Inclusion Practitioner

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job reference REQ
8625 Date posted 23/10/2026 Final date to receive applications 08/11/2026 Location Various locations across Leicester City Salary £40,444 - £43,149 Per Year Package Total benefit value (includes pension contribution and full holiday entitlement):£58,494 Contractual hours 37 Basis Full time Job category/type Education Attachments Job Description - T.pdf

Full Time / 37 Hours Per Week / 3 Year Fixed Term due to funding

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape Leicester City's early years inclusion offer and ensure children with emerging Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) receive support at the earliest possible stage.

As a Best Start in Life Inclusion Practitioner, you will be a key part of Leicester City's commitment to delivering early intervention, strengthening inclusion and improving outcomes for babies, young children and their families. Working across Leicester's Family Hub network, you will provide specialist SEND advice, practical support and guidance to families and professionals, helping children access the right support at the right time.

The role sits within the Quality Inclusion Team and brings together expertise from SEND, education, family help and health services. You will work directly with families, Family Hub colleagues, health professionals, early years providers and schools to support early identification, build confidence and promote inclusive practice across the city.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful difference at a child's earliest stages of development, while helping to build a more inclusive system for families across Leicester.

As a Best Start in Life Inclusion Practitioner, you will:

• Provide specialist SEND advice and support within Family Hubs, helping families understand available support and navigate local services confidently.
• Support the early identification of developmental needs and emerging SEND through observation, discussion and the use of evidence-informed approaches.
• Deliver practical, flexible and targeted support to children aged 0-5 and their families, modelling strategies that build confidence and promote inclusion.
• Work closely with health visitors, schools, nurseries, Area SENDCOs, therapists and other professionals to provide coordinated support for children and families.
• Signpost families to local services, support pathways, parent engagement opportunities and community resources.
• Champion inclusive practice across Family Hubs, coaching and supporting staff to strengthen their confidence in child development, SEND and early intervention.
• Promote effective transitions into early education and school, supporting smooth information sharing and continuity of support
• Contribute to the ongoing development of Leicester's Best Start in Life SEND offer, ensuring services are responsive to the needs of children, families and communities

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• A strong understanding of child development from birth to five and how to identify and respond to emerging additional needs.
• Experience of working directly with children and families, particularly within early years, SEND, education, health or family support services.
• Experience of partnership working across education, health, community or family support services.
• Knowledge of SEND systems, early years provision and family support pathways.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with an ability to explain complex information clearly and sensitively.
• A commitment to strengths-based, family-centred and inclusive practice.
• The…