Senior Childcare Leader

Are you passionate about high quality childcare and helping young children thrive?

Do you have the skills and experience to support a team in a nurturing, high-quality childcare environment? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Vale of Glamorgan Council is inviting applications to join its Flying Start Programme—a Welsh Government initiative supporting families with children aged 0–3 years in targeted areas. Our aim is to give every child the best possible start in life through high-quality early years services.

Flying Start focuses on promoting language, cognitive, social and emotional development, physical skills, and early identification of additional needs. We achieve this through Health Visiting and support, Speech, Language and Communication, Parenting programmes, and funded part-time childcare.

As a Senior Childcare Leader with the Vale of Glamorgan’s Flying Start Programme, you’ll be part of a strong, motivated team supporting high quality childcare, ensuring children feel safe, valued, and inspired to learn through play. We are committed to fostering creativity, curiosity, and confidence in every child.

Benefits of Joining the Vale of Glamorgan’s Flying Start Team:

• Professional Development: Access to ongoing training and reflective practice sessions to help you grow in your career.
• Positive Impact: Be part of a Welsh Government initiative that makes a real difference to families and children in the community.
• Team Environment: Join a supportive, friendly team committed to high-quality early years provision.
• Job Security: The Flying Start programme is funded until March 2028.

Ambitious - Forward thinking, embracing new ways of working and investing in our future.

Open - Open to different ideas and being accountable for the decisions we take

Together - Working together as a team that engages with our customers and partners, respects diversity and is committed to quality services.

Proud - Proud of the Vale of Glamorgan; proud to serve our communities and to be part of the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

About The Role

Pay Details: Grade 7 (SCP 20-25) £32,597 – £36,363 pro rata

Hours of Work / Working Pattern: 37 hours per week, 42 weeks term time (plus 3 weeks to be agreed)

Main Place of Work: Barry

Temporary Reason: Flying Start is a Welsh Government funded project, currently until 31.3.2028

Description: You will play an active role in supporting childcare setting to offer high quality, safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment for children aged 2–3 years. Your responsibilities will include:

• To supervise and support a team of apprentice childcare workers based within the Flying Start settings. Coordinating their placements, ensuring enriched opportunities for learning to support their qualification.
• Organisation of peer support development session for the apprentices, linking into their training and providing opportunities to lead on activities, encouraging participation and confidence.
• Working in settings, modelling good practice and mentoring leaders to ensure high quality care is embedded into daily practice
• To ensure universal strategies are embedded into daily practice, modelling effective use and how to adapt for individual children
• Work closely with the Early Years Advisor to ensure quality standards within the setting are maintained and exceeded
• Lead on the termly transition sessions for the children and parents who are due to attend the childcare setting
• Participate in team meetings, training sessions, and reflective practice to develop your skills and knowledge.

About You

You will need

• Three years’ experience of working with children in a pre-school setting
• Experience of the CIW inspection process
• Minimum NVQ level 4 / QCF 5 Childrens care Learning and development (CCLD) or equivalent, with leadership and management units or advanced practitioner status.
• A good general education.
• Experience in the supervision of staff
• Motivation and enthusiasm for the post and an understanding of the tasks required.
• Friendly and approachable manner and be able to communicate with a range of professionals and parents
• Ability to drive/travel throughout the Vale or between locations as appropriate
• Ability to speak and communicate in Welsh is desirable

Additional information

As a Flying Start Senior Childcare Leader you will have day to day responsibility for two childcare settings, working closely with another Senior Childcare Leader, Childcare Manager and the Advisory team to ensure continuity of approach, effective environments, enabling adults and engaging experiences.

You will be an integral part of the wider Flying Start team, with lots of support available as well as excellent career progression opportunities.

If you are motivated, passionate about working in childcare, and want to be part of an amazing supportive team, then we would encourage you to apply.

DBS Check Required: Enhanced DBS with Adult/Child barred list

For Further Information, contact: Claire Urch – Early Years and Childcare Manager – ***email_hidden*** or Emma Selby – Childcare Manager – [email protected] or telephone 01446 732180/01446 725106

Please see attached job description / person specification for further information.