Early Years Foundation Stage Lead

The Linden Academy has a new opportunity for a highly effective Early Years leader to join our dynamic team! This fantastic opportunity could suit an experienced and aspirational primary phase teacher who has the proven ability to move into a leadership role, or a current Early Years’ leader who is ready to embrace a fresh challenge and will help us achieve our ambition to deliver exceptional quality Early Years leadership at our primary school.

For an exceptional candidate, there are opportunities for future growth and development available through leadership of our regular cross-trust Early Years networks and training forums. Candidates may also have the opportunity to lead training and/or projects across the Trust.

Here at The Linden Academy, we are passionate about inspiring young minds and ensuring that in everything we do, we are making a positive impact on our pupils’ lives. We are looking to recruit an experienced, engaging and excellent Early Years practitioner with a thorough knowledge of the Early Years and primary curriculum, subject leadership and assessment who will take a major role in implementing the aims and objectives of the school.

Why work for The Linden Academy?

•  Friendly, supportive team of around 60 staff.
• Well-resourced Early Years provision, delivered across three classrooms (Yr R only)
• Fantastic children with a desire to learn.
• We are an inclusive school, having achieved the SEND and Inclusion (SENDIA) award and the Race and Conscious Equality GOLD standard Chartermark.
• Diverse family of staff and children; we celebrate having a wide range of cultures at our school
• Opportunity to develop and grow within the school and trust
• Part of a wider trust family of schools with extensive supportive networking, collaboration and training opportunities
• The successful candidate will be provided with a mentor during probation period and line-managed by the school principal
• Strong induction process settling you into the school and ongoing professional development embedded into trust and school culture
• Support to achieve recognised qualifications, such as NPQs

The successful candidate will:

• Have expertise in Early Years and child development
• Have experience of teaching within Reception and understanding of KS1 (including teaching Phonics)
• Be a friendly, passionate and driven member of staff who puts children and quality learning at the heart of everything they do – willing to go the extra mile to make great things happen for our children.
• Be a strong team player who not only leads by example, but also enjoys working as part of a team and inspiring and motivating others
• Have experience of leading and managing people
• Have excellent communication skills with staff and able to foster positive working relationships with children, staff and parents
• Be committed to supporting the Principal in the furtherance of the school’s vision and aims.
• Be hardworking, practical, resilient, organised and effective in managing the smooth day-to-day operations of a school and staff team.
• Be rigorous in managing safeguarding concerns and ensuring all children are kept safe.

JOB SPECIFICS

Start date          Monday 13th  April 2026

Contract            Permanent, Full-time

Salary                  AST 1-12 £33,026-£51,526 plus £3,257 allowance for additional responsibilities

The Trust reserves the right to interview and appoint a suitable candidate before the deadline date.

Safeguarding

We believe in the safeguarding and welfare of children and expect all staff to share this view’.

The Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment.  Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. We are an equal opportunities employer.

The Department for Education (DfE) has set out statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ for schools and colleges on safeguarding.

Safeguarding is defined in paragraph 4 as:

“Protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.”

The definition of 'children' includes everyone under the age of 18.