Early Years Commissioning Support Officer Early Years Commissioning Support Officer

It is an exciting time for childcare and early education with the biggest ever expansion of funded childcare starting from April 2024, and with that comes challenges and opportunities. The team works collaboratively with providers, schools, communities and partners to support the sufficiency and sustainability of the early education and childcare sector in Surrey.
The Early Years Commissioning Team provide business advice to our local early years providers to enable them to offer the best quality childcare and education to the County's youngest children, whilst remaining financially sustainable.
We also have a focus on market management of the childcare sector in Surrey to secure sufficient, good quality early education and childcare places for families; with a particular focus on children that need extra support, such as those with additional needs, disabilities or those experiencing barriers to learning.
Put simply, our over-arching aim is to improve outcomes for all children and their families.
About the Role
A typical day for an Early Years Commissioning Support Officer might involve managing our team inbox and forwarding queries to officers covering that area of the county. The types of queries might include providers looking for support in opening a new nursery in the area - you might have to signpost them to where they can find relevant information on our web pages and link them in with your colleagues covering their area to follow up.
You'll also hear from parents who would like support and will need to have some understanding of funded early education and where parents can find more information on what they are entitled to.
You might also spend time collating data about availability of childcare places which colleagues can then use to support parents who are looking for a place. You'll be contacting providers to discuss their occupancy, using maps to see where provision is located and keeping up to date records of your findings using spreadsheets and documents.
Sometimes you might also be needed to support at community events alongside other team members - this would include liaising with colleagues to find out what is needed, preparing resources, printing, and supporting at the event by signposting to information or bringing queries back for further follow up.
You'll keep up to date records and support the team with administration, organisation, and arranging meetings and office bookings.

• Experience in Early Years or another similar relevant field


• Strong organisational skills and knowledge of IT software (such as word, Outlook, Excel, MS Teams, creating and editing web pages)


• Evidence of excellent professional written and verbal communication, both with professionals and communities, skills in using diplomacy and discretion.


• Understanding of how to gather and analyse data and information


• Knowledge and understanding of Early Years Funded Early Education Entitlements and Statutory Guidance, including Safeguarding responsibilities and the impact of disadvantage on families and children.


• An ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and partners


• Strong organisational skills and an ability to prioritise conflicting deadlines


• A full driving licence and a vehicle you are able and willing to use to travel around the county
  
  This full-time, permanent role has a starting salary of £32,512 per annum based on a 36 hour working week.

We are excited to be hiring a new Early Years Commissioning Support Officer to join our fantastic Early Years Commissioning team. The team is based in Woking but the role is hybrid offering a mixture of visits to community events, home working and office days at sites across Surrey.
Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service


• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave


• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing


• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year


• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave


• A generous local government salary related pension


• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more


• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year


• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources