Location
London Borough of Hackney

Hours
Full Time - 36 hours per week

Salary
£42,912 - £44,235 (Grade SO2)

About the Role
Hackney is one of the most dynamic and progressive local authorities in the UK. We are a resilient, vibrant, and creative borough in the heart of London, with strong, diverse communities and a powerful set of shared values. Over the past twenty years, the Council has built up first-class services, outstanding public infrastructure, and a reputation for excellence, innovation, and ambition. We are leading the way on essential work such as our fight for equity in Hackney with a particular focus on becoming an actively anti-racist borough. Our work also proactively addresses fairness across gender, neurodiversity, and poverty divides.

We are seeking a creative and passionate early years practitioner committed to inclusive practice to join our long-standing Area SENCo team as part of Hackney's Integrated SEND Service. This fixed-term/secondment opportunity (12 months) offers an exciting chance to bring your knowledge and expertise to help shape the future of inclusion for children in Hackney, aligned with our local area SEND Strategy and the national 2026 SEND reforms.

Our key priority is to improve the life chances of every child, young person, and learner, making Hackney one of the most forward-looking education providers in the UK. We are committed to ensuring that our schools and settings create a sense of belonging for all children, regardless of their special educational needs or disability. We want children and young people to grow, learn, develop, and achieve, while offering one of the best places for colleagues to work and thrive within our education system.

As an Area SENCo, you will work directly with children aged 2-5 years with SEND, their families and carers, and Early Years settings including Children's Centres, and private, voluntary, and independent settings. Our approach is child-centred and ensures children with SEND are supported via a graduated approach. This includes early identification, supporting parents, providing advice and training to setting practitioners, modelling strategies and interventions, and engaging in multi-agency working. Through collaborative work, you will build capacity in nursery settings, remove barriers to inclusion, and ensure the best possible educational outcomes for children with additional needs.

Hackney Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This role involves regulated activity and requires an enhanced DBS check and additional pre-employment checks in line with statutory guidance. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and subsequent amendments.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Applicants will complete competency-based questions to demonstrate their suitability, skills, knowledge, and experience. We encourage candidates to showcase their unique knowledge and skills using their own voice.

Experience
Experience working with children aged 2-5 years with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is essential. Experience in early years settings, including Children's Centres and private, voluntary, or independent settings, is highly desirable.

About you
You are a creative, passionate, and skilled team player committed to inclusive practice and improving educational outcomes for children with SEND. You are proactive, collaborative, and able to work effectively with families, practitioners, and multi-agency partners. You share our values of being proud, ambitious, pioneering, open, proactive, and inclusive.

You are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and understand the importance of working within statutory guidance and local policies.

Qualifications
Relevant qualifications in special educational needs coordination or early years education are required. You must be eligible to undertake an enhanced DBS check due to the regulated nature of the role.