Early Years Development Assistant

We are currently seeking a confident, motivated and resilient individual to join our team as an Early Years Development Assistant. We are a dynamic and supportive team committed to giving children the very best start in life. Working collaboratively with childcare providers and partner agencies, we promote high-quality, inclusive provision and support continuous improvement across our funded childcare programmes. Joining us means becoming part of a team that values wellbeing, professional development and genuine teamwork. As an Early Years Development Assistant, you will support the development, delivery and quality assurance of childcare provision across Neath Port Talbot. You will work directly with childcare settings, including home-based childcare providers, offering practical advice, guidance and constructive challenge to help them meet statutory requirements, funded childcare guidance and agreed quality standards. Your daily routine will involve building effective professional relationships with childcare providers while maintaining clear expectations for quality and compliance. You will need the confidence and resilience to respond to complex situations, provide clear feedback and hold challenging conversations when improvements are required. Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting childcare settings, including childminders and other home-based providers, to deliver safe, inclusive and high-quality play, learning and care experiences for two-year-olds.
• Monitoring provision and supporting settings to meet Funded childcare guidance, Care Inspectorate Wales requirements and agreed quality assurance standards.
• Giving clear, evidence-based advice, feedback and practical support, agreeing improvement actions and following up progress within required timescales.
• Working effectively with providers, families and partner agencies, and having respectful but challenging conversations where practice, compliance or outcomes for children need to improve. About you:
Do you have


• A Level 5 or equivalent Early Years and Childcare qualification, as detailed on the Social Care Wales List of Required Qualifications to work within the Early Years and Childcare Sector in Wales, is essential for this post. Candidates currently working towards a Level 5 with considerable childcare and early years' experience may also be considered, along with relevant school-based qualifications supported by substantial experience within the early years sector.
• Substantial experience of working within early years and childcare provision; experience of childminding or supporting other home-based childcare provision is particularly welcomed.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to adapt your approach for practitioners, managers, families and partner agencies.
• Confidence and professional resilience to work independently, manage competing priorities and take ownership of a varied and challenging workload.
• The ability to provide constructive challenge, address concerns directly and hold difficult conversations in a respectful, clear and solution-focused way.
• Knowledge of Flying Start and funded childcare guidance, safeguarding responsibilities, inclusive practice and the quality expectations applying to regulated childcare provision.
We particularly welcome applications from candidates with experience of working in or supporting home-based childcare, including childminding, alongside broader experience within the Early Years, Childcare, Education or Playwork sector.

We believe in rewarding and recognising our colleagues' efforts and achievements. We also believe that there's life at work and life outside of work. We want everyone to be healthy and happy and have the financial resources and support they need., Applications may be submitted in Welsh, applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates who have a disability and armed forces veterans. In support of employees of Tata Steel who are at risk of redundancy, or have been made redundant in 2024, Neath Port Talbot Council is offering a guaranteed interview for jobs across the Council. Please note that applicants must meet all the essential criteria, as shown in the person specification, to qualify for a guaranteed interview. If you are or going to be affected by the job losses at Tata Steel then we would welcome an application from you. Just make it known on your application form that you are currently at risk of redundancy or you have been made redundant. At Team NPT, we all work together to serve the people, communities and businesses of Neath Port Talbot. We are committed to providing training opportunities and the professional development of all our employees. We look forward to welcoming you to Team NPT.

Choose to work for us and you'll be rewarded with a range of attractive benefits and support to help you live your best life.
• Hybrid working (in some roles) and flexible working schemes to improve your work life balance
• Benefit from a competitive employee package with a remarkable 15.3% employer pension contribution
• Enjoy a holiday entitlement of 25 days, increasing to 32 days after 5 years' service (not forgetting the additional 8 bank holidays too)
• Access discounted gym membership with Celtic Leisure
• Utilise the cycle to work scheme with up to 40% off bikes and cycling equipment
• Purchase a new car through Tusker salary sacrifice scheme
• Enjoy exclusive discounts at local and national retailers with the Smart Spend app through our staff wellbeing group.
If you would like to start a rewarding career with a company that values and invests in its employees and you have the necessary experience and qualifications, this could be your dream job and we would love to hear from you.