Quality Development Advisor

This full-time, permanent position has a starting salary of £41,585 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week.

We are excited to be hiring a new Quality Development Advisor to join our fantastic Early Years Educational Effectiveness Team. This is a hybrid role, supporting early years providers across the county, working remotely (sometimes from home) and working from any of the Council's offices.

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

Make a real difference to children's lives in Surrey.

We're looking for a dynamic and innovative Quality Development Advisor to join our Early Years Educational Effectiveness Team. This is your opportunity to help shape the future of early years provision across Surrey, ensuring every child – especially the most vulnerable – gets the best possible start in life.

As part of our highly motivated team, you'll work with a wide range of early years providers including nurseries, pre-schools, childminders, and school-based settings, offering expert advice, challenge, and support to drive quality improvement. You'll lead on the design and implementation of Surrey's ‘Early Years Quality Improvement Award’, helping settings embed inclusive, high‑quality practice.

• Providing advice and practical support to early years providers
• Designing and delivering engaging training programmes for the sector
• Using data to monitor impact and continuously improve outcomes for children
• Building strong partnerships with providers, local teams, and external agencies
• Contributing to Surrey's Best Start in Life Strategy and national quality improvement principles

This is a role for someone who thrives on collaboration, innovation, and making a measurable impact.

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

• A full and relevant Early Years degree (or QTS) as defined by the Department for Education
• Working knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage, Ofsted framework, and quality improvement systems
• Understanding of the ‘Surrey Best Start Strategy’ and the Early Years National Quality Improvement Principles
• Significant experience across the Early Years (0-5 age) range
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to present data clearly to diverse audiences
• Proven experience in designing and delivering training
• Leadership experience and the ability to influence others
• A commitment to inclusive practice and improving outcomes for vulnerable children

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and candidates will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long‑term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.

• Please confirm below that you hold a full and relevant Early Years degree OR Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Please can you tell us what degree you hold.
• Please tell us about your most recent experience of leading frontline delivery of the Early Years Foundations Stage, across the full age range of the EYFS.
• Please explain how you present data to staff, stakeholders, partners and Senior Leadership to support engagement and shared understanding.
• Please tell us about your understanding of the Early Years National Quality Improvement Principles. Please describe how these can be…