Principal Practitioner - Inclusion

Job Title:

Principal Practitioner – Best Start in Life Inclusion

Contract:

Fixed term – 2 years

Hours:

37 hours (job shares cannot be considered)

Salary: HC09 - £42,123 - £46,579 per annum

Closing date: 10/11/2026

As part of the Best Start In Life Initiative, we are looking for a Principal Best Start in Life Inclusion Practitioner to lead our Best Start Inclusion Team in the Early Years SEND Inclusion Service.

The role will be focussed on leading the team of inclusion practitioners who will be supporting children and families accessing services, groups and Family Hubs, who may have potential barriers to their academic achievement.

Come and join us on our Restorative Journey of Improvement to gain the best for children and families in Herefordshire.

The successful candidate will be a qualified teacher with Early Years experience, leadership and management experience and a deep knowledge of SEND in the Early Years. They will have knowledge of the services that support families and be willing to work collaboratively across those services.

The successful candidate will develop and lead the Best Start in Life (BSIL) Inclusion Team, providing effective leadership and line management to BSIL Inclusion Practitioners. They will ensure that families, professionals, early years settings, and schools have access to high-quality advice and guidance to improve outcomes for young children who may have additional needs. They will also contribute to the development of the Experts at Hand Service to ensure a coordinated and aligned approach across services.

The Principal Practitioner will work closely with the Early SEND deliver this service

• Qualified Teacher status and experience of early Years teaching
• Full UK Driving license and able to travel across the county of Herefordshire
• Recent experience of supporting early years children with additional needs
• An understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage, the Equality Act (2010) and the SEND Code of Practice (2015)
• The ability to build strong relationships with early years settings and other services
• To be an excellent leader with good communication and interpersonal skills

A competitive salary, holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme, which includes:

• Salary range of £42,123 - £46,579 per annum
• Annual Leave: 31 days’ annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays. You can also purchase an additional 10 days per annum during the request period
• Flexible working: including the potential for job-sharing, part-time hours and agile working.
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling
• Payment of professional membership fees (based on role requirements)
• Pick your perks - our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits. This includes savings, cash back and discounts.
• A service where children’s learning and development is at the heart of everything we do
• A highly supportive and committed team

We're proud and excited to unveil our new recruitment video, a celebration of Herefordshire's people, places, and purpose. Set in the heart of England and filled with pride, compassion and possibility, the video brings to life what it means to work somewhere you truly belong.

At Herefordshire Council, every role matters and every person makes a real difference for our communities. We’re a team where people feel valued, supported and empowered to grow together.

Herefordshire is a beautiful, historic county on the Welsh border, one of England’s most rural and unspoilt areas, with vibrant market towns and a strong sense of community.

Our priority is clear: to keep children safe and give them the best start in life. We do this…