Army - Defence Children Services (DCS) EYFS Class Teacher - St Christopher's, Gibraltar

Job summary

St. Christopher’s EYFS school is located in the heart of the British Forces Gibraltar community. Collocated with our Early Years Setting Sunflowers. Serving and supporting families posted into HQ British Forces Gibraltar.

At St. Christopher’s EYFS school, we want all our children to be confident and capable communicators. We want them to develop a rich vocabulary to be able to share their thoughts, ideas and opinions, negotiate and build relationships and to ask questions about their world. We capitalise on children’s instinctive need and desire to communicate.

We want our children to have confidence in themselves and their abilities and to see themselves as resilient individuals in both learning and life. We want them to have the skills and self-belief to deal with challenge and change by embracing the power of 'yet'. In Early Years we create a supportive and nurturing climate and ethos which provides children with a sense of safety, security, belonging and self-worth.

We want to encourage our children to develop healthy habits and explore skills and opportunities that may become hobbies and interests in the future. In Early Years we nurture children’s strong need and desire to be physically active which builds the foundations for other areas of their development.

At St. Christopher’s our children to develop a life-long love of reading and to engage in reading for pleasure. In Early Years we develop enthusiastic emerging readers who take delight in listening to stories, enjoy reading for pleasure and know how to use text to find out information. We develop enthusiastic emerging writers who have an enduring and positive attitude to writing, who can form letters and words and who can draw from a rich store of language and imaginative ideas.

Defence Children Services (DCS) is a Defence delivery organisation, subordinated under Army Regional Command. Our Vision is that we Educate the Child – Support the Family – Defend the Nation. HQ DCS is UK based at Trenchard Lines, Upavon and has forward deployed staff all over the world. DCS is responsible for the education and care of children of accompanied Service and Defence entitled personnel in MOD schools and settings; provides advice and guidance in respect of education for service families in the United Kingdom and the wider world.

This position is advertised as full-time at 30 hours per week.

Job description

The successful candidate will be able to:

• Demonstrate a good knowledge of early learning and the revised 2025 EYFS Statutory Framework
• Set high expectations which inspire, motivate and challenge all young children
• Promote good progress and outcomes by children
• Plan education and care taking account of the needs of all children
• Demonstrate good subject and curriculum knowledge.
• Adapt education and care to respond to the strengths and needs of all children
• Make accurate and productive use of assessment (within the framework of the 2025 EYFS Statutory Document)
• Manage behaviour effectively to ensure a good and safe learning environment.
• Fulfil wider professional responsibilities
• Fulfil the professional responsibilities of a teacher, as set out in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document.
• Meet the expectations set out in the Teachers’ Standards, Part One, Teaching and Part Two, Personal and Professional Conduct.
• A teacher is expected to demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct (see standards for full statements)

Duties and responsibilities

Teaching

• Plan and teach well-structured lessons to assigned classes, following the school’s plans, curriculum and schemes of work.
• Assess, monitor, record and report on the learning needs, progress and achievements of assigned pupils, making accurate and productive use of assessment.
• Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of pupils.
• Set high expectations which inspire, motivate and challenge pupils.
• Promote good progress and outcomes by pupils.
• Demonstrate good subject and curriculum knowledge.
• Participate in arrangements for preparing pupils for external tests.
• Support in leading enrichment (extra-curricular) opportunities.

Whole-school organisation, strategy and development

• Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of the school’s policies, practices and procedures, so as to support the school’s values and vision.
• Make a positive contribution to the wider life and ethos of the school.
• Work with others on curriculum and pupil development to secure co-ordinated outcomes.
• Provide cover, in the unforeseen circumstance that another teacher is unable to teach.
• Take on the role of Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Health, safety and discipline

• Promote the safety and wellbeing of pupils.
• Maintain good order and discipline among pupils, managing behaviour effectively to ensure a good and safe learning environment.

Professional development

• Take part in the school’s appraisal procedures.
• Take part in further training and development in order to improve own teaching and to impact on teaching and learning.
• Where appropriate, take part in the appraisal and professional development of others.
• Keep up to date with local and national curriculum developments.

Communication

• Communicate effectively with pupils, parents and carers.
• To promote and celebrate a positive image for St. Christopher’s EYFS and forge strong relationships with all stakeholders, the local community, parent and carers.

Working with colleagues and other relevant professionals

• Collaborate and work with colleagues and other relevant professionals within and beyond the school.
• Develop effective professional relationships with colleagues.

Personal and professional conduct

• Uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school.
• Have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school, and maintain high standards of attendance and punctuality.
• Understand and act within the statutory frameworks setting out their professional duties and responsibilities.

If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com

Person specification

The ideal candidate will have the following Essential skills, knowledge and behaviours

• Proof of recent successful experience of teaching in EYFS (3 – 5-year-olds education) in a UK or DCS school
• Able to demonstrate a good knowledge of early learning and the revised 2025 EYFS Statutory Framework
• Success achievement of the DFE teacher standards Teachers' standards - GOV.UK
• Broad and up to date understanding of safeguarding obligations and procedures in order to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and provide a safe learning environment

Desirable Criteria

• Postgraduate qualification in a related EYFS/Child Development
• Knowledge/Experience of working with FS1
• Experience of leading a subject area in the EYFS
• Experience of using the Read Write Inc Phonics Scheme
• Experience of fulfilling the role of Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Qualifications

Qualified Teacher status (UK) and degree qualification, and successful completion of induction at time of application.
Evidence of qualification will be required at interview. All qualifications declared must be held at point of application and if applicable in date.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Presentation
• Teaching Standards

Benefits

We are passionate about delivering extraordinary things for our people. We employ people who challenge and guide each other, working within a highly capable team who will support you to develop your skills and experience.

Discover My Benefits:

Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD. https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/

Some of the many benefits you will receive include:

• Learning & Development opportunities for professional & personal development of skills.
• A generous annual leave allowance.
• A culture encouraging inclusion & diversity.
• Access to amenities in the Command.
• Membership of The Teachers Pension Scheme will be available. (For further details please visit http www.teacherspensions.co.uk).
• Superannuation is in accordance with the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
• A paid annual return flight to the UK is also provided for each family member after completing 12 months in post.
• Accommodation is free for the first 5 years of your MOD employment overseas with subsidised utilities. Thereafter a reasonable modest rent is payable.

In line with the TACOS for this post, accommodation is free for the first five years of your MOD employment overseas with subsidised utilities. Thereafter, rent and utilities are payable. Please note if you have previously worked overseas for the MOD and have been in recipient of free rent and utilities then that period will be deducted from your five-year allowance.

This post offers full relocation allowances subject to availability. Cost of Living Overseas Allowances is payable based on personal circumstances and marital status.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

At sift you will be assessedon yourKnowledge, skills, qualifications and experience in your CV, Personal Statement and Qualifications.

Your Personal Statement (maximum 1,000 words) should demonstrate the relevant skills and experience that detail how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the person specification and job role, including examples of evidence.

At interview youwill be assessed on the belowCivil Service Behaviours:

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions

You will also be required to conduct a 10 minute presentation and answer questions related to your CV. Details will be provided at a closer time.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigation's can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Tricia Wood
• Email : tricia.wood@modschools.org

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam1@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please see further information document attached

Attachments

Teachers__Standards_Dec_2021 Opens in new window (pdf, 271kB)School_teachers__pay_and_conditions_document_2025_and_guidance_on_school_teachers__pay_and_conditions Opens in new window (pdf, 726kB)20241009 - Further Information - External (2) Opens in new window (docx, 34kB)