Apply for a role in the early years COVID-19 recovery experts and mentors programme
How to apply to become a mentor, expert or area lead for the early years COVID-19 recovery programme.
Applies to England
In October 2021, the Department for Education (DfE) announced funding to help address the impact of the pandemic. This includes the early years COVID-19 recovery experts and mentors programme.
About the programme
This programme offers bespoke early years support delivered either face-to-face or virtually by trained experts and mentors to:
- early years practitioners
- leaders
- whole settings
The offer to early years settings includes:
- leadership support
- coaching for leaders
- mentoring for practitioners
- whole-setting support depending on a setting’s priorities and needs
Available roles
We are currently looking for experienced early years professionals to become experts and mentors in specific locations.
In February 2022, we opened applications for candidates to take part in the full programme roll-out, starting on a national scale, in September 2022 (covering academic years 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024). The initial deadline for these applications was the end of March 2022.
We are now re-opening applications for candidates to take part in the full programme roll-out, in areas where we require further recruitment. We are not currently seeking new area leads.
Please note, in some cases, we may only require one person to fulfil a role in a local authority area. In submitting your application, please consider whether you would be willing to travel to some of the surrounding areas.
We are looking for:
- mentors to provide online or remote support to early years practitioners as they complete a new online child development training package
- experts to provide face-to-face support to leaders of settings
All roles will focus on helping children recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, including narrowing the gap between disadvantaged children and others.
Skills we’re looking for
We are looking for applicants with:
- at least 3 years’ experience and who are currently working in an early years setting that is Ofsted rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ (or equivalent independent school inspection rating)
- a level 6 or above early years qualification
Applicants may be working in:
- schools
- nursery schools
- private, voluntary or independent (PVI) nurseries
- other early years settings
- early years roles within local authorities, universities, or similar organisations
Childminders are not eligible to apply for this programme at this time. Information on how childminders can get involved will be announced in due course.
How to apply for a role in the programme
To apply for a role, complete the relevant expression of interest (EOI) form and outline your relevant skills and experience. The documents provide details of the responsibilities and activities you will undertake in each role, including timings.
Expression of interest (EOI) application forms
Deadline
Submit your expression of interest form to eoi.EYRECOVERY@education.gov.uk by noon 1st July 2022.
You can also contact this mailbox with any additional queries.
Funding
Funding for this programme is paid in the form of a grant to a registered setting. We cannot pay individuals directly. Your employer must agree to you applying to become a mentor or expert. If you are successful, we will issue a grant offer letter to your employer which they need to complete, sign and return to DfE. Claims will be verified and subject to a grant assurance process.
Multiple staff from the same setting or local authority can apply if their manager or headteacher agrees beforehand. The manager only needs to return one grant form for the setting or local authority, not one per person.
Applicants must be available to attend training between June to September 2022 and start supporting settings from September 2022.
How we will use your data
The explains how we will use your information.
Updates to this page
Last updated 17 June 2022 + show all updates
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The ‘Available roles’ section and two attachments – ‘Mentors role description and application form’ and ‘Experts role description and application form’ – have been updated. Updates reflect reopening of applications to become experts and mentors in specific locations. ‘Area leads role description and application form’ removed, as no area lead roles are currently available. There are small, related updates elsewhere on the page.
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First published.