EYFS Class Teacher

Horizon English School Town Square is currently recruiting an Early Years Teacher for an August 2027 start.

For 37 years, Horizon English School in Jumeirah has been part of Dubai's educational story, building a reputation founded on strong relationships, community and a belief in the potential of every child. In August 2027, that story begins an exciting new chapter with the opening of Horizon English School, Town Square.

As part of the Cognita family, Horizon Town Square will build on this heritage while creating a school designed for the children, families and world of tomorrow. Our ambition is for every child to find joy in learning and grow to become confident, capable and connected.

As a founding member of staff, our teachers will have a unique opportunity to help shape the culture, curriculum and traditions of a new school from its very beginning.

Job purpose:

The Foundation Stage Teacher will provide consistently high-quality teaching and learning, underpinned by a thorough understanding of the UK Early Years Foundation Stage and play-based learning. The successful candidate will combine quality first teaching with warmth, high expectations and a passion for Early Years, creating purposeful indoor and outdoor continuous provision that enables every child to explore, progress and flourish. As a founding teacher, the postholder will help establish an Early Years provision where every child feels known, valued and inspired to learn.

About Horizon Town Square:

Opening in September 2027, Horizon English School Town Square will bring over 35 years of educational excellence from our outstanding Jumeirah campus to the heart of Town Square Dubai.

An all-through British curriculum school for ages 3-18, the new campus will launch with FS1 to Year 8, growing year by year to Year 13.

The school will combine academic excellence, wellbeing and community spirit in a purpose-built, state of the art environment.

As part of the Cognita global family, students will benefit from world-class opportunities in academics, sports, and the arts through Enrich ME, helping every child feel they belong, achieve, and thrive.

Role & responsibilities:

Teaching and learning

Plan and deliver engaging, ambitious and inclusive learning experiences, rooted in the EYFS framework and an excellent understanding of how young children learn and develop.

Deliver consistently high-quality teaching through a purposeful balance of adult-directed learning, child-initiated play and high-quality adult interactions.

Create purposeful, challenging and enabling continuous provision, indoors and outdoors, that promotes exploration, independence and sustained engagement.

Use children's interests, fascinations and individual starting points to inform meaningful learning experiences and extend learning through play.

Establish high expectations for learning, behaviour, independence and engagement, while recognising the developmental needs of young children.

Observe children skilfully, using assessment and professional knowledge to understand learning, identify next steps and respond appropriately through teaching and provision.

Adapt teaching, interactions and provision effectively to meet individual needs, including children requiring additional support and those capable of greater challenge.

Place communication and language, high-quality phonics teaching, early reading and a love of stories at the heart of the Early Years experience.

Create an Early Years environment in which children experience joy, develop a love of learning and are empowered to become confident and capable learners.

Developing confident, capable and connected learners

Confident: Develop children who know themselves, communicate effectively, embrace challenge, take appropriate risks and have the confidence to contribute.

Capable: Develop children with strong academic foundations alongside the skills, independence, resilience and learning habits required to apply their knowledge successfully.

Connected: Develop children who build meaningful relationships, understand and value others, contribute positively to their communities and recognise their responsibility to the wider world.

Pastoral care, inclusion and wellbeing

Know, value and understand every child as an individual.

Create a positive, inclusive and respectful environment in which every child feels a strong sense of belonging.

Support children's personal, social and emotional development, including their wellbeing, self-regulation, independence and relationships with others.

Identify and respond appropriately to children requiring additional learning or pastoral support.

Work collaboratively with inclusion and pastoral teams to ensure appropriate support and challenge.

Celebrate children's individual strengths, interests and achievements.

Assessment and progress

Maintain an accurate and holistic understanding of each child's learning, development, progress and individual needs.

Use observation, high-quality interactions and ongoing assessment effectively to understand children's starting points, identify next steps and inform responsive teaching and provision.

Contribute to moderation, pupil progress meetings and wider school evaluation processes.

Communicate children's learning, development and progress clearly and constructively with parents and colleagues.

Take responsibility for the progress and outcomes of all children taught, ensuring every child is appropriately supported and challenged.

Parent partnerships

Develop warm, professional and trusting relationships with parents.

Communicate clearly about children's learning, development, progress and wellbeing.

Recognise parents as essential partners in their child's education.

Contribute to parent workshops, information sessions, school events and community activities.

Play an active role in establishing Horizon Town Square as a school at the heart of its community.

Wider school contribution

Contribute enthusiastically to enrichment, clubs, trips, student leadership, social impact, sport, performing arts and the wider life of the school.

Share expertise, ideas and resources generously with colleagues.

Participate actively in professional learning, coaching and collaborative development.

Contribute to curriculum development and school improvement priorities.

Be willing to take responsibility for an area of curriculum or wider school life where appropriate.

Founding school responsibilities

Embrace the opportunity and responsibility that comes with establishing a new school.

Help build a positive, ambitious and inclusive culture from the outset.

Contribute ideas and expertise to the development of curriculum, systems, routines and traditions.

Be comfortable working in an evolving environment where flexibility, collaboration and initiative are essential.

Demonstrate a solution-focused approach and a willingness to contribute beyond the boundaries of an individual classroom.

Help establish the distinctive identity of Horizon English School, Town Square.

Act as an ambassador for the school within the Town Square community.

Balance innovation with the experience, heritage and proven strengths of Horizon.

General responsibilities

Model Horizon and Cognita values through all professional interactions.

Demonstrate an active commitment to pupil and staff wellbeing and the development of a strong school community.

Comply with and demonstrate an active commitment to safeguarding policies, procedures and codes of conduct.

Follow all school policies, procedures and professional expectations.

Maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and confidentiality.

Engage proactively with professional development and school improvement.

Undertake other reasonable duties appropriate to the role.

Person specification:

Bachelors degree in education / PGCE

English speaker

Successful Early Years teaching experience

Evidence of securing strong progress and positive outcomes for young children

Experience of delivering high-quality, play-based learning

Experience of creating purposeful and challenging continuous provision across indoor and outdoor environments

Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues and parents

Thorough knowledge of the UK EYFS framework and child development

Strong understanding of play-based learning, continuous provision, observation and responsive planning

Knowledge of early language, literacy, phonics and mathematics

Understanding of inclusive practice

Commitment to safeguarding and child protection

The school reserves the right to interview and appoint strong candidates before the official closing date, and therefore we would encourage candidates to apply early in the process.

Thank you for your interest in Horizon Town Square School. Due to the large number of applications expected, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Horizon Town Square School and Cognita are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expect the same from their employees. All new staff will be subject to detailed and enhanced pre-employment clearance, including identity checks, criminal background checks for all countries lived in, qualification checks, employment checks to include an exploration of any gaps in employment, and satisfactory reference checks for all employment in the last 10 years.