Early Years Quality and Standards Officer

Posting date:	21 January 2026
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	Competitive
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	20 February 2026
Location:	Oldham, OL1 1HD
Company:	inploi
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	75780265

Summary

Education, Skills and Early Years
Early Years
Early Years Quality and Standards Officer

Ref: 001260
Contract: Fixed Term (12 months maternity cover)
Salary: £47,181 51,359 pro rata per annum
Hours: 22 per week, 3 days hybrid working in office and home.
Location: Oldham Council Offices, Spindles Shopping Centre, George St, OL1 1HD
Closing Date: Sunday 8th February 2026
Interview Date: Friday 20th February 2026
Hiring Manager: Ailsa Burton, Challenge and Intervention Officer, Ailsa.Burton@oldham.gov.uk

Role Overview:
As the Early Years Quality and Standards Officer you will play a significant role in supporting the work of the Local Authority and the Education Improvement Manager to raise standards, attainment and quality in Oldham’s non maintained early years education settings by ensuring effective processes are in place for timely intervention where the performance of settings is causing concern.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure effective processes are in place for timely intervention where settings are underperforming or causing concern.
• Promote high-quality leadership through system leadership and capacity building initiatives across Early Years settings.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of Early Years workforce development strategies.
• Collaborate with Oldham Development Academy and partners across sectors (voluntary, private, independent, health, public health, etc.).

Key Requirements:

To succeed in this role, you will be able to:

• Experienced in developing and coordinating workforce development plans and quality improvement strategies.
• Capable to interpret complex data and national policy into accessible reports and presentations
• Knowledge in educational practice, legislation, SEN code of Practice and local government operations.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.

Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to offer sponsorship.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and therefore expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

About Us:

We want Oldham to have vibrant, safe neighbourhoods where people are proud to live with opportunities for healthier, more fulfilled lives; and a sustainable, thriving economy. As we look to the future, the challenges may be significant, but so are the opportunities. We’ve identified three missions with our residents and partners, focusing on what will deliver the biggest impact:

A Great Place to Live, Healthier, Happier Lives, and Green and Growing.

We’re looking for candidates who will support us to achieve our ambitions and we encourage you to download our Corporate Plan: Ready for the Future and our Oldham Plan for further information.

Our Values and Behaviours:

By driving innovation, investing in our people, and championing our communities, we will ensure that Oldham continues to be a place where everyone can live their best life. To support this, we have three core values which define who we are and how we operate. These are ‘Proud, Ambitious, and Together’, and they shape our culture, inform our decisions, and inspire us to deliver on our commitments to the people of Oldham.

We have translated these values into five behaviours which guide our actions and are the standards we hold ourselves to, day in and day out:

• Work with a resident focus
• Support local leaders
• Committed to the borough
• Delivery high performance
• Take ownership and drive change

You can find out more about our values and behaviours on our greater.jobs Oldham page

Our Benefits Package:

At Oldham Council we offer a great benefits package for our employees, which includes the following:

• 25 days annual leave which increases after 5 and 10-years’ service
• The option to purchase additional annual leave.
• An attractive LGPS benefit pension scheme with the option to make shared cost additional voluntary contributions.
• Discounted gym membership with Oldham Active.
• Staff discount scheme for shopping, entertainment, eating-out, eating-in, travel, motoring and more.
• Salary sacrifice scheme for home and electronics and Cycle to Work.
• Wellbeing support, including a Mental Health First Aider network and an Employment Assistance Programme that provides 24 hours access to advice and support.
• Staff recognition and celebration events.
• Peer support groups

Inclusive Recruitment:

We work closely with employees to help them work at their best, including making adjustments such as flexible working, describing available working patterns, providing equipment or making changes to the workplace.

If you’re an applicant with disabilities, aged 24 or under and have previously been in or currently in care, a carer, someone who has served in the Armed Forces, or you’ve participated in the GM Elevate Programme, and you meet the essential criteria of the role, you are guaranteed to reach the first stage of assessment under our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme.

Data and Privacy:

For details of how we use your data please see our privacy notice.

Important Information:

Please note that should a vacancy that has been released for internal or external recruitment be deemed suitable for a current employee at risk of redundancy, it can be pulled back at any point, up to the post being formally offered to a candidate who is not at risk of redundancy.

Right to Work in the UK from 1st July 2021.doc

Supporting Documents

↗ Job Description & Person Specification
↗ Right To Work

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