- Help ensure that the Playgroup classroom is appropriately laid out before the session commences and tidies up after the session ends. The Playgroup Instructional Assistant also helps to ensure good standards of hygiene are followed and that equipment is safe and regularly checked.
- Performs clerical, classroom maintenance, and instructional duties as assigned by the Playgroup Teacher(s).
- With the Playgroup Teacher(s), ensure that planning and preparation are carried out and that the activity offered throughout the session allows the children to experience creative, imaginative, manipulative, social, and physical play and that they are given the opportunity to play with natural materials.
- Works with individual students or small groups of students to practice and reinforce learning of the materials or skills initially introduced and outlined by the Playgroup Teacher(s).
- Assists as directed by the Playgroup Teacher(s) in devising and/or implementing special strategies for reinforcing learning materials and skills based on a sympathetic understanding of individual students, their needs, interests, and abilities.
- Within the playgroup teaching team, ensure that through observation, evaluation, and record-keeping, the individual needs of children are identified and that there is a report of the child’s progress throughout the year.
- Performs assigned supervision of students during lunch periods, play periods, and field trips.
- Performs assigned non-instructional classroom duties, such as snack time, toileting, and clothing routines.
- Encourage parental involvement.
- Participates in in-service training programs as required and approved.
- Maintains a safe working environment and encourages colleagues to be safety minded in the performance of all school-related duties.
- Advise the Playgroup Teacher(s) of any matter requiring attention. E.g.: concerns about a child, or equipment needing repaired/replaced.
- Keep strictly confidential any personal information regarding the children, their families, or other staff which is learned as part of the job. Such information must not be passed on unless it is in a child's interest. The Playgroup Instructional Assistant will then approach the Playgroup Teacher(s) with the information. Only if she/he feels the Playgroup Teacher(s) is not taking adequate action should the playgroup instructional assistant take the matter further to the school administrator(s).
- Performs other duties and tasks as requested and assigned by the School Administrator(s).