Inclusion Development Officer

Job Title:

Inclusion Development Officer Starting Salary: £38,220 progressing to £41,771 per annum

Hours:

37

Location:

Base location Stevenage however the role requires travel across East Herts, Broxbourne, Welwyn and Hatfield. Contract Type:
Fixed Term until August 2027 Directorate:
Children's Services About the team We are seeking a dedicated and knowledgeable Early Years Inclusion and Development Officer’s to join our dynamic Early Years SEND Service. Our team ensures the educational and developmental progress of children (0-7), with a range of SEN/D and additional needs, is met in line with the Hertfordshire Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Strategy and HCC strategic objectives.

About the role The Inclusion and Development Officer (IDO) role sits within the Early Years SEND team and primarily focuses on promoting inclusive practice within pre-schools. The role provides systemic advice, support, and training to private, voluntary, and independent (PVI) early years’ settings. A willingness to deliver early years training and support flexibly on occasions is desirable (evenings/out of term time).

About you Essential:
Hold a relevant qualification in Early Years, Education, or SEND (ideally Level
6), or demonstrate extensive equivalent experience. Recent hands-on experience in an Early Years setting supporting children with SEND, including delivering interventions in roles such as, SENCo, teacher, manager, or advisor. A strong commitment to helping children and families achieve the best possible outcomes. A confident and knowledgeable practitioner who can offer sound advice, ask the right questions, and support others with empathy and professionalism.

A team player who thrives in multi-agency environments and can navigate sensitive conversations with compassion and clarity. Ability to work flexibly, manage your own dairy and travel across a wide geographical area. Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle Good level of written and ICT skills

Desirable Experience designing and delivering training or workshops in Early Years settings. Comfortable leading professional development sessions, with support provided during induction. Further relevant qualifications in SEND/ Inclusion We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role. This job role is Level 10.

Please locate the job profile here:
To hear more about this opportunity please contact:
Katie Dean () Interview Date: 15th and 16th July 2026

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Secondment This role is open to secondments for eligible employees who work for HCC. If you wish to apply on a secondment basis, you must have your line manager’s approval before submitting your application. You will be asked to confirm this within your application form. If you are not eligible for a secondment (e.g., you are currently on a fixed-term contract that would end before this positions ends) or you indicate that your manager cannot support a secondment, your application will be considered on a fixed-term contract basis instead.

Additional information We are changing Hertfordshire County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). If you are employed by Hertfordshire County on 1 April 2028, it is expected that most roles will transfer to the newly-created unitary councils on existing terms and conditions under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment) principles. LGR is one of the biggest changes we will face in a generation.

It will reshape…