Early Years SEND Teacher

Job Introduction

About Us

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Oxfordshire County Council are transforming support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We are building a team of health and education professionals (Experts at Hand) to provide earlier intervention and stronger inclusion in schools settings, providing practical support where it is needed, and helping children and young people receive the right support, at the right time. By sharing your expertise and working collaboratively with colleagues across organisations, you'll play a key role in improving outcomes for children, families, and schools across Oxfordshire.

As part of our growing Experts at Hand programme, you'll join a team committed to ensuring that children with SEND receive support at the earliest possible opportunity. We are reimagining how services work together, bringing expertise closer to children, families and practitioners through stronger partnerships across education, health, social care and community services.

Our Early Years SEND Team plays a vital role in helping children develop, learn and thrive from the very start of their educational journey. By supporting families, strengthening inclusive practice and building confidence across the early years workforce, we help ensure that children with SEND are welcomed, included and given every opportunity to achieve their potential whilst promoting their safety and welfare in line with local authority safeguarding procedures.

About the Role

As an Early Years SEND Teacher, you will be at the forefront of supporting young children with SEND across Oxfordshire. Working flexibly across homes, early years settings, schools, Best Start in Life Family Hubs and community locations, you will help children access the support they need to develop, participate and flourish.

This is a highly rewarding role that combines specialist SEND knowledge with collaboration, coaching and practical support. You will work directly with children, families and practitioners to identify emerging needs, understand individual strengths and implement effective interventions that improve outcomes. Through observation, professional discussion and evidence-informed practice, you will help ensure that support is tailored to the needs of each child and introduced as early as possible.

A key part of the role involves empowering the adults around the child.

You will provide advice, guidance, coaching and modelling to parents, carers, SENDCOs and early years practitioners, helping them support children's communication, interaction, learning, emotional regulation and inclusion. By sharing your expertise, you will strengthen the confidence and capability of those working most closely with children every day.

You will act as an Expert at Hand, providing timely advice and demonstrating practical strategies known to support communication, play, sensory development, behaviour and learning. You will also contribute to SEND reform priorities, support the development of Best Start in Life Family Hubs, and work closely with a wide range of professionals to ensure children and families receive joined-up, coordinated support. 

Working in partnership with colleagues across health, education, social care, Early Help, Family Hubs and community organisations, you will help create a more connected system of support for children with SEND. You will also contribute to workforce development through training, networking opportunities and professional learning activities, ensuring best practice is shared across Oxfordshire.

Alongside your direct work, you will contribute to statutory processes, including Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments, review Early Years SEND funding applications, and help identify trends and opportunities through data, feedback and service evaluation. Your insight and expertise will help shape future service development and improve outcomes for children and families across the county.

About You

You are a qualified teacher with a passion for inclusion and a commitment to ensuring every child has the very best start in life and is safe and protected from harm. You understand that early intervention can have a profound impact on a child's future and are motivated by helping children with SEND overcome barriers and achieve their potential.

You will bring significant experience of working with children under six years of age and a strong track record of supporting children with SEND through a range of evidence-based strategies and approaches. You will have a secure understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage, child development, inclusive practice and the SEND Code of Practice. Knowledge of SEND reforms and specialist interventions will help you make an immediate impact within the team.

Building positive relationships comes naturally to you. You will be confident communicating with families, practitioners and professional partners, particularly in situations where there may be barriers to understanding. You understand the importance of working collaboratively and will be skilled at bringing people together around a shared goal of improving outcomes for children.

You will be reflective, adaptable and organised, able to manage competing priorities whilst maintaining high standards of practice. You will be confident writing reports, maintaining detailed records and using evidence to demonstrate impact. Just as importantly, you will be committed to continuous learning, open to new ways of working and passionate about contributing to the ongoing development of SEND services across Oxfordshire.

A SEND qualification, experience of supporting children under three, experience of working with families in their homes, or a background in delivering training, mentoring or coaching practitioners would be particularly valuable. Experience of supporting transitions and working across multi-agency systems would also be welcomed.

This role requires regular travel across Oxfordshire and is subject to an Enhanced DBS check with Children's Barred List clearance.

Join our community of Experts at Hand and play a leading role in ensuring children with SEND receive the right support at the right time, helping them thrive in their early years and beyond

Rewards and benefits

• Competitive salary
• A comprehensive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Agile and flexible working
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support 24/7
• Childcare vouchers, cycle to work scheme, electric car scheme, range of staff discounts including travel, holidays, insurance, food, health and leisure activities
• Excellent learning and development opportunities

Your office base may be subject to change as we are currently transitioning between temporary and permanent office locations due to the closure of County Hall. If this is applicable to you, you will be notified, but no reimbursement will apply in respect of travel.

Our commitment to:
 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:
Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, full time and part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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