Early Years Education Partner

The Early Years Education Partner role will support the implementation of Essex County Council’s (ECC) School Readiness Strategy by ensuring that children get the ‘Best Start in Life’ by ensuring children are ready for school, access high quality early years and childcare provision across the Private Voluntary Independent (PVI) sector (pre-schools, day nurseries, childminders, out of school clubs) and maintained sector (nursery schools, nursery and reception classes in Primary/Infant/Academy schools). The role will work with settings receiving support to enable effective partnership working between PVI, school provision, parents and key stakeholders.

Accountabilities:

• Ensure compliance with the statutory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, taking responsibility for promoting effective implementation and delivery working directly with PVIs, schools and other key professionals and partnerships across the sector.
• Develop and deliver high level support packages to all provision requiring urgent support for EYFS.
• Provide an informed perspective in relation to child development, teaching and learning to ensure 0-5 year olds are able to access sufficient quality provision, including a focus on the Home Learning Environments, effective transitions, early intervention and improved early language and communication skills.
• Increase the knowledge and understanding of Early Language and Communication for all those working with children 0-5, with a focus on closing the word gap and the impact on the quality of provision.
• Lead effective collaboration within local communities and cross sector EYCC provision, to identify solutions and prevention strategies.
• Facilitating targeted interventions for providers, in liaison with Education colleagues and ECC teams, such as Social Care, and key partners, such as Health to provide integrated, targeted multi-agency working to raise outcomes for children.
• Analyse relevant data sets and formulate action plans for high level targeted support, to ensure intervention measures are tailored appropriately to raise attainment and outcomes for all children, but with a specific focus on narrowing the gap for vulnerable groups, such as SEND, FEEE2 and EYPP.
• Provide support to the School Effectiveness team which enables the Local Authority to fulfil its statutory function of moderation.

The Experience You Will Bring:

• Requires either Qualified Teacher status, Early Years degree, equivalent qualification and/or equivalent experience, which includes a substantial emphasis on child development 0-5 years.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Deep knowledge of EYFS and effective implementation in a range of early years and child care settings, supporting 0-5 year old children’s individual needs.
• Substantial experience of working with babies, young children and parents within early years settings (Childminding, Out of School provision, PVI, maintained provision, Family Hubs).
• Extensive understanding of EYFS and Early Years pedagogy and current government strategies for Early Years, particularly in relation to disadvantage, high quality provision.
• Evidence of significant contribution to successful improvement in an organisation.
• Significant knowledge and understanding of the Ofsted framework for Early Years settings, schools and Family Hubs, with experience of intervening and tackling under performance in EYCC provision.
• Experience of collaborating and working with schools, PVIs, Early Years Partners and parents.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.