At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children's development and create a nurturing environment for early learners.
- Company: St Helens Borough Council, a transformational and inclusive local authority.
- Benefits: Well-being support, financial benefits, learning opportunities, and a positive workplace culture.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives and help them thrive from the start.
- Qualifications: Experience in early years education and a passion for child development.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to inclusion and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board. We are St Helens Borough Council located in the heart of the Northwest close to Liverpool, Manchester and Lancashire. St Helens is a transformational Council which is passionate and ambitious for the communities we support. We provide a wide range of local authority services to the residents, businesses, schools, and visitors to the borough. We can only do this because of our highly valued, highly skilled workforce.
Working together, our workplace vision and values guide our organisation, and the contribution of our workforce is key to our culture journey. Employees with us receive a wide range of benefits including well-being in work, financial benefits, ways of working and learning and development support.
Making A Difference as a Senior Early Years Practitioner
An exciting opportunity has arisen to support the implementation of St Helens to a Family Hub model. Making a difference as a Senior Early Years Practitioner means playing a key role in giving every child the best start in life. Through high-quality interactions, thoughtful planning, and a deep understanding of child development, you create an environment where children feel secure, curious, and confident to explore. Your ability to plan, observe and respond to each child's individual needs supports strong foundations in communication, physical development, and personal, social, and emotional growth.
By working closely with families and modelling positive relationships, you ensure children experience consistent, nurturing support that helps them thrive from their earliest stages. As a Senior Early Years Practitioner, you also make a significant impact on improving Good Level of Development (GLD) outcomes across all settings, supporting the team in delivering effective, evidence-based practice that raises quality and ensures every child is on a positive learning trajectory.
You will champion early identification of need, targeted interventions, and inclusive strategies that help close attainment gaps. You help create an environment where children flourish and support them to achieve a strong Good Level of Development (GLD) - setting them up for future success in school and beyond.
Interested to Find Out More?
You can review our full job description and person specification below. This post is subject to Enhanced DBS Disclosure. Please note we reserve the right to close the advert early should we receive a sufficient number of applications and encourage you to apply early, to avoid disappointment.
Equality & Diversity
We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, who share our values, our commitment to inclusion, and who will help us on our journey to transform our organisation. The Council guarantees an interview to disabled applicants who demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria for the job, as detailed on the Person Specification, and will, for qualifying disabled candidates, make reasonable adjustments within selection.
All Council employees are required to abide by the ethical standards embodied by the 7 Nolan Principles. St Helens Council is officially recognised as one of the region's leading fair employers, achieving accredited status under the Liverpool City Combined Authority Fair Employment Charter. The Charter recognises the ongoing commitment to fair pay, secure work, training & progression & staff well-being whilst celebrating employers who go above and beyond for their workforce providing an inclusive and supportive environment.
Be scam aware: St Helens Council will never ask applicants to share.
Senior Early Years Practitioner in St Helens employer: St Helens Borough Council
Contact Detail:
St Helens Borough Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Early Years Practitioner in St Helens
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation! Research St Helens Borough Council and their Family Hub model. Understanding their values and mission will help you tailor your approach during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend local events. This can give you insider info about the role and the team, plus it shows your enthusiasm for joining their community.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky interview questions! Think about how your experience aligns with the key responsibilities of a Senior Early Years Practitioner. Use examples from your past to demonstrate your skills in child development and family engagement.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about the opportunity and ready to be part of the St Helens team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Early Years Practitioner in St Helens
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Senior Early Years Practitioner. We want to see how you can make a difference in our community, so don’t hold back on showcasing your passion for child development!
Showcase Your Experience: When detailing your previous roles, focus on specific examples that demonstrate your ability to support children's growth and development. We love seeing real-life scenarios where you've made an impact, so share those stories with us!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We value authenticity and want to get a sense of who you are as a person. Share your motivations for applying and what drives you to work in early years education.
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We encourage you to apply through our website as soon as you can. This way, you’ll avoid any last-minute hiccups and ensure your application gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at St Helens Borough Council
✨Know Your Child Development Theories
Brush up on key child development theories and practices relevant to early years education. Be ready to discuss how you’ve applied these in your previous roles, as this will show your depth of understanding and commitment to the field.
✨Showcase Your Planning Skills
Prepare examples of how you've planned activities that cater to individual children's needs. Highlight your ability to observe and adapt your approach based on each child's development, which is crucial for the role.
✨Demonstrate Your Teamwork
Since collaboration is key in this role, think of instances where you've worked closely with families or colleagues to support children's learning. Share how you foster positive relationships and contribute to a nurturing environment.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-life situations. Prepare by thinking through potential challenges you might face as a Senior Early Years Practitioner and how you would address them effectively.