Early Years SEND Advisor

The starting salary for this full-time, permanent role is £34,356 per annum based on a 36 hour working week.

This role is open to hybrid working, which is a blend of both office based and remote work styles. We would welcome a conversation with the successful candidate on what hybrid working would like like for them and the team.

We are excited to be hiring an Early Years SEND Advisor to join our fantastic Early Years SEND team. We are looking for a dynamic, resilient and innovative individual to join our highly motivated and effective team. Our aim is to ensure there is a consistent inclusive offer across the county to young children with additional needs.

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

About the team

The Early Years SEND Team work within Surrey County Council's Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Directorate. The Team provides expert advice, guidance and support to Early Years providers around the SEND Code of Practice and the Surrey Graduated Response. By supporting the identification of need early, the team can work with the SENCo to ensure that appropriate support strategies are put in place which promote and ensure inclusion.

About the role

As a SEND Advisor you will provide support and challenge to a range of early years providers including full day-care, pre-schools, maintained nurseries and childminders to promote equality and inclusion for children with Additional Needs and Disability.

You will provide advice, guidance and support to empower Early Years SENCOs and practitioners to identify children's needs early. You will ensure children are fully included and able to realise their potential and achieve their aspirations following a graduated approach in line with the SEN Code of practice. You will deliver training, complete visits to settings, conduct child observations and offer advice and guidance to providers regarding strategies, SEND processes and funding. Your focus will be improving early identification in the early years sector, ensuring children get their needs met at the earliest possible stage in life.

The Early Years SEND Team work with a range of multi-agency partners and stakeholders therefore you will be expected to support a coordinated approach to ensure children's needs are met at the earliest possible time and can access the EYFS curriculum.

SEND Advisors act as mentors and positive role models to settings in Surrey. You will be allocated a specific geographic area in the North West of Surrey. The North West quadrant covers three boroughs: Runnymede, Woking and Surrey Heath. However, Advisors will travel countywide as and when needed to support the local authority to meet its statutory duties.

Shortlisting criteria

As part of your application you will be asked to submit a CV and answer the following questions:

• Please tell us about your experience of working with children with additional needs between the age of 0-5 years?
• Please describe a time when you have worked with external agencies and services to support a child with additional needs? What was the outcome?
• Please provide an example of when you have led and supported others to implement inclusive practices within an early year setting. What impact did it have on the child/ren?
• Please provide an example of how you used observations and assessment to identify a child had a developmental delay. What did you do with that information to further support the child?
• Please tell us how the SEND Code of Practice and the Early Years Foundation Stage has influenced how you have supported a child with additional needs and disabilities.

To be considered for shortlisting for this position your CV and answers to the questions above will clearly evidence:

• Level 4 or above in Early Education and Childcare or a degree with relevant early years' experience
• Experience of working with children 0-5 years with additional needs in an early years setting or within early years support services and multi professional working
• Experience of leading and supporting others
• Experience of completing child observations and providing feedback to parents and practitioners
• Strong knowledge and understanding of the SEN Code of Practice, Early Years Foundation Stage
• The willingness and ability to travel extensively around the county to meet the demands of the role

Contact us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 12/05/2024 with interviews planned for 14/05/2024 & 20/05/2024.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

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.