Classroom Teacher - Maternity Cover

About the role

We are looking to find a fantastic teacher who is ready to join us on our continued journey to amazing! You might be an experienced teacher looking for a new challenge you might be an ECT embarking on the first steps in your career. At Cherry Tree, we aim high, we are kind and we are brave. If this sounds like you, and you are both curious and adventurous in your approach to teaching and learning then you will feel at home here at Cherry Tree!

Nurture comes first here at our school as we work to support our whole community, not just our children. We love to learn outdoors in our Forest School, and we focus on the skills our children really need to help guide them through life. You will need lots of energy, passion and love to work as part of our team, but we can assure you that it will be the most rewarding job you could have!

Our thriving school is currently looking to appoint a Class Teacher (September 2025 start) to work in either EYFS, KS1 or KS2 as a maternity cover until 31th March / 31 May 2026. This will be a full-time maternity cover position.

Cherry Tree Primary School is part of the Inclusive Multi Academy Trust which holds the vision to inspire and nurture our children and their community to be the very best that they can be. There are three schools within the trust who work collaboratively: Cherry Tree Primary School, Beechfield School and Laurance Haines School. There may also be opportunities to work at one of our partner schools so please let us know if you might be interested in being considered for more than one school.

Why would you like to work at Cherry Tree?

• We love to learn outdoors in our beautiful grounds and provide CPD in outdoor learning.
• We have a wonderful, diverse community and celebrate this in our curriculum, events and our learning.
• We offer excellent CPD opportunities and invest in the career development of our staff.
• We have an experienced, driven leadership team who are willing to mentor, support and listen.
• We have a multiskilled and highly dedicated team who put the children first and support one another. This includes a pastoral and inclusion team.
• We work closely with our trust to support and share resources, opportunities and ideas.
• We buy in to a healthcare plan which includes easily accessible, private medical care as well as wellbeing support, physiotherapy, stress counselling and lifestyle screening days.
• We actively encourage staff to work from home where possible e.g. PPA, admin tasks, CPD.
• We have a 4-day wellbeing weekend every year to give ourselves a chance to get away, rest and relax!

What would we be looking for?

• A teacher with a pair of wellies (for outdoor learning) and a pair of trainers (for our Daily Miles!).
• A teacher committed to providing nothing but the very best for all children in their care.
• A teacher interested in developing their skills, practice and is ambitious for themselves and others.
• A teacher with a positive attitude who is willing to play an active part in the Cherry Tree team.
• A teacher with excellent knowledge of child pedagogy and a desire to nurture all children.

Further information about our school can be found on our website www.cherrytree.herts.sch.uk and our Twitter feed @CTS_Watford. Visits to the school are strongly encouraged, we would love for you to get a feel of the school yourselves. Please contact Headteacher Cheska Tyler on head@cherrytree.herts.sch.uk to book a visit.

Prospective candidates are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible as the school reserves the right to close the advert early should we feel able to appoint an appropriate candidate.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All post holders are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. We require you to disclose any previous criminal convictions or cautions even if they are spent. Shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a Criminal Record Declaration Form prior to interview.

When recruiting and selecting staff, the Trust is required to comply with all relevant employment legislation to ensure we are recruiting within the law as well as complying with the Trust’s Equality Policy. The Selection Criteria document is critical in the process and sets out the requirements which the person appointed should have in order to perform the duties of the post satisfactorily and against which applicants will be assessed. The selection criteria will be used throughout the recruitment process as an objective test of assessing candidates at shortlisting, test and interview stages. Shortlisting will be completed by assessing against the advertised person specification. Our interviews will always include relevant questions relating to teaching and will include questions on child protection and/or safeguarding, behaviour and safety. There will also be an observation element to the selection day and a task.

Closing date: Monday 2nd June 4pm

Shortlisting date: Tuesday 3rd June

Interview date: Thursday 5th June