Join us as an Early Years Learning Lead

Are you an experienced early years professional with specialist knowledge in early language, early maths or personal, social and emotional development?

Would you like to use your expertise to support settings, develop practitioners and help improve outcomes for children across Greater Lincolnshire?

The Greater Lincolnshire Early Years Stronger Practice Hub is recruiting three Early Years Learning Leads (EYLLs) to work across Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire:

• Early Language Lead — four days per week
• Early Maths Lead — three days per week
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development Lead — two days per week

All roles are based on a term-time commitment, although there will be some flexibility in how activity is arranged across the year to meet the needs of early years providers.

About the roles

Early Years Learning Leads will provide specialist training and support across the full birth-to-five early years sector, including provision for babies.

Working as part of the Greater Lincolnshire Early Years Stronger Practice Hub, each Lead will:

• Deliver high-quality, Department for Education-approved professional development.
• Provide bespoke support to a minimum of four early years settings each term.
• Use coaching, mentoring, modelling and professional reflection to help settings strengthen their practice.
• Support practitioners to select, adapt and embed evidence-informed approaches.
• Develop a delivery plan that responds to the needs of providers across our region.
• Work collaboratively with local authorities, other specialist services and regional partners.
• Participate in regional and national professional networks.
• Monitor the progress and impact of the support provided.

Successful applicants will receive a comprehensive programme of induction, specialist training and ongoing support. Training will begin in January 2027, ahead of delivery to practitioners and settings from February 2027.

Funding is currently available until March 2028, with the possibility of an extension subject to continued funding.

Early Language Lead

Commitment: four days per week during term time

The Early Language Lead will help practitioners create communication-rich environments and strengthen support for children’s speech, language, communication, vocabulary, early reading and storytelling.

The role will include delivering DfE-approved early language professional development for practitioners working with:

• Children under two.
• Children aged two to four.

The Lead will also provide tailored coaching and support to settings across the wider birth-to-five sector, including those caring for and educating babies.

We are looking for someone who has:

• A Level 6 qualification.
• Substantial experience of working with children from birth to five.
• Extensive knowledge of early language development.
• Experience of leading professional development in early language.
• Experience of coaching, mentoring or supporting the development of others.
• Experience of working across, or alongside, different types of early years provision.
• The ability to work collaboratively with local authorities, speech and language services, English Hubs and other partners.

A Level 3 qualification in speech, language and communication would be desirable.

Early Maths Lead

Commitment: three days per week during term time

The Early Maths Lead will help practitioners develop confident, playful and evidence-informed approaches to early mathematics.

The role will include delivering DfE-approved early maths professional development for practitioners working with:

• Children under two.
• Children aged two to four.

The Lead will also provide tailored coaching and support to settings across the wider birth-to-five sector, including provision for babies.

We are looking for someone who has:

• A Level 6 qualification.
• Substantial experience of working with children from birth to five.
• Extensive knowledge of early mathematical development.
• Experience of leading professional development in early maths.
• Experience of coaching, mentoring or supporting the development of others.
• Experience of working across, or alongside, different types of early years provision.
• The ability to work collaboratively with local authorities, Maths Hubs and other partners.

The successful applicant will be reflective, responsive and confident in supporting settings with different priorities and starting points.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development Lead

Commitment: two days per week during term time

The PSED Lead will support practitioners to strengthen children’s self-regulation, emotional wellbeing, relationships, self-esteem, resilience and positive behaviour.

The current DfE-approved PSED professional development module is focused on practitioners working with children aged two to four. However, the Lead’s wider remit covers the full birth-to-five early years sector, including babies, through bespoke setting support, coaching and collaboration.

We are looking for someone who has:

• A Level 6 qualification.
• Substantial experience of working with children from birth to five.
• Extensive knowledge of personal, social and emotional development.
• Experience of leading professional development in PSED.
• Experience of coaching, mentoring or supporting the development of others.
• Experience of working across, or alongside, different types of early years provision.
• The ability to work collaboratively with local authorities, Best Start Family Hubs and other partners.
• A strong commitment to inclusive practice and reducing inequalities in children’s early outcomes.

Payment and working arrangements

Each role will be funded at:

£500 per day, inclusive of travel, subsistence and all on-costs.

These are not employed positions with the Greater Lincolnshire Early Years Stronger Practice Hub.

Successful applicants must undertake the role through one of the following arrangements:

• Release from their current setting or employer, with payment made to the setting to fund their release; or
• A self-employed consultancy arrangement.

If applying through a release arrangement, applicants should discuss the opportunity with their setting or employer before submitting an expression of interest.

Why become an Early Years Learning Lead?

• Share your specialist expertise with practitioners across the early years sector.
• Support sustainable improvements through coaching, mentoring and professional development.
• Influence practice across the full birth-to-five sector, including provision for babies.
• Receive specialist national training and ongoing professional support.
• Join regional and national networks of experienced early years professionals.
• Work collaboratively with settings, local authorities and specialist partners.
• Help improve outcomes for children across Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

How to apply

Applications close on Monday 28th September 2026.

Please download and complete the relevant Expression of Interest form below and return itto:

📧 hello@GLEYSH.co.uk

Please also use this email address if you would like further information or would like an informal discussion about any of the roles.

We look forward to hearing from experienced early years professionals who share our commitment to stronger practice, stronger settings and better outcomes for every child.