Early Years Strategy Partner – Speech, Language & Communication Needs

Fixed Term, Full Time

£42,761 to £50,307 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 21 months.

The Opportunity

The Early Years Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) Strategy Partner will play a key role in delivering Essex County Council’s (ECC) strategic priorities, including the Best Start in Life, SEND, and Inclusion strategies.

Working collaboratively with leaders across SEND, Early Years, Health and Operational Teams, the role will design and implement initiatives that improve outcomes for children aged 0–5. A central focus will be on developing a strategic and coordinated approach to improving early language and communication skills across the Private, Voluntary, and Independent (PVI) sector, including pre-schools, day nurseries, childminders, and out-of-school clubs, as well as the maintained sector, such as nursery schools and nursery classes within Primary, Infant, and Academy schools.

A critical aspect of the role is facilitating effective partnerships across the county. This includes building and sustaining strong relationships between PVI settings, schools, and Family Hubs to ensure that Early Years and Childcare (EYCC) provision is high-quality, inclusive, and delivers positive outcomes for children and families in Essex. It requires professional experience in Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN), with expertise in developing evidence-based training and resources to improve outcomes.

To read more about our business area, please visit: Education

Accountabilities

• Develop and review Essex-wide SLCN strategy, including recommended approaches to identification of need that engages partners, families, and children, and responds to evolving needs – in collaboration with other leaders.
• Ensure Early SLC is embedded within the Early Years Strategy, ensuring consistent practice and measurable outcomes across Essex.
• Lead on the development, delivery and quality assurance of ECC-licensed SLC training programmes (e.g. Elklan, Talk Boost, Hanen) and Making it REAL, ensuring effective impact measurement.
• Develop and deliver high-level interventions and support for PVIs, schools, and Family Hubs to promote language-rich environments and evaluate training effectiveness.
• Build and maintain networks with health and education stakeholders to support school readiness and smooth transitions for children with SLCN.
• Increase workforce knowledge of Early Language and Communication to enable consistent messaging and effective engagement with parents.
• Analyse data to tailor early language interventions, support early identification, and inform future practice, especially for vulnerable groups.
• Contribute to the Early Years Funding Panel and use data trends to shape targeted support and improve outcomes for children with SLCN.
• Lead parent/carer campaigns to promote Home Learning Environments, coordinating multi-agency messaging and managing digital platforms and resources.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework

The Experience You Will Bring

• Possess Qualified Teacher Status or a degree in Early Years/Childhood studies (or equivalent).
• Extensive experience working within or with the PVI and maintained Early Years sectors, and key partners such as Health.
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development and expert knowledge in Early Years and SLCN, with the ability to adapt to evolving research and policy.
• Strong understanding of factors that improve achievement and wellbeing outcomes for children aged 0–5 with speech and language needs.
• Expertise in child development and early language, aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework.
• Proven experience in implementing initiatives that improve outcomes for children aged 0–5 in PVI and school settings.
• Sound knowledge of early years pedagogy, current research, and national strategies, especially those focused on disadvantaged children, school readiness, and the Home Learning Environment.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage and motivate professionals and families.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone’s Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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