Sector Advisory Panel Role Outline
The Early Education and Childcare Coalition unites the voices of parents, children, providers, early years professionals and the wider business community, working together for investment and reform of early education and childcare in England.
And who better to understand what we need to do to transform early education and childcare than those working with children under five every day?
At the Coalition, we want those most affected to be able to play an active role in shaping policy and driving this movement for change across early education and childcare.
To build on this work, we are developing a Sector Advisory Panel to provide a space to shape our projects, influence our members and speak directly to those in power.
What is the Sector Advisory Panel?
The panel is made up of frontline early years educators working at different levels and in a range of early education and childcare settings such as childminders, pre-school and nursery staff and nannies.
The panel members will help identify key priorities for the Coalition. They will act as a sounding board for research and campaign ideas, provide feedback on project work and materials, and collaborate with us to advocate for improving the early education and childcare system.
Who can join the Sector Advisory Panel?
Panel members must be living in England and be frontline early years educators including pre-school and nursery staff, early education and childcare assistants, apprentices, childminders or nannies.
While we value the unique perspective of nursery owners particularly those who operate small groups or single site settings, this particular group is for non-managerial professionals, whose voice are often overlooked and conflated with that of owners and membership bodies. The Coalition is developing further mechanisms for senior leadership including business owners to feed into our work and will share details on that soon. If you are an owner and you think a member of your team would like to be involved in this group, please do share it with them.
We particularly welcome applications from people who belong to Global Majority groups that are underrepresented in the early years sector, and from childminders and Level 2 and 3 early years educators who are often underrepresented in early years research.
What is the time commitment for the panels?
Duration: One year term with a possible extension. You can leave the panel at any time.
Time commitment: Approximately 1.5 - 2 hours per month to account for meeting preparation time, attending panel meetings and reviewing and commenting on documents. There will be two-hour panel meetings held every three months, with shorter one-hour meetings, events or activity slots held across the year as needed to respond to any major announcements on early years or key project activities. We recognise that it is difficult to be released from your setting so wherever possible these panels will be held in the evening outside of work hours and with due attention paid to caring responsibilities at home.
Location: Online (Zoom). With a possible in-person regional meeting in the future. Any potential in-person meetings or events will be agreed in advance with panel members with reasonable notice.
Remuneration: Based on £25 per hour for meetings and related activities. Reasonable travel and expenses will be covered.
What will I do as a panel member?
Share your professional experiences as an early education and childcare professional during panel meetings with set topics and projects to discuss.
Get regular updates on our current and future work, and opportunities to shape and feedback on the work.
Take part in shaping research projects and participate in academic research.
Share your lived experience in case studies, reports or articles.
Attend Coalition online and in-person events, with opportunities to be a speaker if you feel comfortable doing so.
Review and feedback on reports, resources and materials.
Speak to the media and key decision makers about your experiences if you feel comfortable doing so with full support from our staff team.
What are the benefits of being a panel member?
We offer payment for the time panel members spend attending panel meetings and completing Coalition related activities.
You will receive support to become an advocate for improving childcare and early education.
You will join Coalition events and webinars, which may include opportunities to be a key speaker.
You will meet and network with our member organisations and groups engaged with the Coalition, including links to Coalition Member events, research and training opportunities.
You will meet other early years professionals who want to transform early education and childcare.
You will be featured on our website and across our social media.
You will gain a greater understanding of how early years policy is designed at a national level, the political context of policymaking in this space, as well as emerging research and campaigns.
By using your voice and experience you will help to drive change in early education and childcare.
What support will I be given?
We will provide an informal online meet and greet session on Thursday 2nd October for people to meet with members of our team before the first panel meeting.
An onboarding 1-1 call with our Senior Research and Engagement Officer before any formal meetings.
Ongoing support from our Senior Research and Engagement Officer and staff team as needed.
Media training if speaking with members of the press.
How to apply to become a panel member
Complete our online form for the Sector Advisory Panel here.
If you have any trouble accessing or completing the online form, please contact frederika@earlyeducationchildcare.org
Deadline for applications is 11pm, 10th September 2025.
To learn more about the Coalition, its members and its aims, please visit www.earlyeducationchildcare.org