Specialist Advisory Teacher - Early Years SEND

Job Title: Specialist Advisory Teacher - Early Years SEND
Starting Salary: £32,916 to £51,948 pa pro rata - Hertfordshire locally agreed Teachers Main and Upper Pay Ranges + SEN allowance
Hours: 19.5
Location: Hertfordshire - Based in Stevenage with travel predominantly across East Herts, Broxbourne, Welwyn & Hatfield
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Childrens Services

About the team

The Early Years SEND team support and promote 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 SEND needs of children in Early Years Settings.

The Early Years Specialist Advisory Teachers work in quadrant teams alongside Early Years Inclusion Specialists, and Inclusion Development Officers. The teams are overseen by an Area Lead Teacher.

About the role

The Early Years Specialist Advisory Teacher working within the Early Years Specialist Development Centre (EYSDC), support families of children aged 0–5 with complex SEND needs across five centres in Hertfordshire, through direct work within the centre, within the child’s home or within Early Years Settings and schools.

You will contribute to securing a consistent, coherent and rationale approach to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in line with Hertfordshire’s Special Educational Needs and Disability Strategy, in order to raise standards and actively promote the development of inclusive practice in local schools/settings for children in Early Years.

All teachers work within the statutory conditions of employment set out in the current School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document. The duties and responsibilities listed below describe the post as it is at present. The post holder is expected to accept any reasonable alterations that may from time to time be necessary.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver intervention sessions in class, at home, and through outreach, supporting children with SEND and their families.
• Provide intensive support for children with complex needs, including modelling strategies and coaching parents and practitioners.
• Plan and facilitate smooth transitions into Early Years settings or schools, ensuring resources and strategies are in place.
• Develop and monitor individual support plans, targets, and interventions to enhance inclusive learning opportunities.
• Advise on adaptations and reasonable adjustments to meet children’s needs and promote high-quality provision.
• Maintain accurate records, contribute to EHCP processes, and support statutory work as required.
• Collaborate with families, settings, and partner agencies to ensure effective, holistic support.
• Assist in delivering and evaluating training for Early Years staff and parents.
• Work flexibly across geographical areas to meet service demands and attend panels, meetings, and reviews as needed.

See further details in the attached Job Outline (below)

About you

You will have recent experience supporting children in with SEND in early years settings or the Early Years Foundation Stage in schools or currently work in an advisory service. You also need a thorough knowledge and experience of implementing the SEND Code of Practice. You will have excellent interpersonal skills, work well within a team and be able to work to deadlines. Additional qualifications in SEND would be highly desirable.

Essential:

• Educated to degree level and hold Qualified Teacher Status.
• Minimum five years relevant and successful Early Years classroom teaching experience.
• Able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of relevant high-quality teaching and learning.
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of best practice in relation to meeting the needs of children with SEND.
• 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.
• Able to travel independently – current driving licence and access to a car for work.

Desirable:

• Hold relevant additional qualification in a specialist area e.g. Early Years SEND
• Experience working in a variety of Early Years settings e.g PVI, maintained Nursery School, Primary School.
• Experience working in a specialist provision/resource hub/special school.
• Experience of creating and delivering training.
• Experienced in line management, coaching, mentoring or training colleagues.

This is an exciting time to join the Early Years SEND Team as we continue to evolve and develop our service to ensure we are delivering an effective and responsive offer. The role will provide excellent career development for those looking to develop their teaching skills in a specialist area. We can offer you a friendly, supportive working environment, a full induction and ongoing professional development in this role.

To hear more about this opportunity please contact faye.denheijer@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: 11th and 12th December

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job outline, to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employerand guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.

Available documents

• Specialist Advisory Teacher EY Job Outline v2.pdf