Early Years Inclusion Assistant

The Methodist Church in Britain; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working options

Support for caring responsibilities

Learning from experienced colleagues

Guaranteed interview for disabled/app.

Job summary

Sheffield City Council’s Early Years Language Centre seeks an Inclusion Assistant to support children with SEND through play-based learning and targeted language activities. You will work with teaching and therapy staff to adapt environments and develop family resources for communication.

Role involves outreach to early years settings, safeguarding checks, and a commitment to inclusive practice and high expectations for every child.

Qualifications

• Strong interest in Early Years development and SEND.
• Understanding that every child communicates differently.
• Following specialist advice and adapting approaches to individual children.
• Communicating positively with parents, carers and professionals.
• Observant and reflective, noticing children's responses and progress.
• Willingness to learn about speech, language, communication and inclusive Early Years practice.

Responsibilities

• Support children to take part in play-based learning and specialist language and communication activities.
• Help deliver planned speech, language and communication interventions alongside teaching and therapy colleagues.
• Use appropriate strategies, visual supports and resources to help children understand, communicate and participate.
• Prepare and adapt the learning environment to reflect children's individual needs and interests.
• Contribute to observations of children's learning, development and progress.
• Build positive and trusting relationships with children and their families.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to provide consistent support for children.
• Help create and share practical resources that families and Early Years settings can use to support communication.
• Contribute to outreach work with children's Early Years settings on effective communication strategies.
• Promote inclusion, independence and high aspirations for every child.

Skills

Early Years

SEND understanding

Adapt approaches

Parent communication

Observation

Learning mindset

Job description

This Early Years Inclusion Assistant post sits in the specialist Early Years Language Centre run by Sheffield City Council, supporting young children with SEND, mainly those with speech, language and communication needs. The work centres on play-based learning and delivering speech and language interventions alongside Early Years Inclusion Teachers and Speech and Language Therapists. The role also involves adapting the learning environment, producing communication resources for families, and outreach into children's settings. Relevant safeguarding checks will be required.

What the job involves

• Support children to take part in play-based learning and specialist language and communication activities
• Help deliver planned speech, language and communication interventions alongside teaching and therapy colleagues
• Use appropriate strategies, visual supports and resources to help children understand, communicate and participate
• Prepare and adapt the learning environment to reflect children's individual needs and interests
• Contribute to observations of children's learning, development and progress
• Build positive and trusting relationships with children and their families
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to provide consistent support for children
• Help create and share practical resources that families and Early Years settings can use to support communication
• Contribute to outreach work with children's Early Years settings on effective communication strategies
• Promote inclusion, independence and high aspirations for every child

What’s required

Skills & knowledge

• Strong interest in Early Years development and SEND
• Understanding that every child communicates differently
• Following specialist advice and adapting approaches to individual children
• Communicating positively with parents, carers and professionals
• Observant and reflective, noticing children's responses and progress
• Willingness to learn about speech, language, communication and inclusive Early Years practice

Checks & eligibility

• Relevant safeguarding checks

Other

• Confident working as part of a team
• Kind, patient and creative, with enthusiasm and warmth in working with children

What’s offered

• Generous holiday entitlement
• Flexible working options, including reduced hours, part time or job share
• Support for staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly
• Opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and develop specialist Early Years SEND practice
• Guaranteed interview for disabled applicants, care leavers and armed forces veterans who meet the essential criteria
• Starting at the bottom of the grade, or at a higher point if payslip evidence shows higher basic pay