction .

You will create a classroom in which learning is practical, visual and hands-on before it becomes abstract; where curiosity and critical thinking are encouraged; and where girls experience both the challenge and the support they need to flourish.

Just as importantly, you will see the whole child .

You will notice when a learner is struggling before the gap becomes a chasm. You will understand the relationship between cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. You will build independence, confidence, collaboration, communication and resilience — not as lovely extras, but as essential parts of learning.

And because no child learns in isolation, you will build warm, respectful and meaningful relationships with learners, colleagues and families.