Lead Teacher - Early Years (0-7)

About the role

Job Title: Lead Teacher - Early Years (0-7)
Salary: £56,122 to £61,787 per annum - Hertfordshire locally agreed Leadership Pay Range
Hours: Full time 32.5 hours, term time only
Location: Based in Apsley, Hemel Hempstead with travel countywide (hybrid)
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Childrens Services

About the role

The Early Years Lead Teacher will work closely with three other EYs Lead Teachers and the Early Years SEND Service Manage under the direction of the County Lead for Early Years SEND. The EYs Lead Teacher will lead and support an area team of Specialist Advisory Teachers, Early Years Inclusion Specialists and Inclusion Development Officers.

The Early Years SEND Service supports and promotes the development of inclusive practice across schools and settings, ensuring all children and families have access to high quality provision, early intervention and accurate assessment of needs so that all children receive the support they need in order to thrive. The EYs SEND Team work collaboratively and flexibly with colleagues within HCC and local Partnerships, to ensure high quality support/advice is available to meet the needs of children in Early Years Settings.

About the team

• To lead the specialist support service provision for children in Early Years Settings, ensuring quality and equity of service delivery, under the direction of the County Lead for Early Years SEND.

• To lead on delivering an effective range of services designed to support equal access and meet the educational needs of children in Early Years settings.

• To lead on a consistent, coherent and rational approach to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in line with Hertfordshire’s SEND Strategy in order to raise standards and inclusive practice in local Early Years settings for children.

• To lead on an effective co-production approach to offering support in the identification and assessment of children. To offer high quality advice on the provision for children as defined by the DfE Code of Practice of SEND.

• To lead on actively promoting the development of inclusive practice across schools/settings and contribute to the sharing of effective practice.

• Coordinate the specialist support service offer for children in Early Years settings across specific DSPL areas, under the direction of the County Lead for Early Years SEND.

• To actively participate in personal, and service professional development which will both enhance expertise and the ability of the post-holder and the effective work of the service.

• To take a lead on maintaining up to date knowledge of latest research and developments in the area of early years.

• To model excellent practice and carry a reasonable caseload (0.4) of complex cases requiring senior oversight and providing high quality advice regarding provision for children in early years settings.

• To lead on modelling interventions, teaching approaches and strategies for staff in schools/settings and for parents/carers.

• To support SATs and schools/settings to identify long and short-term targets for children and facilitate effective planning to address these.

• To work with staff to develop individual support plans/provision maps/risk reduction plans.

• To lead on effective partnership working with schools/setting, parents/carers and other agencies/professionals involved.

About you

Essential:

• Minimum five years relevant and successful teaching and relevant leadership experience.
• You will have recent Early Years classroom experience, practice knowledge or be centrally employed within an advisory service.
• Able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of high-quality teaching and learning strategies.
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the SEND Code of Practice and best practice in relation to meeting the needs of children (aged 0-7) with SEND.
• Experience in leading and managing a team, carrying out supervisions, coaching and supporting staff.
• Educated to degree level and hold Qualified Teacher status.
• Ability to model excellent practice and lead by example.
• Be able to evaluate practice and evidence the impact of interventions.
• Ability to use data and performance measures to evaluate practice, evidence outcomes and identify areas for development.
• Commitment to promoting equal opportunities and diversity.
• Excellent communication and technology (ICT) skills.
• Ability to prioritise work within a multi-professional team reflecting service priorities.
• Ability to travel independently - current driving licence.

Desirable:

• Hold relevant additional qualification in a specialist area e.g. Early Years SEND, Autism, SpLD, SLCN, PNI, National SENCO Award etc.
• Knowledge and experience across a range of Early Years settings, such as PVI’s, maintained nurseries and schools.
• Knowledge of Statutory SEND processes, EYs SEND Funding and relevant legislation.
• Experience supporting children with complex SEND needs.
• Experience creating and delivering high-quality training materials.
• Experience of working in partnership with a wide range of professionals and services such as Health, Social care, Family Centres, DSPL SEND Leads and Managers.
• Knowledge and understanding of Attachment Aware/Trauma Informed practice and approaches to managing behaviours that challenge.

To hear more about this opportunity please contact Lara Windsor Lara.windsor@hertfordshire.gov.uk  for an informal discussion about the role.