Education Access Specialist
Permanent, Full Time
£42,761 to £50,307 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style:
Essex County Council is responsible for ensuring that children and young people at risk of missing out on education are supported in being able to access suitable alternative, high quality education provision.
This role is responsible for ensuring that children and young people out of education or at risk of missing out on education have access to suitable alternative high quality education provision. This provision must offer bespoke solutions to mitigate the risk around time spent out of education and ensure appropriate placements are managed effectively. The focus is securing placements for children unable to attend school across a wide range of providers and sectors.
Educated to degree level and experienced in working with schools, this role will need to exert influence on potential outcomes, working collaboratively with schools across Essex to reduce the number of permanent exclusions.
Accountabilities
1. Develop bespoke packages of provision to meet the needs of individuals not accessing a full timetable.
2. Responsible for supporting schools in addressing the needs of children facing a range of situations including those who are unable to attend schools as permanently excluded or medically unable to attend school
3. Work collaboratively with schools to develop more robust processes to highlight early identification and intervention, so needs can be addressed before crisis point.
4. Responsible for ensuring appropriate education is in place for both children and young people who are unable to attend school due to permanent exclusion or illness, in order to meet statutory requirements.
5. Manage and develop effective relationships with commissioned alternative providers to ensure alternative provisions continue to meet expected standards and desired outcomes.
6. Contribute to the implementation of ECC’s action plan to support a reduction in permanent exclusions and support the reintegration of pupils into mainstream education.
7. Support the requirement for sufficient capacity within Essex’s alternative provision market to meet ECC needs as well as enabling schools access to provision offering earlier intervention.
8. Work collaboratively other professional bodies to support schools to develop high quality alternatives to exclusion and disengagement.
9. Contribute to school-based partnerships to meet the needs of pupils with challenging behaviour.
10. Work within the service policies in relation to child protection and the working together to keep children safe in education guidance
11. Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.
The Experience You Will Bring
12. Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience
13. Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
14. Evidence of experience in contributing to school improvement initiatives in schools and to improving outcomes for pupils, including those related to behaviour and attendance.
15. Knowledge, understanding and experience of education regulations relating to exclusions, and alternative education provision
16. Experience of supporting schools with extensive experience of successfully working with schools to deliver a reduction in permanent exclusions
17. Positive individual and effective communicator, able to negotiate with schools and deliver face to face services together with experience of working with leaders.
18. Understanding of current education provision and how it operates at ECC
Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about
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Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
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