Early Years Quality Practitioner

Children’s Services

Education, Skills and Early Years

Best Start in Life Early Years Quality Practitioner

Ref: 001744

Contract: Fixed Term

Salary: £32,578 - £35,570 per annum (Grade 5)

Location: Oldham Council Offices, Spindles Shopping Centre, George Street, Oldham, OL1 1HD and Oldham Family Hubs

Closing Date: Tuesday 13 October 2026

Interview Date: Friday 23 October Tuesday 27 October 2026

Role Overview:

The Best Start in Life Early Years Quality Practitioner plays an important role in improving outcomes for babies and young children from pre-birth to age five across Oldham. Working as part of the Best Start in Life Team, the post holder will support high-quality, inclusive early years practice across schools, private, voluntary and independent (PVI) settings, childminders, Family Hubs and community services. The role focuses on helping children achieve the best possible start in life by promoting strong learning, development and school readiness outcomes.

The post holder will work collaboratively with families, early years practitioners and partner agencies to strengthen provision and ensure children receive the right support at the right time. Through coaching, mentoring, modelling and quality improvement activities, they will help practitioners develop effective teaching and learning approaches that support communication and language, personal, social and emotional development, early literacy and early mathematics.

A key aspect of the role is supporting early identification and intervention. The practitioner will work closely with families and professionals to identify children's strengths, developmental needs and emerging concerns, using evidence-informed approaches and assessment tools to inform support and planning. They will contribute to targeted interventions and help ensure children and families can access appropriate services and support when needed.

The role also includes delivering workforce development opportunities, facilitating professional networks and promoting reflective practice across the early years sector. By working in partnership with schools, early years providers, health services, SEND services and community organisations, the post holder will contribute to integrated approaches that improve outcomes and reduce inequalities for children and families.

In line with Oldham Council's inclusive recruitment principles, this role would suit someone who is passionate about supporting children and families, committed to inclusion and equal opportunity, and able to build positive relationships that drive improvement and strengthen outcomes for all children.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support early years settings, schools, childminders and Family Hubs to improve the quality of provision and outcomes for children aged 0-5 through coaching, challenge and professional support.
• Promote early identification of children's strengths, developmental needs and emerging concerns, supporting timely intervention and access to appropriate services.
• Deliver training, mentoring and workforce development activities to build practitioner confidence, knowledge and skills.
• Work collaboratively with families, partner agencies and communities to improve children's learning, development, wellbeing and school readiness.
• Use assessment information, local intelligence and outcome data to target support, evaluate impact and drive continuous improvement.

Key Requirements:

• Relevant Level 3 qualification in Early Years, Childcare, Education or a related field, together with evidence of continued professional development.
• Experience of working with young children and families and supporting improved outcomes through evidence-informed practice, partnership working and targeted interventions.
• Knowledge of child development, the Early Years Foundation Stage, safeguarding, inclusion and the impact of disadvantage on children's outcomes, with the ability to support and influence practice across a range of settings.

About Us:

We want Oldham to have vibrant, safe neighbourhoods where people are proud to live with opportunities for healthier, more fulfilled lives; and a sustainable, thriving economy. As we look to the future, the challenges may be significant, but so are the opportunities. We’ve identified three missions with our residents and partners, focusing on what will deliver the biggest impact:

A Great Place to Live, Healthier, Happier Lives, and Green and Growing.

We’re looking for candidates who will support us to achieve our ambitions and we encourage you to download our Corporate Plan: Ready for the Future and our Oldham Plan for further information.

Our Values and Behaviours:

By driving innovation, investing in our people, and championing our communities, we will ensure that Oldham continues to be a place where everyone can live their best life. To support this, we have three core values which define who we are and how we operate. These are ‘Proud, Ambitious, and Together’, and they shape our culture, inform our decisions, and inspire us to deliver on our commitments to the people of Oldham.

We have translated these values into five behaviours which guide our actions and are the standards we hold ourselves to, day in and day out:

• Work with a resident focus
• Support local leaders
• Committed to the borough
• Delivery high performance
• Take ownership and drive change

You can find out more about our values and behaviours on our greater.jobs Oldham page

Our Benefits Package:

At Oldham Council we offer a great benefits package for our employees, which includes the following:

• 25 days annual leave which increases after 5 and 10-years’ service
• The option to purchase additional annual leave.
• An attractive LGPS benefit pension scheme with the option to make shared cost additional voluntary contributions.
• Discounted gym membership with Oldham Active.
• Staff discount scheme for shopping, entertainment, eating-out, eating-in, travel, motoring and more.
• Salary sacrifice scheme for home and electronics and Cycle to Work.
• Wellbeing support, including a Mental Health First Aider network and an Employment Assistance Programme that provides 24 hours access to advice and support.
• Staff recognition and celebration events.
• Peer support groups

Inclusive Recruitment:

We work closely with employees to help them work at their best, including making adjustments such as flexible working, describing available working patterns, providing equipment or making changes to the workplace.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and therefore expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you have lived or worked abroad for 3 months or more in the last 5 years or 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the last 10 years whilst aged 18 or over, please refer to the link below for details for how to obtain your Certificates of Good Character. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants

Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to offer sponsorship.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.

If you’re an applicant with disabilities and have previously been in or currently in care, a carer, someone who has served in the Armed Forces, or you’ve participated in the GM Elevate Programme, and you meet the essential criteria of the role, you are guaranteed to reach the first stage of assessment under ourGuaranteed Assessment Scheme.

Data and Privacy:

For details of how we use your data please see our Privacy Notice

Important Information:

Please note that should a vacancy that has been released for internal or external recruitment be deemed suitable for a current employee at risk of redundancy, it can be pulled back at any point, up to the post being formally offered to a candidate who is not at risk of redundancy.

Right to Work in the UK from 1st July 2021.doc

Supporting Documents