Early Years and Childcare Sector Development Officer

This permanent role has a starting salary of 42,958 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week.

We are excited to be hiring two Early Years and Childcare Sector Development Officers to join our fantastic Early Years and Childcare Sector Development Team.

One position will be based in East Surrey, with a current work base location at Woodhatch Place in Reigate, and one position will be based in West Surrey, with the current work base location at Victoria Gate in Woking. We support hybrid working with the right balance.

Our Offer to You

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service (prorated for part time staff)
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.

About the Role

The Early Years and Childcare Sector Development Team supports early years and school-age childcare providers across Surrey to deliver sustainable, high-quality provision. We provide advice on sufficiency, funding, business sustainability and market development, helping ensure families can access the childcare they need.

These posts will focus on the development of school-age childcare provision across Surrey. Whilst school-age childcare will be your primary focus, you will also contribute to the team's wider work with the early years sector.

A typical day for an Early Years and Childcare Sector Development Officer might involve discussing strategies with new or existing childcare providers to help grow and strengthen their provision, offering advice and guidance on business planning, or supporting the opening of a new before-school, after-school or holiday childcare setting. You will use your problem-solving skills to help providers navigate recruitment challenges, consider adaptations to their operating model and review financial information to support long-term sustainability.

You may also spend time talking with families, schools and childcare providers to understand local childcare needs, identify barriers to accessing provision and provide information on the childcare support available to families. Through these conversations, you will help ensure that local provision reflects the needs of children, families and communities.

Between visits and meetings, you will respond to enquiries from providers and parents, working with Senior Officers and a range of partners across education, family support and local communities to develop action plans and identify emerging support or training needs. You will maintain accurate records of your work, ensuring that key discussions, actions and outcomes are captured appropriately.

You will also use local intelligence and data to contribute to sufficiency assessments, identifying gaps in provision and working with colleagues and partners to improve access to high-quality school-age childcare. The role will also support the delivery and expansion of the national free breakfast club programme across Surrey, offering support to the Senior Officer who will be leading on this programme.

By joining the Early Years and Childcare Sector Development Team, you will play a key role in shaping Surrey's childcare landscape, strengthening provider sustainability, expanding high-quality provision and helping ensure children and families can access the services they need to thrive.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills:

• Level 6 Qualification in Early Years, school-age childcare or a similar related field, or significant experience in a related field.
• School-age childcare/relevant experience and progression in previous role.
• Evidence of building professional relationships with providers and communities working in a multi-disciplinary approach.
• Understanding of the impact that additional needs/deprivation/disadvantage has on the Early Years and school-age childcare sectors.
• Understanding of sufficiency and market management.
• Ability to work with a range of internal and external partners including education/health/social care.
• Experience in supporting and delivering training presentations.
• The ability to work on and sometimes lead projects that have met outcomes within a set timescale.
• A good knowledge and understanding of Early Years Funded Early Education Entitlements and Statutory Guidance, including Safeguarding responsibilities.

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and workers will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK and access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 5 questions:

• What interests you about working in the Early Years and Childcare Sector Development Team, and how does your knowledge and experience make you suitable for this role?
• Access to school-age childcare can be particularly challenging for some families. Please outline the financial support and childcare schemes that may be available to families and explain the factors you would consider when supporting a family facing disadvantage to access appropriate childcare provision.
• Describe a situation where you identified a problem or emerging need and took action to address it. How did you approach the situation and what was the result?
• School-age childcare provision is expanding nationally, including through the rollout of initiatives such as free breakfast clubs. What do you see as the key challenges and opportunities facing the school-age childcare sector, and how could a local authority help address them?

Please confirm whether you are interested in the position advertised in the East, West or both.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 25th October 2026 with interviews planned to follow.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation and will move to new authorities in April 2027. This role is currently employed by Surrey County Council and will remain so until then. If you are employed by Surrey County Council on 1 April 2027, your employment will transfer under TUPE arrangements to one of the new councils, with your current terms and conditions protected. The provisional allocation for these posts are one position in East Surrey Council and one in West Surrey Council, subject to final confirmation through the wider transition process later this year.

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.

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