Early Childhood Teacher Onboarding Checklist

Early Childhood Teacher Onboarding Process

Are you looking for help setting up a staff orientation process so that when your new Early Childhood Teacher starts their role, they can learn about their responsibilities and your company as quickly as possible? Whether you’re keen to use buddy onboarding, want to automate your Education onboarding experience or just need an onboarding checklist for your new Early Childhood Teacher, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a sample Early Childhood Teacher onboarding checklist below and have created onboarding templates & resources to help.

Early Childhood Teacher Onboarding Checklist

1. Orientation: The new early childhood teacher attends an orientation session to familiarize themselves with the company’s mission, values, policies, and procedures. This task is typically performed by the human resources department or a designated orientation coordinator.

2. Introduction to the Team: The new teacher is introduced to their colleagues, including other teachers, support staff, and administrators. This task is usually performed by the school principal or a designated mentor teacher.

3. Classroom Setup: The new teacher is responsible for setting up their classroom, including arranging furniture, organizing materials, and creating a welcoming environment for the children. This task is performed by the teacher themselves, with support from other staff members if needed.

4. Curriculum Training: The new teacher receives training on the curriculum used by the company, including lesson planning, assessment strategies, and teaching techniques. This task is typically performed by the curriculum coordinator or a designated trainer.

5. Safety and Emergency Procedures: The new teacher is trained on safety protocols and emergency procedures, such as fire drills, lockdowns, and first aid. This task is usually performed by the school’s safety officer or a designated staff member responsible for safety training.

6. Child Protection Training: The new teacher undergoes training on child protection policies and procedures, including recognizing signs of abuse, reporting protocols, and maintaining confidentiality. This task is performed by the school’s child protection officer or a designated staff member responsible for child protection training.

7. Classroom Observation: The new teacher is observed by a more experienced teacher or supervisor to provide feedback and support in implementing best practices. This task is typically performed by the school principal, a mentor teacher, or a designated instructional coach.

8. Parent Communication: The new teacher is introduced to the school’s parent communication system and protocols, including regular updates, parent-teacher conferences, and addressing concerns or questions. This task is performed by the teacher themselves, with guidance from the school administration if needed.

9. Professional Development Opportunities: The new teacher is informed about professional development opportunities, such as workshops, conferences, and online courses, to enhance their skills and knowledge in early childhood education. This task is typically performed by the professional development coordinator or a designated staff member responsible for organizing professional development activities.

10. Classroom Routine and Procedures: The new teacher learns about the daily routine and procedures followed in the classroom, including arrival and dismissal procedures, transitions, meal times, and nap times. This task is performed by the teacher themselves, with support from other staff members if needed.

11. Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and Special Needs Support: The new teacher receives training on working with children with special needs, including understanding Individual Education Plans (IEPs), implementing accommodations, and collaborating with special education staff. This task is typically performed by the special education coordinator or a designated staff member responsible for special needs support.

12. Assessment and Progress Monitoring: The new teacher is trained on the company’s assessment tools and procedures for monitoring children’s progress, including documenting observations, conducting assessments, and analyzing data. This task is performed by the teacher themselves, with support from the school administration if needed.

13. Staff Meetings and Collaboration: The new teacher attends staff meetings and collaborative sessions to discuss curriculum updates, share best practices, and engage in professional dialogue with colleagues. This task is typically organized by the school administration or a designated staff member responsible for staff meetings.

14. Health and Hygiene Practices: The new teacher receives training on health and hygiene practices, including handwashing, diaper changing, sanitization, and illness prevention. This task is performed by the school nurse or a designated staff member responsible for health and hygiene training.

15. Classroom Management Strategies: The new teacher learns about effective classroom management strategies, including behavior management techniques, positive reinforcement, and creating a positive learning environment. This task is typically performed by the school principal, a mentor teacher, or a designated instructional coach.

16. Field Trip Planning and Execution: The new teacher is guided on planning and executing field trips, including obtaining necessary permissions, organizing transportation, and ensuring the safety of children during the trip. This task is performed by the teacher themselves, with support from the school administration if needed.

17. Professional Code of Conduct: The new teacher is familiarized with the professional code of conduct expected in the company, including ethical guidelines, maintaining confidentiality, and professional boundaries. This task is typically performed by the school principal or a designated staff member responsible for professional conduct training.

18. Technology Training: The new teacher receives training on the company’s technology systems and tools used for communication, lesson planning, and student assessment. This task is performed by the school’s technology coordinator or a designated staff member responsible for technology training.

19. Community Engagement: The new teacher is introduced to community engagement initiatives, such as parent involvement programs, community events, and partnerships with local organizations. This task is typically performed by the school principal or a designated staff member responsible for community engagement.

20. Ongoing Support and Mentoring: The new teacher is provided with ongoing support and mentoring throughout their initial period with the company, ensuring they have access to resources, guidance, and feedback to succeed in their role. This task is typically performed by a mentor teacher, the school principal, or a designated instructional coach

Setting Up Your Employee Onboarding Process

From reading through the items in the example Early Childhood Teacher checklist above, you’ll now have an idea of how you can apply best practices to getting your new Early Childhood Teacher up to speed and working well in your Education team. Scroll up to see the link to our onboarding templates & resources or get in touch to discuss getting help setting up your systems and processes in this area.