Early Education & Childcare Adviser

What will you be doing?

The role is varied and includes:

• You will be expected to work with settings and providers to continually monitor and review to practice for whole setting approach and have due regard for inclusive practice.
• To carry onsite visit, to prospective, new and existing provider as part of caseload management.
• Work with targeted caseload for providers who have a less than good Ofsted inspection outcome to achieve good quality practice.
• Provide support and guidance on Pre-Ofsted registration processes and in readiness for Ofsted Inspection.
• Offering support and guidance on early years strategies, SEND processes and funding.
• You will work as part of the wider Early years team, to identify training and CPD needs and facilitate this.
• Includes liaising with other services and agencies to ensure that SEND pupils are advocated for and in ensuring that key local and national updates are disseminated.
• Effective record keeping and reporting writing.
• Challenge practitioners on practice to ensure that Safeguarding the welfare of children is paramount and that there is regard to the statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education.’ (2023.)

About you

You will have extensive experience of working within the Early Education and Childcare sector and be conscientious in keeping up to date with local and national developments, understanding the challenges and benefits that these bring to the sector. Thorough knowledge of the  Early Years Foundation Stage, SEND Code of Practice and knowledge of how this can be implemented within settings and providers is essential.

The ability to build positive relationships with a variety of stakeholders is key to effective practice. You will be able to problem solve and not be afraid to have difficult and challenging conversations and resilience and tenacity will be essential attributes.

We want a talented, ambitious and passionate person with early years knowledge and experience to come and take on this challenging and rewarding role.  With excellent oral and written communication skills, you will be outcome focused.

If you would like to discuss this position, please call
Rehana Karim on 07919 065000 or Katie Morlidge on 07841 193856

Our benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Cycle to Work scheme. 
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease scheme
• Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

About us

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services. 

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU  

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential.  We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner

The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain what DEI means to us.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email careers@westnorthants.gov.uk for support.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.