Best Start in Life Lead Teacher: SEND Transitions & Vulnerable Groups

Best Start in Life Lead Teacher: SEND Transitions and Vulnerable Groups - Ref: CH09826

As the Best Start in Life Lead Teacher, you will provide borough-wide specialist educational support to improve transitions across the early year's pathways and into settings, nursery and Reception for the most vulnerable children.

You will join a strong and aspirational Best Start in Life service committed to early intervention, inclusion and improving life chances for children and families.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape a new and ambitious service focused on improving outcomes for children from birth to five.

Working across education, SEND, Family Hubs, health and wider children's services, you will:

• Lead the development and implementation of Walsall's inclusive early years transition framework.
• Support children with SEND and vulnerable groups to experience positive and successful transitions.
• Provide specialist advice, coaching and constructive challenge to early year's providers and partners.
• Analyse local intelligence and data to identify vulnerable cohorts and target support where it is needed most.
• Strengthen professional practice, inclusion and school readiness across the borough.
• Work collaboratively with families and professionals to remove barriers and improve outcomes for children.

• The opportunity to influence practice across an entire borough.
• Strong multi-agency partnerships across education, health and family services.
• A supportive and collaborative working environment.
• A strong commitment to wellbeing, inclusion and work-life balance.

This post requires regular travel across Walsall and the ability to work flexibly from a range of locations including Family Hubs, community venues and settings.

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

This post is covered by the Government's Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for Public Sector Workers.

Closing Date: Friday 20th November 2026

Interview Date: Must be available week beginning 30th November or 7th December 2026

View: Job Description and Employee Specification

Join us and help ensure every child in Walsall experiences a positive, inclusive and successful start to their educational journey

This post is covered by the Government's Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. The post holder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English.

Walsall Council takes seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children, young people and vulnerable adults entrusted to our care and it is our expectation that all staff will share this commitment. We will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for working with children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Note: Applicants appointed to posts that require an enhanced DBS clearance must declare any periods of time that they have lived, studied or worked abroad and be prepared to provide an Overseas Criminal Records Certificate (OCRC) or a Statement of Good Conduct (SOGC) relating to anytime they were overseas.

Important note: When completing your online application form, you will be asked to enter supporting information. You must enter a detailed supporting information statement describing how your skills, abilities and experience meet the specific criteria included in the employee specification. If you do not include a supporting information statement, you will not be shortlisted. Please also ensure that you complete the work history and qualifications sections of your application form. Please do not add a CV as we do not accept them. Please see our Information for Applicants leaflet for further information.

We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this job vacancy. We are not accepting agency applications or referrals at this time.

At Walsall Council, we appreciate that AI can be a useful tool for ideas or guidance. However, we encourage you to make sure your application reflects your own voice and experiences. Over-reliance on AI can make responses feel less personal, and we really want to understand what makes you unique. Your experiences, skills, and perspective are what set you apart, so please ensure your application as a whole - particularly your 'Supporting Information' - reflects your own voice.

Walsall Council's Children's Services are the only Ofsted 'Outstanding' local authority in the Black Country. During a visit in May 2025, Inspectors described Walsall Council as a place where children were at the heart of. The council's journey of continuous improvement started in 2017 and has since transformed into a service with a clear vision, clear priorities and a clear plan, all informed by the views of our staff and children. Staff are at the core of delivering great outcomes for children and young people in Walsall, which is underpinned by our Walsall Right 4 Children vision. The latest Ofsted inspection demonstrated that staff in children's services are proud to work for Walsall Council and feel supported to do great work.

We are looking for an experienced, credible and passionate professional who can influence others and drive improvement through collaboration.

You will have:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
• Significant experience teaching children with SEND and vulnerable groups within early years and/or primary education.
• Experience working as a SENCO and leading inclusive practice.
• Excellent knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice, EYFS Statutory Framework, Children and Families Act and Equality Act.
• Experience of supporting transition, school readiness and inclusion.
• Strong coaching, influencing and partnership working skills.
• The ability to analyse information, identify priorities and translate evidence into effective action.
• A commitment to improving outcomes for children and families.