Independent Evaluator: Early Childhood Music Learning Impact

Arts Council England; South Yorkshire; Remote; GBP 52,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

Arts Council England is seeking an Independent Evaluator to lead a participatory, learning-focused evaluation of the South Yorkshire Place Partnership from 2027. The role designs frameworks, develops practitioner tools and centres the experiences of young children and carers.

You will work with partners across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, feeding learning back to inform delivery and producing interim and final reports.

Qualifications

• Experience evaluating arts, cultural or early years programmes.
• Skilled in participatory and developmental evaluation approaches.
• Confident with mixed methods, data analysis and clear reporting.
• Experience of ethical practice with young children and families.
• Understanding of early childhood development and music-making.
• Able to work independently while building trusting relationships.
• Desirable: ACE-funded programmes or multi-partner evaluations; knowledge of South Yorkshire.

Responsibilities

• Design an independent, participatory evaluation framework and Theory of Change with partners.
• Develop creative, accessible tools for practitioners, settings and families.
• Gather and analyse qualitative and quantitative data across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
• Centre the voices and experiences of young children and their carers.
• Feed learning back to partners regularly to inform and adapt delivery.
• Work alongside the Project Director and wider learning team.
• Ensure ethical, safe and inclusive data collection throughout.
• Produce interim and final reports for Arts Council England and SYMCA.
• Share findings openly with the early years, music and cultural sectors.

Skills

Evaluation design

Participatory evaluation

Data analysis

Ethical practice

Independent working

Tools

Theory of Change

COM-B

Mixed methods

Job description

Arts Council England is seeking an Independent Evaluator to lead a participatory, learning-focused evaluation of the South Yorkshire Place Partnership from 2027. The role designs frameworks, develops practitioner tools and centres the experiences of young children and carers.

You will work with partners across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, feeding learning back to inform delivery and producing interim and final reports.