How you'll make a difference:
As an Education Adviser, you will make a tangible difference to children's outcomes by supporting the development of leaders and ensuring that quality across the sector remains high and continues to improve.
Bringing strong leadership expertise and in-depth knowledge of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), you will use these to inspire, motivate and develop your team to achieve the highest standards of performance.
Your strategic thinking will help shape direction and enhance the support provided to family hubs, schools and early years settings. As a leader of learning, you will act as an advocate for innovation and continuous improvement across the early years sector.
What you will be doing:
- Drawing on your expert knowledge of early years SEND curriculum and provision, you will work closely with setting and school leaders to enhance provision and improve outcomes for all children, including those who are disadvantaged or have special educational needs.
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Your strong understanding of statutory and legislative requirements, including the SEND code of practice, will enable you to provide high-quality advice, guidance and support to practitioners across a range of settings, including childminders, pre-schools, nurseries and schools.
- You will use your broad knowledge and experience to inform strategic planning and contribute to decision-making as a member of a senior management team.
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This is a varied role, combing both strategic and operational responsibilities. You will offer support and constructive challenge to schools and settings, driving continuous improvement in provision for all children, particularly those with additional needs.
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It will be your responsibility to deliver professional development for early years staff through coaching, modelling best practice and facilitating training sessions, including whole-school INSET, cluster groups and specialist courses.
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Through observing children with additional needs in educational settings, you will provide targeted advice and practical support to staff on meeting individual needs effectively.
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You will lead and manage projects focused on improving provision, ensuring robust monitoring arrangements are in place and that impact is clearly evaluated and shared.
What we need from you:
- We are looking for someone who holds Qualified Teacher Status, with significant recent experience of teaching within a nursery or reception setting, including experience of support children with SEND.
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You must have an excellent understanding of effective teaching, learning and assessment practices within the early years foundation stage (EYFS), with the ability to apply these to improve outcomes for children.
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It is essential that you have the ability to inspire, motivate and develop others to achieve high levels of performance.
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You will be a strategic thinker, capable of developing and delivering long-term plans across specialist areas, driving continuous improvement.
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We require you to be able to demonstrate excellent communication, organisational and evaluation skills, enabling you to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and assess the impact of your work.
What you need to know:
- This role is hybrid, with a mixture of working at our office in Badminton Road, Yate and working from home.
- Please note that due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained.
- You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle or have an alternative means of travel.
Interviews will be held on 20th and 21st July 2026.
How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different:
- As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
- We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
- We know our team work best when they have balance in their lives, and we offer genuine flexibility to help them achieve that work/life balance.
- We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work.
- What’s special here is the strength of the team ethos, the support and the training.
- We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Ensuring all our staff are given right skills, knowledge and support to recognise and respond effectively to potential abuse or neglect.
Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.
- We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
- We're working with the most vulnerable in our community to help them achieve what they want in life.
- We're investing in our schools to ensure every child and young person in South Gloucestershire achieves their full potential.
We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.
We’re making a difference, be part of it!
To view the full job description, please click this link: Education Advisor Early Years Team Manager - Job Description
