Inclusion and Improvement Advisor

Achieving for Children; Kingston; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A community interest organization is seeking an Early Years Inclusion and Improvement Adviser to enhance inclusive early years provision in Kingston and Richmond. The role focuses on supporting practitioners and ensuring high-quality outcomes for children aged 0–5, especially those with specific needs. Essential skills include a degree in Early Years, strong communication, and experience in quality improvement. The position offers a competitive salary and various employee benefits, including flexible working options and comprehensive annual leave.

Benefits

29 days annual leave increasing with service

Local Government salary and pension scheme

Flexible working options

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• In-depth understanding of early years pedagogy and the SEND Code of Practice.
• Proven experience leading improvement in early years settings.
• A commitment to reflective practice and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice and challenge to promote inclusive practice.
• Support the identification and inclusion of children with SEND.
• Deliver targeted improvement support, training, and resources.

Skills

Expert advice on inclusive practice

Strong communication skills

Relationship-building

Coaching skills

Education

Degree-level qualification in Early Years or related field

Job description

Job Information

Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. To find out more about us.

Inclusion and Improvement Advisor

Achieving for Children is seeking an Early Years Inclusion and Improvement Adviser to support high-quality, inclusive early years provision across Kingston and Richmond. The role focuses on improving outcomes for children aged 0–5, particularly those with emerging needs or identified SEND, by providing expert advice, guidance, and challenge to early years settings, childminders, and schools.

Join a team that is officially Outstanding! Achieving for Children's services have now been rated Outstanding by Ofsted in both Richmond and Kingston. Our services are praised for exceptional care and a workforce that puts children at the center of everything we do.

Responsibilities include advising practitioners on inclusive practice and the assess–plan–do–review process, supporting the development of targeted plans, and ensuring the effective implementation of professional advice. The adviser will also lead on improvement activity across private, voluntary, and independent (PVI) settings—offering training, resources, and quality assurance support to raise standards in line with EYFS and Ofsted requirements.

Operational area Kingston and Richmond. Primary place of work Guildhall 2, Kingston upon Thames KT1. Appointment type Permanent. Business area Education. Full time / Part time. Full-time. Salary from £45,750 (SCP32) to £49,056 (SCP35). Hours 36. Estimated Interview date / s 10 / 02 / 2025. Closing Date 27 / 01 / 2026. Ref No 2178.

About the role

Achieving for Children is seeking a passionate and knowledgeable Early Years Inclusion and Improvement Adviser to help drive high-quality, inclusive early years provision across Kingston and Richmond. You will play a key role in improving outcomes for children aged 0–5, particularly those with emerging needs or identified SEND, by empowering and supporting early years practitioners, childminders, and leaders across private, voluntary, and independent (PVI) settings and schools.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice and challenge to early years settings to promote inclusive, evidence-based practice.
• Support the identification and inclusion of children with SEND, advising on the assess–plan–do–review cycle.
• Deliver targeted improvement support, training, and resources to raise the quality of EYFS provision.
• Use data and evaluation to inform priorities, monitor progress, and evidence impact.
• Collaborate with partners, families, and professionals to ensure seamless support and successful transitions for children.

Please refer to the job profile for more information, for an informal discussion on any queries about the role please contact Natasha Wood via email :

About you

You are an experienced and reflective early years professional with a strong commitment to inclusion and improving outcomes for all children. You have the skills, confidence, and passion to influence practice and support others to deliver high-quality early years education and care.

Essential Skills and Attributes

• Degree-level qualification in Early Years or related field (Level 6 or above).
• In-depth understanding of early years pedagogy, child development, best start in life strategy and the SEND Code of Practice including safeguarding responsibilities.
• Proven experience leading or advising on quality improvement within early years settings.
• Strong communication, coaching, and relationship-building skills across multi-agency partnerships.
• A commitment to reflective practice, continuous improvement, and safeguarding every child.

About our benefits

We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to the following:

• 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract)
• Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
• Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
• Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• A range of staff benefits and discounts
• An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway

To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children. For our social work offer. For our Recruitment Journey.

Important Information

Start dates: Achieving for Children have meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.

Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the for right to work guidance.

Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.