Join Early Years – the organisation for young children as a Play Development Team Leader

Location: Rainbow SureStart 

Hours: 35 hours per week

Tenure: Permanent

Salary: NJC Scale 6, Point 18-22 (£29,269-£31,364) per annum pro rata

Do you have a passion for making a meaningful impact in early childhood education? Do you believe in the power of play to unlock potential? Be part of our team and help shape the futures of children by fostering growth and learning through purposeful opportunities.

At Early Years, we are committed to fostering growth for both the children and our staff. Joining means an opportunity to enhance your skills, make a meaningful difference, and collaborate with a team that upholds dedication, compassion, and excellence in early years care and education.

In return, Early Years provides a comprehensive rewards package, including a competitive salary, 36 days of annual leave (pro-rata), inclusive of statutory/public holidays, a contributory pension scheme, options to purchase additional leave, and access to healthcare schemes.

The role

As Play Development Team leader you will support and develop quality play based early years’ services for children ante-natal to four years of age in line with Sure Start targets and as directed by the SureStart Project Manager.

The post holder will ensure children attending the SureStart programmes have the best start in life by providing a safe, welcoming, high quality, inclusive early learning environment. Working to improve the ability to learn, improve health and social development of children, ante-natal to four years of age.

You will work in partnership with families to promote and facilitate positive parenting and the enhancement of the role of parents as ‘first educators'.

The post holder is required to manage the implementation, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of a range of high quality SureStart services.

The post holder will be responsible for managing a team of Early Years practitioners in providing the full range of SureStart Services to families with children aged 0-4 years in the Rainbow SureStart areas.

We're looking for people who:

At the closing date have:

Essential criteria

At the closing date applicants, must have:

1. QCF level 5 in Childcare Learning and Development (Management) or equivalent.

2. Two Years’ experience in leading/managing/supervising staff in a family support, early years, community work or health setting.

3. Significant experience of developing and delivering Early Years play based programme for children and adults gained in a working capacity.

4. Driving license and access to a car.

Desirable criteria

1. A BA Hons in Early Year Childhood Studies or equivalent.

An information pack containing the job description and personnel specification is available by clicking here.

Please note, the information pack will not be available after the job posting closes therefore you may want to download it.

As part of the application process, you will need to demonstrate how you meet the criteria as outlined above and, on the personnel specification, and provide a copy of your CV. Shortlisting will be completed based on the information contained with the application form, therefore it is important to clearly outline how you meet the criteria. Please note that your CV will only be used to support your application in assessing employment history.

Once you begin the application, it must be completed in one session, as there is no option to save and return to it later.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Friday 21 March 2025.

For shortlisted applicants it is anticipated that interviews will take place on Monday 7 April 2025.

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to six months for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via email.

Should you need to contact us, please use the following methods:

Email: monitoringofficer@early-years.org

Phone: 028 9038 7905

Early Years is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to providing flexible friendly working conditions. As Protestants and males are currently known to be under-represented in the Organisation, we would particularly welcome applications from these groups.