Job Description

• Highfield Nursery School and Children’s Centre
• Address: Chesterfield Drive, Ipswich IP1 6DW
• Salary: £500 per day
• Hours: Part time, Term time only. Various hours depending on role appointed to.
• Contract: Fixed term for 2 years, either as self-employed contractor or seconded from existing school or setting
• Reference: 8953

3 posts:

1. Communication and Language Lead (CL) – 4 days per week,

2. Early Mathematics Lead (EM) – 3 days per week,

3. Personal, Social and Emotional Development Lead (PSED) – 2 days per week

Highfield Nursery School and Children’s Centre are seeking an Early Years Learning Lead

What is the main purpose of their role?

Every child deserves the best start in life. The earliest years shape future learning, wellbeing, and success. Through the Best Start in Life strategy, the Department for Education (DfE) is driving higher standards and strengthening the improvement system so that every child can thrive.

To support delivery of commitments made in the Best Start in Life strategy, DfE will be introducing Early Years Learning Leads (EYLL) for personal, social and emotional development (PSED), early language and early mathematics in each of the Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs (EYSPH) to provide support and training to early years educators.

What will the job entail?

Each EYLL position will be a flexible, hybrid role based in the East of England EYSPH, at Highfield Nursery School. There will be opportunity to work from home and in our reach area delivering support directly to settings. Flexibility within the role means you will not be tied to working the same days each week and the role may involve evening or occasional weekend work. You will be responsible for managing your diary and reporting to the Hub Strategic Lead.

You will improve outcomes for children by:

• strengthening PSED, early mathematics or early language provision across early years settings by delivering high ‑quality Stronger Practice continuous professional development (CPD).
• providing targeted subject specific support to early years settings to strengthen practice in PSED, early mathematics or early language.
• Actively engaging with subject ‑specific professional development and networks to deepen expertise, share good practice, and support high ‑quality delivery across the EYSPH area.

Your responsibilities

• What are their responsibilities?
• Delivering DfE owned professional development programmes.
• Providing bespoke support, underpinned by coaching approaches, modelling of practice and opportunities for reflection.
• Supporting early years settings to select, adapt and embed evidence-informed approaches and interventions.
• To work with local authorities and other relevant stakeholders to understand local need, identify gaps and strengthen cohesion across the local system.

What you will need

• Experience of working with children aged 0-4 in an early childhood education context
• A relevant level 6 qualification
• Experience leading professional development and of mentoring others

About us

The East of England Early Years Stronger Practice Hub is based at Highfield Nursery School in Ipswich. The Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs programme has supported early years practitioners across England since its launch in November 2022, sharing evidence-informed best practice and offering professional development to improve outcomes for young children.

What we will offer you

• Each role is offered as
• Being paid directly as a self-employed contractor/consultant
• By agreed release from your existing role, with payment made to your setting/school for your release.

For more information

Please read the Early Years Language Lead Application Pack (word), Early Mathematics Lead Application Pack (word)and Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) Lead Application Pack (word)or alternatively, please visit our website

Please contact Ruth Coleman, Hub Strategic Lead by calling 01473 742534 option 5

How to apply:

Please submit your completed Expression of Interest Application Form via email to: eastofenglandeysph@highfield.suffolk.sch.uk

Closing date: 12 pm, 10 June 2026.

Interview dates: CL EYLL 30 June 2026, EM EYLL 1 July 2026, PSED EYLL 3 July 2026.

Promoted as JOTW (Job of the Week) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.