Best Start in Life Lead Teacher: SEND Transitions & Vulnerable Groups

Walsall Council; Walsall; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Walsall Council is seeking a Best Start in Life Lead Teacher for SEND Transitions. You will provide borough-wide specialist educational support to improve transitions across early years pathways for the most vulnerable children, including travel across the borough.

The role sits within the Best Start in Life service, focusing on inclusion and improving life chances, with a 37-hour week and a permanent contract. DBS checks and local government safeguarding are essential requirements.

Qualifications

• Provide borough-wide specialist educational support to improve transitions into early years settings for the most vulnerable children.
• Join a strong Best Start in Life service committed to early intervention, inclusion and improving life chances for children and families.
• This post requires regular travel across Walsall and flexibility to work from Family Hubs, community venues and settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead educational support to improve transitions from birth to five across settings.
• Collaborate with multi-agency partners to support vulnerable children and families.

Job description

Best Start in Life Lead Teacher: SEND Transitions and Vulnerable Groups - Ref: CH09826

Salary: G10 SCP 36-39 (£48,738 - £51,928 per annum)
37 hours per week | Permanent

As the Best Start in Life Lead Teacher, you will provide borough-wide specialist educational support to improve transitions across the early year’s pathways and into settings, nursery and Reception for the most vulnerable children.

You will join a strong and aspirational Best Start in Life service committed to early intervention, inclusion and improving life chances for children and families.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape a new and ambitious service focused on improving outcomes for children from birth to five.

At Walsall Council we offer:

• The opportunity to influence practice across an entire borough.
• Strong multi-agency partnerships across education, health and family services.
• A supportive and collaborative working environment.
• Up to 29 days annual leave, rising to 34 days after five years' continuous local government service.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Access to learning and professional development opportunities.
• A strong commitment to wellbeing, inclusion and work-life balance.
  

This post requires regular travel across Walsall and the ability to work flexibly from a range of locations including Family Hubs, community venues and settings.

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

This post is covered by the Government's Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for Public Sector Workers.

Closing Date: Friday 20th November 2026

Interview Date: Must be available week beginning 30th November or 7th December 2026

View: Job Description and Employee Specification

Join us and help ensure every child in Walsall experiences a positive, inclusive and successful start to their educational journey

This post is covered by the Government’s Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. The post holder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English.

Walsall Council takes seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children, young people and vulnerable adults entrusted to our care and it is our expectation that all staff will share this commitment. We will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for working with children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Note: Applicants appointed to posts that require an enhanced DBS clearance must declare any periods of time that they have lived, studied or worked abroad and be prepared to provide an Overseas Criminal Records Certificate (OCRC) or a Statement of Good Conduct (SOGC) relating to anytime they were overseas.

Walsall Council’s Children’s Services are the only Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ local authority in the Black Country. During a visit in May 2025, Inspectors described Walsall Council as a place where children were at the heart of. The council’s journey of continuous improvement started in 2017 and has since transformed into a service with a clear vision, clear priorities and a clear plan, all informed by the views of our staff and children. Staff are at the core of delivering great outcomes for children and young people in Walsall, which is underpinned by our Walsall Right 4 Children vision. The latest Ofsted inspection demonstrated that staff in children’s services are proud to work for Walsall Council and feel supported to do great work.