Job Overview
We are seeking a dedicated and organised Attendance Officer to join our educational institution. The successful candidate will be responsible for monitoring student attendance, maintaining accurate records, and supporting the overall attendance management system. This role offers an opportunity to contribute positively to student engagement and punctuality, ensuring a smooth and efficient learning environment. Prior experience in teaching or educational settings is desirable, as it will enhance understanding of student needs and institutional policies. The position is paid and suitable for individuals committed to fostering a disciplined and supportive academic atmosphere.
Role Purpose:
PURPOSE OF THE JOB
To take a leading role in raising achievement by improving school attendance by;
· Liaising with: Teaching staff, Inclusion Manager, Pastoral Leaders, parents, students, external agencies
· Providing a specialist service to assist the school in meeting their obligations and targets in relation to school attendance, especially persistent absence.
· Supporting the implementation of current Department for Education (DfE) attendance guidance and promoting a culture of excellent attendance across the Academy.
· Working proactively with students experiencing barriers to attendance, including Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA), to support successful reintegration and sustained engagement with education.
· To evaluate the impact of attendance interventions and produce reports demonstrating outcomes, ensuring support is targeted effectively and outcomes are measurable.
· Promoting positive attitudes by students and families towards education and to
ensure that parents are made fully aware of their statutory responsibilities.
· Establishing and developing a professional service to support the school in raising attendance, investigating persistent absences and improving punctuality.
· Building appropriate relationships through unsupervised contact with families in their own homes and elsewhere.
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MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
· To support the Academy in implementing statutory attendance responsibilities and current DfE guidance, including the principles outlined in Working Together to Improve School Attendance.
· To advise the school on strategies to promote the regular and punctual attendance of all students and assist with the implementation of the strategies.
· Meet with school staff, students and parents to identify individual problems and
possible solutions.
· To identify and support students experiencing Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA) and other barriers to attendance, working collaboratively with families, pastoral staff, SEND teams and external agencies to develop supportive intervention plans
· To make phone calls on a daily basis for first day absence.
· To make unsupervised contact with families in response to allocated referrals i.e.
home visits and /or meetings in school.
· To establish the reason for non-attendance, make assessments and agree a plan for facilitating a return to school using appropriate strategies within specified timescales.
· To initiate and support appropriate legal interventions with the Education Welfare Service (EWS) to ensure the Academy fulfils its statutory responsibilities regarding attendance. This may include preparing statements, gathering evidence, requesting penalty notices, attending attendance panels and supporting the Academy during legal proceedings and attending court hearings where required.
· To be fully aware of and carry out all work in line with Safeguarding Procedures.
· To liaise and work with other members of EWS as well as other professionals in
police, Social Services, Housing , Health and any other statutory and voluntary
organisations.
· To keep clear and concise records of all consultations and to write any other reports i.e. annual action plan and summaries, as required for the school.
· To use IT systems to produce reports, often to tight timescales, using word
processing and record information including statistical data, providing reports to
senior managers and other professionals.
· To manage and prioritise your own workload in line with service requirements.
· To acquire and maintain a working knowledge of the statutory framework relating to school attendance, child employment, child protection and special needs in order to be able to offer informed advice to parents, school staff, governors and others.
· To support Heads of Year and senior leaders in advising the
school on all matters relating to attendance and where necessary take the lead role in developing work processes to improve school attendance.
· To work on initiatives which raise the awareness of school staff, parents and the
community on the importance of school attendance.
· To work with an agreed caseload of students on a 1:1 basis to improve their attendance.
· Promote whole school attendance through weekly staff newsletters, tutor time, assemblies and display boards.
· Produce, distribute and support supervision in pastoral detentions when required.
· To analyse attendance, punctuality and persistent absence data on a weekly basis, identifying trends, vulnerable groups and emerging concerns and reporting findings to senior leaders.
· To monitor attendance performance of identified cohorts including disadvantaged students, students with SEND, children in care, young carers and other vulnerable groups, recommending targeted interventions where appropriate.
· To analyse the impact of attendance interventions and produce reports demonstrating outcomes and areas for further development to senior leaders.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
· Adaptable, imaginative, creative and flexible in approach to the work
· Self motivating and the ability to identify your own training needs and a willingness to attend relevant training courses or other training
· Prepared to attend meetings outside of office hours
· Promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young and vulnerable people that you are responsible for or come into contact with.
· To comply with individual responsibilities, in accordance with the role, for health and safety in the workplace.
· Ensure that all duties and services provided are in accordance with the School’s
Equal Opportunities Policy.
· To actively support and promote the vision, values and strategic priorities of Birches Head Academy and the Frank Field Education Trust.
· The Governing Body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
· children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this
commitment.
· To ensure compliance of Data Protection at all times.
· The duties above are neither exclusive nor exhaustive and the post holder may be required by the Headteacher to carry out appropriate duties within the context of the job, skills and grade.
Pay: £24,598.00-£26,683.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
