Head of Early Years & School Effectiveness

Warwickshire County Council; Warwick; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the United Kingdom is seeking an experienced education leader to oversee various key areas within the education system. The role involves providing strategic leadership, managing significant budgets, and fostering collaborative partnerships to enhance outcomes for all learners. Candidates should possess proven experience in education leadership and a genuine commitment to improving educational outcomes. This position offers a supportive environment focused on innovation and impact, with generous benefits including a pension scheme and agile working options.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

Agile working options

Annual leave entitlement

Access to discounts platform

Qualifications

• Proven experience in education leadership, including early years and school improvement.
• Strong knowledge of SEND legislation, safeguarding, and statutory duties.
• Excellent financial management skills and the ability to influence at senior levels.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for various educational areas including Early Years Quality.
• Work across education, health, and social care to build strong partnerships.
• Drive Warwickshire’s Education Strategy focusing on Best Start and Inclusion.
• Use data-driven insights to raise standards and close gaps.
• Oversee budgets to ensure positive outcomes for children.

Skills

Education leadership

Knowledge of SEND legislation

Financial management

Commitment to inclusion

Job description

Why this role matters

This is a unique opportunity to lead services that make a real difference – from early years through to school success. You’ll be at the heart of our mission to create an inclusive, high‑performing education system that supports every learner to thrive.

What you’ll do

As a key member of our Education Senior Leadership Team, you will:

• Lead with purpose: Provide strategic leadership for Early Years Quality, Inclusion, SEND and Safeguarding, School Effectiveness, Virtual School, Governor Services, and specialist support services.
• Champion collaboration: Work across education, health, and social care to build strong partnerships and a joined‑up approach.
• Deliver impact: Drive Warwickshire’s Education Strategy 2024–2029, focusing on Best Start, SEND & Inclusion, Sufficiency & Admissions, and a Strong System.
• Innovate and improve: Use data‑driven insights and creative solutions to raise standards and close gaps.
• Manage resources wisely: Oversee significant budgets to ensure value for money and positive outcomes for children.

About you

• Proven experience in education leadership, including early years and school improvement.
• Strong knowledge of SEND legislation, safeguarding, and statutory duties.
• Excellent financial management skills and the ability to influence at senior levels.
• A genuine commitment to inclusion and improving outcomes for all learners.

Why Warwickshire?

Warwickshire is ambitious for its children and young people. Our Education Strategy sets out a clear vision for a collaborative, inclusive, and high‑performing system. In this role, you’ll help shape that future – making a lasting difference for generations to come.

Find out more about our Education Strategy: Warwickshire Education Strategy 2024–2029

Ready to lead change?

For further details, please see:

Job Description and Person Specification

Candidate Pack

Working for Warwickshire – This is the difference you make

Warwickshire County Council is a place where everyone feels valued, included, safe, supported, and welcome. Our people are at the heart of this vision, could you be one of them!

At Warwickshire County Council we are committed to ensuring Warwickshire’s economy is vibrant and supported by the right jobs, training, skills and infrastructure. Our people vision for Warwickshire County Council is a great place to work where diverse and talented people are enabled to be their best.

Your future matters to us, we provide a generous pension scheme which includes an employer contribution rate of typically around 19 percent per month, to help support your financial security during retirement. The scheme also offers a valuable package of benefits for members and their dependants. To find out more please visit: Warwickshire Pension Fund homepage – Warwickshire Pension Fund

The benefits we offer include agile working, a valuable part of the pay and reward package for employees working in local government, generous annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays and an additional day at Christmas, and access to Vivup benefits and discounts platform.

Click here to view the benefits at Warwickshire County Council.

Additional Information

To discuss the role please contact Director of Education, Johnny Kyriacou via [e-mail]

Should you require application forms in an alternative format / language or any adjustments to be made throughout the application process or upon appointment, please contact [e-mail] and we will make every effort to meet your specific requirements.

Warwickshire County Council is committed to equality of opportunity for all employees and is keen to address areas of under representation in its workforce. See more

Closing date

6th January 2026

Interview date

w/c 12th January 2026