FOUNDATION PHASE TEACHER

Old School Ties; Somerset West; On-site; ZAR 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Old School Ties in Somerset West, Western Cape invites applications for a Foundation Phase Teacher to support learners from Early Years through Year 3. The role focuses on building foundational skills in literacy, mathematics, science and life skills within a safe, engaging classroom environment while ensuring SACE registration.

You will plan engaging lessons, differentiate for diverse learners, apply multi-sensory approaches, and track progress, collaborating with phase coordinators and parents

Qualifications

• A sound understanding of early childhood development across physical, emotional, social and academic domains.
• Ability to teach emergent literacy, phonics, decoding and early numeracy concepts.
• Strong teamwork, communication and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare and deliver engaging, age-appropriate lessons across the core Foundation Phase subjects.
• Differentiate instruction to accommodate different learning styles and abilities; provide extensions.
• Incorporate multi-sensory learning, play-based activities, and digital tools to reinforce concepts.
• Create a structured, safe learning environment with safeguarding knowledge.
• Conduct formative and summative assessments and track learner progress.
• Maintain learner profiles, attendance, reports and other records.
• Identify early learning, behavioural or emotional challenges and coordinate interventions.
• Develop weekly lesson plans and term planning aligned with Cambridge Curriculum documents.
• Organise or coach extracurricular activities and assist in school events.
• Participate in weekly phase meetings and parent meetings.

Skills

Pedagogical knowledge

Emergent literacy instruction

Emotional intelligence

Team collaboration

Organization & time management

Communication skills

Digital literacy

Education

SACE registration

Job description

Area: Somerset West, Western Cape

Job description:The Foundation Phase Teacher is responsible for facilitating the holistic educational, social, emotional, and physical development of learners from Early Years through to Year 3. This role focuses on establishing foundational skills in literacy, mathematics, science and life skills within a safe, engaging, and structured classroom environment. Applicants must be SACE registered.

Responsibilities of a Foundation Phase Teacher

The Foundation Phase Teacher is responsible for facilitating the holistic educational, social, emotional, and physical development of learners from Early Years through to Year 3. This role focuses on establishing foundational skills in literacy, mathematics, science and life skills within a safe, engaging, and structured classroom environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Teaching & Learning: Plan, prepare, and deliver engaging, age-appropriate lessons across the core Foundation Phase subjects.
• Differentiated Instruction: Adapt teaching strategies, worksheets and lessons to accommodate different learning styles and abilities within the classroom. Provide extension activities for more competent learners.
• Multi-Sensory Learning: Incorporate play-based learning, concrete apparatus, visual aids, music, and physical activities to reinforce concepts.
• Classroom Setup: Create a structured, safe learning environment that is inviting and stimulating for learners so that they have the confidence to learn. Have knowledge of safe-guarding protocols.
• Continuous Assessment: Conduct formative and summative assessments through observation, practical tasks, oral presentations and written work.
• Progress Tracking: Maintain detailed profiles for each learner, monitoring developmental milestones, reading and spelling levels, and academic growth.
• Early Intervention: Identify learning, behavioural or emotional challenges early and collaborate with phase coordinator and Parents to set up appropriate intervention.
• Lesson & Term Planning: Develop weekly lesson plans with age-appropriate activities using the Learning Objectives set out in the Cambridge Curriculum documents.
• Long-term curriculum maps aligned with curriculum requirements.
• Prepare weekly homework sheets.
• Record Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date administrative records, including: daily attendance register, termly mark sheets, progress reports, observations, minutes of parent meetings and learner profiles.
• Meetings: Participate actively in weekly phase meetings and staff development. Hold regular parent meetings to provide feedback and practical advice with regards to their child’s academic and emotional development.
• Extracurricular Activities: Organize or coach extramural activities and clubs.
• School Events: Assist in planning and executing Foundation phase or whole-school events and plan meaningful outings for your class.

Skills/expertise:

• Pedagogical knowledge: A sound understanding of early childhood stages of development (physical, emotional, social and academic)
• How to teach emergent literacy (phonics/decoding), letter and number formation and mathematical concepts.
• Emotional intelligence, resilience, and energy tailored to young children. Work well in a team.
• Organization & Time Management: High proficiency in lesson preparation, record keeping, and meeting administrative deadlines.
• Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication abilities for interacting with young children, colleagues, and parents.
• Digital Literacy: Proficiency in using educational technology, iPads, Google workspace and school management systems