Inclusion Practitioner

Early Years Alliance; Luton; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

8 bank holidays

Enhanced sickness pay

Employer and employee pension

Birthday leave

Learning & development opportunities

Referral payment scheme up to £300

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Mental health First Aider support

Job summary

The Alliance's Flying Start team in Luton is recruiting four Best Start Inclusion Practitioners to support the Family Hub’s SEND/Inclusion work. You will deliver targeted interventions such as Little Talkers or Little Learners to support speech, language and developmental needs, and help families navigate services for their child.

These fixed-term posts run 35 hours per week across 52 weeks, based at Park Town Family Hub.

Qualifications

• Level 3 qualification in Early Years or Health & Social Care.
• SEND qualification and/or training.
• GCSE Maths and English or equivalent.
• A commitment and interest in supporting families and increasing opportunities to help reduce inequalities with a focus on SEND.
• Demonstrable experience in facilitating groups such as parenting programmes or workshops.
• Good understanding of child development and how children and adults learn.

Responsibilities

• Increase family engagement and act as BSIP for a Family Hub site.
• Collaborate with Luton professionals to ensure timely SEND support.
• Offer family-centered SEND services and evidence-based approaches.
• Use evaluation tools to capture family journeys and contribute to reports.
• Facilitate parenting programmes and workshops in hub sites and community venues.

Skills

Level 3 in Early Years or Health &

SEND qualification/training

GCSE Maths and English

Commitment to reducing inequalities

Group facilitation

Child development knowledge

Education

Level 3 qualification in Early Years or Health & Social Care

Job description

About The Role

Flying Start are recruiting four Best Start Inclusion Practitioners to support the Family Hub’s Inclusion work. You will have current experience of delivering targeted interventions such as Little Talkers, Little Treasures, Little Learners, or ELSEC to support speech and language or developmental needs. These roles will be a key part of the new targeted pathway for Family Hubs for the expanding SEND/Inclusion work. The roles will support families to ensure a seamless journey through services with improved outcomes for children.

There will be expectation that these roles will be part of a new integrated approach, working closely with other partners to enable seamless support to be offered. They will have a regular timetabled presence in the Luton Best Start Family Hub sites and will also be aligned to the Luton Neighbourhood Localities to ensure strong partnership working. This is an exciting opportunity to promote the importance of getting the right support at the earliest point for children.

This position is fixed term until 31st March 2028.

The hours per week: 35.

The weeks per year: 52.

Number of opportunities: 4.

The Location: Park Town Family Hub.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, pro rata for part-time employees
• Additional annual leave for long service
• Enhanced sickness pay
• Employer and employee contribution pension scheme
• Birthday leave so you can have a day off for your birthday dedicated to you and your well being
• Regular access to internal and external learning and development opportunities
• A Recruitment Referral Payment Scheme, giving you an introductory payment of up to £300 if someone you have referred to the Alliance takes up a role in the charity.
• Access to our Employee Assistant Programme (EAP), which includes 24/7 helpline access, dedicated managers helpline, confidential counselling sessions delivered by accredited specialists, legal, debt and life management advice, discounts, and wellbeing content plus resources.
• A dedicated mental health First Aider to support your mental well being

As An Inclusion Practitioner, Your Main Duties Will Be

• Increase family engagement and access to services being the named BSIP for a family hub site/neighbourhood that families can rely on as a point of contact in navigating services for their child with SEND.
• Work with other Luton professionals to ensure a seamless service for families with SEND children so that families are able to access timely support at any point along the pathway.
• To offer a whole family / family centred approach to SEND families to build confidence, motivation and resilience, using evidence-based approaches working closely with Flying Start Inclusion Workers.
• Use robust evaluation tools to capture the journey for the families through agreed objectives including case studies. Contribute to Best Start in Life DfE reports and Flying Start Key Performance Indicators for funders.
• Facilitate evidence-based parenting programmes, workshops or specialist programmes to support families with SEND children both in hub sites and community venues as well as supporting a virtual offer for families.

Essential criteria we are looking for in the successful Inclusion Practitioner:

• Level 3 qualification in Early Years or Health & Social Care, or extensive experience of working with families providing early intervention services and an understanding of why the early years is important for future life chances
• SEND qualification and/or training.
• GCSE Maths and English or equivalent.
• A commitment and interest in supporting families and increasing opportunities to help reduce inequalities with a particular focus on SEND.
• Demonstrable experience in facilitating groups such as parenting programmes or workshops.
• Good understanding of baby and child development and how children and adults learn and how to support families when development needs are identified.

Closing date: 21st August 2026

Interview date: 1st September 2026

Please note our virtual interviews take place via Microsoft Teams, you may need to download this prior to your interview.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and does require a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Applicants must be prepared to disclose any convictions they may have and any orders which have been made against them. The level of this check is enhanced.

About The Service

The Alliance is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. It is a requirement of all staff that they share this commitment and follow the prescribed policy and procedures to continuously promote a culture of safeguarding across the whole organisation.

The charity is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and equal opportunities in employment.