Stronger Practice Hub Lead

Start date: ASAP | Fixed term ending March 2028

Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre leads A Brighter Start: London’s Stronger Practice Hub.

The Early Years Stronger Practice Hub (EYSPH) programme is funded by the Department for Education to improve quality in the early years sector and ensure that every child has the best start in life. As part of the government’s Best Start in Life strategy, the programme has been extended and expanded for a further three years.

Stronger Practice Hubs across England support the early years sector by sharing evidence-informed practice, providing professional development, and building networks of practitioners committed to improving outcomes for children.

The Stronger Practice Hub Lead provides strategic leadership for A Brighter Start - East London’s Early Years Stronger Practice Hub, driving the adoption of evidence-informed practice and strengthening professional development across the early years sector leading to improved outcomes for children, particularly those facing disadvantage. The Lead will join a national network of Early Years Stronger Practice Hub leaders, working collaboratively with the Department for Education, Partners and other hubs across England.

Key responsibilities:

The Stronger Practice Hub Lead will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of the Hub, ensuring that its work is impactful, evidence-informed and aligned with Department for Education priorities. The postholder will:

• Provide strategic leadership for an effective and impactful Early Years Stronger Practice Hub, ensuring delivery against Department for Education (DfE) KPIs and contributing to sector improvement across the region.
• Hold overall strategic responsibility for the delivery and impact of the Stronger Practice Hub across our region, including oversight of programme performance, partnerships and the effective use of DfE grant funding
• Work strategically with the Deputy Headteacher, East London Research School team, Family Hub team, and Nursery School team to ensure the Hub’s work aligns with the organisation’s vision and priorities.
• Work in strategic partnership with Local Authorities and Best Start Family Hubs to support improvements in child development outcomes and contribute to the delivery of local Best Start in Life plans.
• Work in partnership with other Stronger Practice Hubs to coordinate engagement across local authorities, share sector intelligence, and plan complementary activity.
• Provide visible leadership for the Hub across the region, acting as an advocate for evidence-informed early years practice and high-quality early education.

About you:

You are an experienced and credible early years leader with a strong understanding of high-quality Early Childhood Education and Care, and a commitment to evidence-informed approaches. You have a proven ability to improve practice across multiple settings through high-quality professional development, targeted support and strong partnership working with settings, local authorities and system leaders. You are organised, strategic and outcomes-focused, using data and feedback to drive continuous improvement and ensure all children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, benefit from high-quality Early Childhood Education and Care.

Essential requirements:

• National Professional Qualification (NPQ) in educational leadership (e.g. NPQH, NPQEL, NPQSL) or an equivalent leadership qualification.
• Proven leadership experience in early years, with a track record of improving quality and outcomes beyond a single setting.
• Strong expertise in early years pedagogy with the ability to translate improvement at scale.
• Experience of designing and leading high-quality professional development and workforce support.
• Excellent communication, organisational, and IT skills.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting children’s wellbeing.

Why join us?

Join us to play a leading role in shaping and improving early years practice across a diverse and ambitious system. This is a unique opportunity to work at scale, influence real change and make a lasting difference to children’s outcomes, particularly for those most disadvantaged.

For more information please contact Melissa Prendergast (Deputy Headteacher) melissa.prendergast@sheringham-nur.newham.sch.uk

Closing date: 19th April 2026 | Interviews: 27th April 2026

Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check