Early Years Advisor
This role has a starting salary of £34,356 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week.
We are excited to be hiring 2 new Early Years Advisors to join our fantastic Early Years team. This is a countywide role based at Fairmount house, Leatherhead, however you can use any office around Surrey.
The roles will mainly cover the North East Quadrant or the South West Quadrant.
Rewards and Benefits
- 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
- Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
- An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
- Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
- A generous local government salary related pension
- Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
- 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
- Above all we are striving to be an inclusive and welcoming employer providing you with access to opportunities that support you professionally and fulfill you personally.
About the Team
The Early Years Educational Effectiveness Team sits within Surrey County Coumcil Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture directorate. The team provide support and challenge to a range of early years providers including full daycare, pre-schools, maintained nurseries, childminders and out of school provision to promote quality improvements and maintain high quality provision. The team provide advice and guidance on quality of provision and the implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage as well as supporting setting to meet the requirements set out by Ofsted and other relevant legislation.
About the Role
As an Early Years Advisor within the Early Years Educational Effectiveness Team you will provide support and challenge to a range of early years providers including full daycare, pre-schools, nursery classes, maintained nursery schools, childminders and out of school provision to promote quality improvements and maintain high quality provision. You'll also provide advice and guidance on quality of provision and the implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage as well as supporting setting to meet Ofsted requirements and those of other relevant legislation.
You will act as a mentors and role models to settings in Surrey; providing training, advice, support and challenge to early years managers, practitioners and childminders, you will be allocated a specific geographic area although Advisors will be expected to travel county wide as and when needed to support the local authority to meet its statutory duty to provide sufficient high quality early education and childcare places.
You'll report to the Senior Early Years Advisor in your allocated area and will liaise with both internal and external professionals to ensure that the Effective Family Resilience Model in Surrey is fully embedded in early years provision.
Shortlisting Criteria
As part of your application, you will be asked to upload a CV and answer the following 5 questions:
- Please tell us about, and provide examples of, your experience of working with children 0-5yrs.
- Describe a time when you have managed or taken the lead on the development of a project or training.
- Please tell us about a time you constructively challenged existing practice to bring about change.
- Describe a time when you have worked with any external agencies around provision of services, development of practice, or specific intervention support.
- What experience do you have of mentoring and coaching others.
In order to be considered for shortlisting for this role, your CV and answers to the above application questions will clearly evidence the following criteria:
- Level 6 or above in Early Education and Childcare
- Experience of front-line delivery of early years education with experience and expertise in at last one area (i.e. training, Ofsted, practice, childminding)
- Ability to be able to work across the directorate, with experience of leading and support others and the ability to work as part of a team
- Strong knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and Ofsted inspection framework with sound knowledge of safeguarding procedures
An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 19/02/24.
We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.
Our Values
Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about our values.
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook also attached provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.
Our Commitment
Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:
- The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
- The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form
Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.
We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.