What is the job role?
We are seeking to appoint knowledgeable motivated and passionate early years practitioner to join our successful team within the Education Improvement and Standards service area
37 hours per week (full-time, all year round)
The Early Years Adviser role is part of a small team supporting strategic development and continuous improvement of Early Years provision across the city; working in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders to deliver the Government’s Best Start for Life programme.
This role is central to raising standards and outcomes for young children by supporting high-quality practice in early years settings, including PVI providers, childminders, schools, out-of-school provision, and Family Hubs.
The postholder will drive quality improvement through the provision of curriculum guidance, workforce development, and targeted support for settings facing challenges or inspection outcomes. They will support work related to safeguarding and wellbeing, promote inclusive practice for children with SEND, and ensure smooth transitions into school.
Working collaboratively with health, education, and social care partners, the role supports professional networks, delivers training and mentoring, and uses data to inform strategic planning and monitor impact. The overall aim is to ensure every child in the city has the best possible start in life through access to high-quality, inclusive, and supportive early years provision.
The postholder will work in a variety of early years organisations across the city. They will be directed by senior officers within the Early Years’ Service, supporting the delivery of the Local Authorities statutory duty for early years
All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role.
Please note, this advert may close early if we have a significant number of applications.
These posts are exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 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).
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for an experienced and passionate Early Years professional to help lead the strategic development and continuous improvement of early years education and childcare across the city
The successful candidate will be open minded, flexible and excited about the development of new ideas and initiatives. They will have excellent communication skills and the ability and personal resilience to provide challenge in a way that facilitates change, whilst sustaining positive relationships and engagement.
You use well developed knowledge, skills and experience to offer expert advice on curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment, as well as responding to inspection outcomes and supporting organisations facing challenges.
A key part of the role involves workforce development: we are looking for the skills and confidence required to deliver training, coaching and mentoring practitioners, and helping to build leadership capacity across the sector. You'll also have the knowledge and attention to detail to provide accurate advice on inclusive practice for children with SEND, champion safeguarding and wellbeing, and support smooth transitions into school.
This is a collaborative role, working closely with colleagues in education, health, and social care, and using data and evaluation to inform strategic planning and targeted support.
Every day is different, requiring a positive and flexible approach. The reward of knowing you can make a difference on a large scale will inspire and motivate the successful candidate to go the extra mile.
Candidates must be able to demonstrate knowledge, skills and experiences related to the job description and person specification.
If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our to see how we can assist you.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:
1. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
2. Are currently in care or have previously been in care
3. If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.
Pre-interview Assessment: Friday 19th September
Interview Date: Thursday 2nd October
About Coventry
Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.
We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.
At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.
To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.