Setting Support Officer

**How you'll make a difference**:
You will support the development of excellent early years practice across all pre-school settings in South Gloucestershire which includes private, voluntary or independent pre-schools, nurseries, childminders etc. You will build up effective working relationships and work in partnership with settings, to ensure children and families have access to high quality accessible childcare that promotes aspiration.

This is your opportunity to work with colleagues, both within and beyond the Early Years Team, on numerous projects to support the development of high-quality practice which includes action research.

**What will you be doing?**
- On a daily basis you will provide training, advice and specialist guidance to ensure settings effectively meet the needs of all children including those with identified special needs or those vulnerable to disadvantage or underachievement.
- It will be your responsibility to signpost settings towards additional support that may be accessed from other appropriate agencies such as Health Services or Compass.
- In the role you will be responsible for providing information, advice and guidance to preschool, nursery and childminding settings to ensure they are able to provide high quality early years education and care in line with EYFS and OFSTED guidelines.
- You will collaborate with colleagues to plan, deliver and evaluate high quality professional development opportunities for early years staff across the Local Authority and lead on projects, initiatives, and curriculum development opportunities across the EYFS.
- Working closely with colleagues within the team and across the wider department you will aim to meet the needs of all children, especially those children with emerging educational needs or who are considered to be vulnerable to educational disadvantage. This may include aiding settings requiring additional support through the joint planning, development and monitoring of support plans.

**What we need from you**:

- It is essential that you have a relevant childcare qualification (e.g. at least the level of NNEB, DCE, NVQ3 in Early Years and Childcare or a teaching qualification), including 3 GCSEs including English and Maths at Grade C or above or equivalent qualification
- You must have considerable experience of working with children in an early years setting and in particular those children who are vulnerable to disadvantage or underachievement
- We require you to be able to demonstrate a good understanding of the statutory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and assessment requirements including a good understanding of the statutory requirements for all pre-school settings and be able to achieve a good understanding of local government
- You will have well developed interpersonal and communication skills to build relationships and engage successfully with contacts and customers, for example early years providers
- You must be able to undertake effective research into early years legislation, regulations and best practice, and present recent findings in a clear, concise format
- It is key that you are competent in using IT creatively to compile reports, presentation, training courses, and to be able to deliver training, briefings etc. for LA colleagues, providers and other professionals.
- It is desirable that you have an NVQ4 level qualification in relevant field.
- You may have experience and/or qualification in teaching adults as this would be advantageous, as would experience of working in an advisory role.

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 for this post.

**How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different**:

- 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.

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**

**Salary is pro-rata to hours worked.