Enhanced Language and Communication Support Worker

The starting salary for this position is -32,111 per annum based on 36 hours per week, across 42 weeks per year. The role is term time, plus an additional 15 days per year. The 52 week equivalent salary is -34,660.

We are excited to be hiring Enhanced Language and Communication Support Workers to join our fantastic Enhanced Language and Communication Initiative (ELCi) team!

You will have a main Surrey office base in either Woking or Reigate and will work in schools across a designated area. We support agile working and are committed to providing a healthy work/life balance, considering flexible working wherever possible.

Our Offer to You

• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer''s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

About the Role

ELCi is closely aligned with the Department for Education''s SEND reforms set out in the "Every Child Achieving and Thriving" White Paper, particularly the "Experts at Hand" model. It aims to strengthen the capability of mainstream education settings to meet children''s needs earlier, more effectively, and inclusively.

Some children may present with short, or longer-term additional needs on school entry. Improved understanding, together with the implementation of ''whole class approaches'' can make a real difference to both staff and children''s experiences. These approaches, that are beneficial to all and essential for some, will form the foundation of a communication supportive environment that enhances inclusion in our reception classes. It is expected that ALL children in reception will benefit from a language rich environment and our enhanced offer.

The ELCi team is designed to support children with a range of additional needs in their reception year. Through collaborating with key school staff, children will be supported with their communication and emotional regulation needs, so that they can learn and thrive in their local school.

You will be joining a small team of Support Workers, supported by an ELCi Coordinator and led jointly by the Clinical Lead for Speech and Language Therapy and Senior Educational Psychologist. Training and ongoing professional development will be provided to ensure that you can confidently support settings and make a real difference to children''s lives.

What you''ll be doing

As a Support Worker, you will be delivering weekly input in reception classes, supporting teaching staff to create a communication friendly environment by implementing whole class approaches. You will use modelling and coaching skills to give staff the confidence to embed these approaches independently. This is a great opportunity to further develop your skills and work in a more autonomous way to develop our service to those in mainstream schools with speech, language and communication needs.

Your main duties as an Enhanced Language and Communication Support Worker will include:

• Assessing communication supports in Reception classes using a SCERTS framework
• Delivering weekly input and coaching in reception classes to support teaching staff to create a communication friendly environment
• Modelling strategies to school staff
• Problem solving with the class team to meet children''s needs
• Supporting with target setting, monitoring and review of agreed targets for staff
• Information sharing, signposting and advice
• Active engagement with supervision and a commitment to continuous professional development
• Contributing to project work to develop the team and evaluation data

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your CV and personal statement will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

• A minimum of three years'' experience of working with children and young people with additional/special educational needs
• Experience of working within mainstream education settings
• Ability to work independently and flexibly
• A passion and enthusiasm for supporting children with additional needs and disabilities
• Experience and knowledge of evidence-based language, and communication strategies and approaches

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and as part of this role, you will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and be willing to travel to schools within a designated area. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long-term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.

An enhanced DBS ''Disclosure and Barring Service'' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children''s and Adults'' Barred List checks will be required for this role.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 30.06.2026 with interviews planned to follow.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we''re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.