At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children with additional needs and promote their inclusion in Early Years settings.
- Company: Leicestershire County Council, committed to accessible and inclusive services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Join a passionate team dedicated to enhancing outcomes for children with SEND.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives and help shape their futures.
- Qualifications: Level 3 qualification in Childcare and experience with children under five.
The predicted salary is between 29550 - 32055 £ per year.
Organisation: Leicestershire County Council
Work Location: County Hall Glenfield LE3 8RA
Salary: £29,550 - £32,055 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Working Hours: 14.8 per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 22nd November 2026
Interview Date(s): 30th November 2026
We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our Early Years, Inclusion and Childcare service as an Inclusion Practitioner.
About the Role
This post offers an exciting opportunity to join a highly skilled, enthusiastic team working with children from birth to school entry who have identified additional needs. You will work directly with children and their families, both within the home environment and across Early Years settings and schools, to deliver tailored packages of support aimed at reducing the risk of exclusion for children below statutory school age. You will also work closely with a range of professionals and Early Years providers to ensure children are able to engage fully in support plans and programmes designed to promote their learning, development, and inclusion. The role focuses on ensuring children receive the right support at the right time, enabling positive outcomes within inclusive Early Years environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide targeted packages of support to help prevent the risk of exclusion for children of non‑statutory school age.
- Model effective inclusive practice within Early Years settings to support providers in maintaining appropriate placements.
- Promote the education, development, and inclusion of children under five with special educational needs.
- Support the day‑to‑day management of a caseload of children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, under the supervision and guidance of the Senior Early Years SEND Inclusion Advisor.
- Work collaboratively with children, families, and professionals across a range of settings to support the delivery of agreed plans and programmes that promote inclusion and participation.
An enhanced DBS with barred list check is required for this post.
About You
To apply for this post, you must be able to evidence in your application how you meet the following criteria:
- Hold a Level 3 qualification in Childcare (or equivalent), with GCSEs at Grade C or above (or equivalent) in both Mathematics and English.
- Demonstrable, substantial experience of working with children under five and their families where children have SEND, including experience of collaborative partnership working with external agencies to enhance outcomes for children with SEND.
- Strong knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice and the Early Years Foundation Stage, with the ability to implement effective strategies to support children with additional needs, particularly those with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
- Well‑developed personal organisational skills, with the flexibility and willingness to travel to appointments and a range of venues as required.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, alongside strong listening skills, enabling effective engagement with parents and carers who may be experiencing significant stress.
- Ability to support the inclusion of children on their caseload within Early Years settings.
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.
Interested in Flexible Working? 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.
For more information or an informal discussion, please contact: Ruth Melluish - Team Manager (Early Years SEND Inclusion Team) Telephone: 0116 3057136 Email: ruth.melluish@leics.gov.uk
How to Apply
At Leicestershire County Council we’re looking for top talent from all walks of life. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, and whatever your background - we care about what you bring to our organisation, not just what’s on your CV. That’s why we’ve designed a recruitment process that’s fair, accessible, and focused on potential. And with benefits that support people at every age and stage of life, we make sure you can thrive - both personally and professionally.
If you share our passion to make a difference for the people of Leicestershire, we’d love to hear from you. Click the apply button to submit your application, ensuring that you upload a supporting statement that explains how you meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above. Without this information, we won’t be able to assess your suitability for the role, and your application will be rejected.
For tips on how to write your statement, see the How to Apply section on our career site. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal: https://emss.org.uk/support.
By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.
Inclusion Practitioner in Glenfield employer: Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group
Leicestershire County Council is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment where Occupational Therapists can make a real difference in the lives of adults and children. With a strong emphasis on collaboration across health, housing, and social care teams, employees benefit from flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional growth, making it a rewarding place to advance your career while positively impacting the community.
Contact Details:
Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group Recruitment Team
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