Best Start Inclusion Practitioner

Leicestershire County Council; Leicester; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Leicestershire County Council is inviting applications for a Fixed Term contact in our Best Start in Life team. You will join a county-wide programme delivering groups to help parents support their children’s early learning and attending outreach to promote FEEE uptake.

You will work across communities supporting children, language development and inclusive practice, with a training package and buddying from experienced practitioners. DBS check is required.

Qualifications

• NVQ 3 in early years or equivalent; experience with parents of pre/school children.
• Experience supporting speech, language and communication development.
• Knowledge of child development (0‑5) and language development.
• Awareness of diverse cultures and inclusive practice.

Responsibilities

• Deliver groups across the county to support parents in early learning.
• Carry out outreach to promote Free Early Education entitlement.
• Support children with emerging SEND to be ready for school.
• Attend training and buddy with current Best Start Practitioners.

Skills

NVQ 3 in early years/child care

Experience with parents and/or pre‑/s‑

Knowledge of child development 0‑5

Speech and language development know‑h

Cultural awareness

Communication skills

Education

NVQ 3 in appropriate early years or child care subject or NNEB / BTEC

Job description

Organisation:

Leicestershire County Council

Work Location:

County Hall Glenfield Leicester LE3 8RA - with travel across the localities over the County

Salary:

£28,605 - £31,029 per annum (pro-rata for part-time) (Pay Award Pending)

Working Hours:

37 Per week (consideration of part time, 18.5hrs for successful candidates)

Contract Type:

Fixed term until 31/3/2029

Closing Date:

20th September 2026

Interview Date(s):

Friday 2nd October - in person

About the Role

Would you like to join a team that is passionate about supporting children and their families in the early years? Do you want to support children and their families to make the best start in life? If so, here is an excellent opportunity for you!!

As part of the Best Start in Life agenda we are looking to recruit an additional 4 members of our team to work across county delivering groups to support parents in their early parenting journey, enhancing their home learning environment.

You will also be doing outreach work in the community to support the take up of FEEE, support children with emerging SEND to be ‘Ready for School’, enhancing their ‘Good Level of Development’ and delivering drop in sessions.

We offer an excellent training package and will ‘buddy you up’ with our current Best Start Inclusion Practitioners already in post.

We will consider part time hours (18.5) for successful candidates.

An enhanced with barred list DBS check is required for this post.

For information on our approach to the recruitment of ex-offenders, please see our policy statement.

About You

• NVQ 3 in appropriate early years or child care subject or NNEB / BTEC (Nursery Nursing), health, social care, or equivalent. Experience of working with parents and/or children of pre or school age in supporting parents’ understanding of their child’s early learning needs.
• Experience in working with families in which very young children are experiencing difficulties in their speech, language and communication development or in other key development areas.
• Knowledge of child development (0-5), with a particular understanding of language development.
• Knowledge of basic techniques which can be utilised to stimulate speech and language development.
• Knowledge and understanding of different cultures and ethnicity
• Knowledge of issues that may affect parenting, family development and community inclusion.
• Good delivery skills and able to communicate effectively, both written and orally, including the ability to keep professional records

In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process.

Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.

Interested in Flexible Working?

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.

For more information or an informal discussion, please contact:

Louise Pettitt, Team and Partnership Manager (Family Hubs)

Email: [e-mail]

Or

Abbie Blankley, Family Support Worker

Email: [e-mail]

or join our online drop in session to hear more about the role: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/389474756268030?p=V1zyhslJKCnxS1Kzzn