Early Years Education Partner- West Essex

Permanent, Full Time

Up to £43,299 per annum

Location: Harlow

Closing Date: 13th July 2021

This role is home based covering West Essex.

The Early Years 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 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. You will facilitate partnership working between all relevant teams and partners; developing and maintaining robust working relationships between PVI, school provision and Family Hubs to enable early intervention and improved early language and communication skills, leading to increased 'school readiness' and improved outcomes for all children.

Key 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
• Enable the LA to fulfil its statutory function of moderation of the EYFS Profile in all schools (QTS required for this aspect of the role)
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Interviews will take place on 20th July 2021 at County Hall, Chelmsford.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Possesses Qualified Teacher status- QTS (essential for fulfilling EYFSP moderation role), Early Years degree or 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/ Children's Centres).
• 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 Children's Centres, with experience of intervening and tackling under performance in EYCC provision
• Experience of collaborating and working with schools, PVIs, Early Years Partners and parents

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Karla Martin (Head of Education and Early Years, West) on 07785 722428

As part of employment with Essex County Council should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please visit: https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. For more information please use the following link: https://www.workingforessex.com/working-here/pay-reward/

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.

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