Free Early Education and Sufficiency Manager

We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our Early Years, Inclusion and Childcare service as a Free Early Education Entitlement and Sufficiency Manager for a fixed term of eight months. About the Role We are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity to join a highly skilled and enthusiastic team, with scope to take on increased responsibility and make a meaningful impact. As part of the ongoing school-aged childcare programme, this role will play a key part in supporting the Sufficiency and Organisation Manager by taking ownership of key areas of work. You will lead on ensuring families are supported to access their funded childcare entitlements, and that there are sufficient high-quality childcare places available across the county. Working collaboratively with a wide range of professionals and Early Years providers, you will:

• Support families to understand and take up their funded childcare entitlements
• Work closely with providers to ensure sufficient childcare places are available to meet local demand
• Promote clarity and consistency around funding entitlements for both families and the childcare sector
• Contribute to the ongoing development and delivery of the childcare sufficiency strategy
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is committed to improving outcomes for children and families, and who thrives in a collaborative, partnership-focused environment. You must be willing and able to travel to venues across the county An enhanced with barred list DBS check is required for this post. For information on our approach to the recruitment of ex-offenders, please see our .

To apply for this post, you must be able to evidence in your application how you meet the following criteria:
• A Level 6 qualification (or equivalent level of experience), alongside GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) in both Mathematics and English.
• Proven experience of supervising staff, including conducting performance reviews and supporting team development.
• Strong project management and administrative experience, with the ability to analyse and interpret data to inform service planning and delivery.
• Experience of translating statutory guidance into clear operational processes, particularly in relation to Free Early Education Entitlement (FEEE), with excellent written and verbal communication skills to engage a range of stakeholders.
• Experience of managing complaints in a professional and solution-focused manner, with strong interpersonal and negotiation skills to achieve positive outcomes and build effective working relationships.
• A sound working knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), alongside a good understanding of the early learning and childcare sector and its key partners.
• A strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, with a clear understanding of how these principles support positive outcomes for children and families across Leicestershire.
In addition, we also expect you to share and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process. Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a . Interested in Flexible Working? We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.

About Leicestershire County Council At Leicestershire County Council, we're committed to making a real difference in people's lives. Our aim is to work with communities and partners to deliver public services that make Leicestershire the best possible place to live and work for everyone. Our employees play a key role in supporting this goal and helping us deliver the vital services we provide to the people of Leicestershire. Whether you're starting your career or looking for your next challenge, you'll find a place with us where your ideas are valued, and your work has purpose. For further information on what it's like to work for us and the benefits we offer, please refer to the following