Early Years Teaching Assistant

Tenby Schools; George Town; On-site; MYR 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An International School in Penang is seeking an Early Years Teaching Assistant to support high-quality educational experiences for early-year students. The ideal candidate will lead small groups, assist teachers in developing accessible learning resources, and build relationships with staff and students. Qualified individuals with a passion for children's education and strong English skills are encouraged to apply, along with those who can communicate in Korean or Mandarin as an advantage.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Tuition-fee discount for children of employees

Medical outpatient and insurance benefits

Personal Accident insurance

Contributions to Employee Provident Fund (EPF)

Qualifications

• Minimum two to three years of relevant experience in a school setting.
• A passion for children's holistic education.
• Ability to develop resources that ensure learning accessibility.

Responsibilities

• Support Early Years students in mainstream classes.
• Attend staff meetings and contribute to school development.
• Assist in developing resources for lessons.

Skills

Child-focused qualification

Excellent oral and written English

Ability to speak Korean or Mandarin

Excellent classroom practice

High levels of professionalism

Education

Nursery nursing or teaching assistant qualification

Job description

Tenby Schools Penang, part of the International Schools Partnership (ISP) – a global network of 85+ schools across 23 countries – offers a cosmopolitan learning environment. Our diverse campus hosts students from over 30 countries, providing world‑class education in state‑of‑the‑art facilities. With nearly 60 years of pioneering experience in international education in Malaysia, we deliver high‑quality teaching and learning, combining a private Malaysian School with an International School to create a unified and inclusive experience.

We are proud to be one of the leading schools in Penang and invite talented individuals who share our commitment to excellence in education to join our community.

Key benefits

• A culture of engagement and trust, where staff contributions are recognised and valued.
• A passionate and motivated team of professionals who put children at the heart of decision‑making.
• An embedded whole‑campus commitment to professional development and to serving others.
• A peer network of like‑minded teaching colleagues and support from non‑academic staff.
• Access to expertise, best practice sharing and learning opportunities across countries and cultures.
• A commitment to employee well‑being.

We also offer:

• Competitive salary
• Tuition‑fee discount for children of employees
• Medical outpatient and insurance benefits
• Personal Accident insurance coverage
• Generous contributions to an Employee Provident Fund (EPF)

Early Years Teaching Assistant Role Profile

Purpose of Role

Early Years Teaching Assistants at Tenby Schools Penang ensure high‑quality educational support for all early‑year students. The post‑holder conducts themselves in an appropriate professional manner at all times to support the aims of the School and the Senior Leadership Team. Successful applicants will use initiative to produce resources that support students in mainstream classes, enabling them to access the lessons planned by teachers.

ISP Principles

Begin with our children and students. Their success is our success. Well‑being and safety are essential, so we consistently identify safeguarding issues and act and follow up appropriately.

Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences, and promote the well‑being of self and others.

Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on what matters most and apply school policies and procedures, embodying shared ideas of our community.

Learn continuously. We engage positively with personal and professional development and school improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead small groups of pupils within a whole‑class setting that is led and managed by a member of the teaching staff.
• Establish relationships with other staff members to support pupil work.
• Attend staff meetings and contribute to school development.
• Assist teachers in developing resources for lessons to ensure accessibility for students.
• Prepare and develop resources for learning activities.
• Report on the progress made by pupils.
• Improve English‑language acquisition across both primary and secondary sections of the school.

Knowledge and Understanding

• Become familiar with the scheme of learning in a range of subjects in Key Stage, to develop resources that ensure learning is accessible.
• Be familiar with health and safety issues and the behaviour‑management plan for individual students, where applicable.

Planning for Support

• The post holder will provide inclusive and appropriate support for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to meet developmental, social, and emotional needs.
• Plan and develop age‑appropriate, play‑based learning approaches to facilitate access to the curriculum.
• Where circumstances require, participate in co‑operative or partnership teaching, individual child support, and/or small‑group activities that encourage engagement and development.
• Collaborate with the Head of Early Years, teachers, parents, and other professionals to ensure children receive the most appropriate support and resources.

Monitoring, Assessment, Recording, and Reporting

• The Early Years Teaching Assistant reports to the Head of Early Years for professional and operational matters.
• Support the observation, assessment, and reporting of children’s progress in collaboration with class teachers and others where appropriate.
• Participate in future planning, tracking progress, and individual reviews to support each child’s learning journey.
• Encourage and promote children’s language development, independence, and positive links between home and school.
• Contribute to staff development and the sharing of best practices on early‑years learning strategies, approaches, and resources.

Other Professional Requirements

• Set a good example through presentation, personal and professional conduct, and adherence to the school dress code.
• Be proactive in health and safety matters.
• Be aware of child‑protection and safety procedures.
• Be well‑organised, proactive, and manage time effectively.
• Support the school’s behaviour code and uniform regulations.
• Have a working knowledge of school policies and procedures.
• Participate in meetings relating to curriculum, administration, or organisation of the school.
• Establish and maintain effective and professional relationships with colleagues.
• Build and maintain cooperative relationships with parents and students.
• Undertake other duties as reasonably directed by the Principal.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

• Appropriate child‑focused qualification (e.g., nursery nursing, teaching assistant qualification).
• At least two to three years of relevant experience in a school setting (desirable).
• A passion for children and belief in the education of the whole child.
• High levels of professionalism and care for children.
• Excellent oral and written English.
• Excellent classroom practice or potential to develop this.
• Ability to speak Korean or Mandarin is an advantage but not essential.

ISP Leadership Competencies

• Collaboration – a cooperative and genuine team player, developing positive, supportive relationships with colleagues.
• Learning & Getting Better – commitment to personal learning and supporting others’ development.
• Innovation Leadership – creating learning initiatives, motivating and inspiring others.
• Outcome driven – focused on KPIs and exceeding goals.
• Resilience – deal with setbacks calmly and effectively.
• Community Focus – committed to meeting student and family expectations.
• Integrity & Ethical Management – work ethically, uphold ISP vision and principles.
• Leading & Inspiring Others – support, encourage and inspire students, colleagues, and teams.
• Understanding People – judge talent and articulate strengths and motivations.
• Influencing & Communication – inform, influence, and inspire through effective communication.
• Agile – adapt to changing circumstances and solve problems.
• Strategic, Commercial & Financial Awareness – apply business understanding to improve effectiveness.
• Planning & Decision Making – make decisions, plan, organise, and prioritise resources.
• Diversity & Equity – sensitivity to cross‑cultural values and practices.

ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous ten years’ employment history.

ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high‑performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neuro‑divergence, socio‑economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.