Early Years Improvement Advisor

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Work Location: County Hall, Glenfield, LE3 8RF

Salary: £45,309 -£49,407 Per annum(pro rata for part-time)

Working Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 20th October 2026

Interview Date(s): 28th October 2026

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced, well organised, motivated and enthusiastic individual to join the Early Years Inclusion and Childcare Service as an Early Years Improvement Advisor.

As a Children and Family department we are committed to our vision of becoming a trauma informed responsive department. Our main aim is to improve outcomes for children of Leicestershire. We will strive to create a safe, compassionate environment demonstrated through relationships based on trust, respect, hope and empathy. We will achieve this through a spirit of curiosity, by nurturing connections through relationships, making a deliberate effort to know and understand people.

Develop and support high quality early years provision across the childcare sector. Provide advice, guidance and training as set out in the local authority's statutory duty to ensure high quality provision for pre-schools, day nurseries and childminders who are judged less than expected standard by Ofsted. Champion the needs of children, particularly the most disadvantaged, ensuring that all children and their families are able to access high quality early education and childcare.

Offer advice and guidance regarding children with SEND. Supporting providers to use the graduated approach to assess, plan, do review. Signposting to relevant agencies for further support. Lead and implement strategies to enable providers the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) into their practice. Implement new and existing initiatives and projects as directed. Work closely with other internal local authority services and external partners.

Disseminate key safeguarding messages and policies with regard to expectations and local procedures and share information with providers and other stakeholders, to ensure key safeguarding competencies are embedded in practice.

Initially this post will predominantly support early years providers in the North West Leicestershire District. The nature of the work will require a flexible approach to working, including out-of-hours, and an ability and willingness to travel to various locations across Leicestershire.

An enhanced with barred list DBS check is required for this post.

For information on our approach to the recruitment of ex-offenders, please see our policy statement.

• Hold a relevant level 6 qualification with outstanding early years practice in the early years sector or a school
• Have an excellent understanding of statutory duties and learning relating to the EYFS phase and Early Years SEND code of practice
• Have experience of observing and evaluating quality learning and providing feedback as part of the early year's improvement processes
• Experience of staff development and training
• Have effective presentation skills which include good communication skills, both written and oral.
• To be assertive, confident and sensitive to the needs of others and be able to cope with pressure
• Have the ability to develop and maintain good working relationships and professional partnerships with people from all backgrounds with the ability to enthuse and motivate others where lived experiences can be shared and celebrated

In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process.

Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.

Jane McNee - Senior Early Years Improvement Advisor

Telephone:

Email:

Isabel Bentley, Senior Early Years Improvement Advisor

Telephone:

Email: