Head of EYFS

Position: Head of EYFS - January 2026 Start

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Job Description

We are looking to appoint an outstanding Head of EYFS to join the team. The post holder will support the school's Vision and Mission, all policies, academic standards and pastoral support in the Primary school.

Key Purpose

Working alongside the Principal and Head of Primary, the Head of EYFS will have overall responsibility for the day‑to‑day and strategic management of the Primary school. The post holder will lead, manage, and be responsible for tracking progress, considering curriculum planning, supporting the Behaviour for Learning, and communicating with parents to promote the realisation of the school’s vision.

Main Purpose

• Embrace and encourage the ethos and standards of excellence as defined in the GEMS Core Values.
• Ensure high academic standards in the Early Years school with the school's desire for all students to be the best they can, as well as a commitment to the UAE National Agenda targets.
• Formulate the aims and objectives of the school.
• Establish policies for achieving these aims and objectives.
• Manage staff and resources to that end.
• Monitor progress towards the achievement of the school’s aims and objectives.
• Manage budgets and undertake teaching and other professional duties as reasonably delegated by the Principal.
• Assist in shaping & implementing the educational strategy for the school.

Qualities

• Uphold public trust in school leadership and maintain high standards of ethics, behaviour and professional conduct.
• Build positive and respectful relationships across the school and the parent community.
• Serve in the best interests of the school’s students.
• Be an effective role model who demonstrates consistently the positive attitudes, values and behaviour expected of pupils.
• Make a positive contribution to the broader life and ethos of the school.
• Treat students and staff with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and always observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position.

Duties and Responsibilities School Culture and Behaviour

• Embrace & encourage the ethos and standards of excellence as defined in the GEMS Core Values.
• Work closely with the Head of Primary to establish practical and globally relevant practices of learning & teaching.
• Implement the school's vision for quality aligned with the GEMS expectation of excellent education.
• Create a culture where students experience a positive and enriching school life.
• Uphold educational standards to prepare students from all backgrounds for their next phase of education and life.
• Ensure a culture of staff professionalism.
• Encourage high standards of behaviour from students, built on rules and routines understood by staff and students and demonstrated by all adults in school.
• Use consistent and fair approaches to managing behaviour, in line with the school’s behaviour policy.

Teaching, Curriculum and Assessment

• Establish and sustain high-quality teaching across all subjects and phases, based on evidence.
• Ensure teaching is underpinned by subject expertise.
• Develop monitoring and evaluation systems to assess teaching and learning standards, and implement any necessary improvement strategies.
• Ensure the teaching of a broad, structured and coherent curriculum.
• Establish curriculum leadership, including subject leaders with relevant expertise and access to professional networks and communities.
• Use valid, reliable and proportionate approaches to assessing students’ knowledge and understanding of the curriculum.

Additional and Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disabilities

• Promote a culture and practices that enable all students to access the curriculum.
• Have ambitious expectations for all students with SEN and disabilities.
• Work effectively with parents to identify additional needs and provide support and adaptation where appropriate.

Organisational Management and School Improvement

• Establish and sustain the school’s ethos and strategic direction together with the governing board, and through consultation with the school community.
• Establish and oversee systems, processes and policies so the school can operate effectively.
• Ensure…