The posting
Contract to start ASAP
Duration: 18 weeks with a possible extension.
Full job description
Early Years High Needs Co-ordinator – Education Qualified – Southwark Council
Hours: Full-time (36 hours per week)
Contract: 18-week temporary contract from 24 November 2026 to 29 March 2027
Support High-Quality Early Years Provision for Children with Additional Needs
We're recruiting an experienced Early Years High Needs Co-ordinator to join Southwark Council, based at 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH.
This is a specialist education role supporting early years settings, children and families where there are additional or high-level needs. You'll coordinate support, contribute to assessment and planning, and work closely with nurseries, schools, parents, SEND professionals and partner agencies to help ensure children receive appropriate provision.
The role requires strong knowledge of early years education, SEND, high-needs funding and multi-agency working, alongside excellent organisational and communication skills.
About the Role
As an Early Years High Needs Co-ordinator, you'll support the coordination of high-needs provision for young children across Southwark.
You'll work with early years settings and partner professionals to assess need, coordinate appropriate support, monitor provision and help ensure resources are used effectively to improve outcomes for children.
What you'll be doing:
- Co-ordinating high-needs support for children in early years settings
- Reviewing referrals, assessments and supporting evidence
- Working with nurseries, schools and early years providers to identify appropriate provision
- Supporting the allocation and monitoring of high-needs funding
- Advising settings on SEND and inclusive early years practice
- Liaising with parents and carers to ensure concerns and needs are understood
- Working closely with SEND, educational psychology, health and social care professionals
- Supporting assessment and planning processes for children with complex or additional needs
- Monitoring the effectiveness of support plans and interventions
- Maintaining accurate case records and funding information
- Preparing reports, recommendations and case summaries
- Attending multi-agency meetings and review meetings
- Providing guidance to early years practitioners on appropriate strategies and interventions
- Supporting transitions between early years settings and schools
- Helping ensure statutory and local processes are followed correctly
- Monitoring deadlines and ensuring cases progress in a timely manner
- Contributing to service improvement and inclusive practice across early years provision
Requirements
We're looking for an experienced and education-qualified professional with strong knowledge of early years SEND and high-needs provision.
You'll ideally have:
- A relevant education or early years qualification
- Experience working within early years education
- Strong knowledge of SEND and high-needs provision
- Experience supporting children with additional or complex needs
- Experience working with early years settings, schools or education providers
- Good understanding of statutory SEND processes and inclusive practice
- Experience working with parents, carers and multi-agency professionals
- Strong case-management and organisational skills
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to review evidence and make clear recommendations
- Experience monitoring funding, support packages or provision would be advantageous
- Strong attention to detail and record-keeping
- Ability to manage multiple cases and competing priorities
- Previous local authority education or SEND experience would be highly desirable
- Eligibility to work in the UK
- Ability to provide relevant references/work history
- Ability to complete required safeguarding and pre-employment checks
Why Apply
- Opportunity to work with Southwark Council
- Competitive Umbrella rate of £25.35 per hour
- Full-time 36-hour working week
- Specialist role supporting children with high and complex needs
- Opportunity to work across early years, SEND and multi-agency services
- Chance to support inclusive education and better outcomes for children
- 18-week temporary assignment
- Opportunity to develop further local authority education experience
Benefits
- Weekly Pay
- Company Pension
- Ongoing Agency Support
Additional Information
Client: Southwark Council
Job Title: Early Years High Needs Co-ordinator – Education Qualified
Location: 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH
Positions Available: 1
Hours: 36 hours per week
Start Date: 24 November 2026
End Date: 29 March 2027
Contract Duration: 18 weeks
Contract Type: Temporary
Pay Rate: Umbrella: £25.35 per hour
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary contract
Pay: £25.35 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
Application question(s):
- Do you hold a relevant education or early years qualification?
- Do you have experience working with children with SEND or high-level additional needs?
- Do you have experience coordinating support or funding within early years or education services?
- Are you confident working with parents, early years settings and multi-agency professionals?
- Do you have previous local authority SEND or education experience?
- Are you able to reliably travel to 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH?
- Are you available to start from 24 November 2026?
Experience:
- Early Years / Education: 2 years (required)
- SEND / High Needs Provision: 1 year (required)
- Local Authority Education / SEND: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Relevant Education / Early Years Qualification (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Disclaimer: On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify iWork Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.
OR120913-11-26
