Head of Early Years Funding and Family Information Services

Overview The London Borough of Harrow is seeking a Head of Early Years Funding and Family Information Services to provide strategic leadership across a portfolio that is fundamental to the delivery of high-quality early education, childcare and family support services. Reporting to the Early Years Lead Adviser, this senior leadership role sits within the Education Services division of Children’s Services and has a key responsibility for overseeing the effective management and distribution of the Early Years Block of the Dedicated Schools Grant, with an annual value of approximately £39 million. This is a key role, with responsibilty for leading the Families Information Service, childcare sufficiency strategy, early years funding administration and associated data and intelligence functions. The postholder will ensure the Council fulfils its statutory duties, delivers excellent support to families and providers, and maintains a sustainable, accessible and inclusive childcare market across the borough. Working closely with senior leaders, elected members, schools, early years providers, government bodies and partner organisations, you will provide expert advice on complex policy, funding, performance and market-development matters. You will also lead the development of strategies and systems that ensure services remain compliant, efficient and responsive to the changing needs of children and families. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of early years provision in Harrow. Combining strategic leadership with strong operational oversight, you will drive service improvement, manage significant budgets and resources, and use data and insight to inform decision making and improve outcomes. This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced leader to influence policy, strengthen partnerships and deliver meaningful impact for children, families and childcare providers across the borough. Interview Date- 20/11/2026 About You The successful candidate will have: Significant leadership experience within a complex public sector, education, childcare or family services environment Extensive knowledge of legislation, statutory guidance and funding arrangements relating to early years education, childcare and family support services Proven experience managing substantial budgets, funding programmes and financial performance within a highly accountable environment Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data, identify trends and use evidence to inform strategic decision making Experience leading service improvement, transformation programmes and organisational change initiatives Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to present complex information to senior leaders, elected members and external partners Strong partnership-building and stakeholder management skills, with experience working across multiple agencies and sectors A strategic, collaborative and outcome-focused leadership style, with the ability to manage risk, drive performance and deliver high-quality services for children and families Related Documents For more information, please refer to the Role Profile/ Selection Criteria