The Education and SEND Service strives to deliver outstanding services for our customers, predominately the children of Coventry, who may be requiring access to education or alternative education provision. We ensure vulnerable children are appropriately supported; have a voice, that hopefully leads to their high achievement and excellent progress. The Service is made up of a diverse range of teams all working together to recognise, support and apply innovative solutions to address the growing issues in relation to trying to educate some of our most vulnerable pupils in schools. Coventry Virtual School is a service provided by dedicated professionals within the Children's and Education Directorate whose work is to promote and co-ordinate educational support for Children in Care and Care Leavers to succeed at nursery, school, college and university; wherever their place of learning. The team's purpose is to ensure that all who work with Coventry’s Children in Care and Care Leavers have high educational aspirations for them, so that our pupils and students are given the best opportunities to engage, progress and achieve to their full potential. Coventry Virtual School is staffed by professionals, who work in partnership with schools, social workers, carers and other professionals. Like all good parents, we ensure that communication about our children is regular and constructive and that we are all working together successfully to help them achieve their potential. We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias. Our Values In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do. Our Values are: Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent. Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best. Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one. Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve. Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents. Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do. What is the job role? An opportunity has arisen to recruit a Local Authority Education Advisor within Coventry Virtual School. This is a permanent, term-time only role. Coventry Virtual School is seeking an experienced secondary education practitioner to promote the educational achievement of vulnerable children and young people supported by the Virtual School. This primarily includes children in care, as well as those who fall under the Virtual School’s extended duties, including previously looked-after children, children in kinship care arrangements, and children with a social worker. The Education Advisor will play a key role in identifying and addressing barriers to success, providing advice and guidance to schools on trauma-informed practice and relational approaches, and monitoring outcomes to promote a culture of high aspiration. The role involves ensuring that the educational attainment of vulnerable children remains a high priority in schools and alternative provisions. It also includes developing initiatives and interventions with children, young people, and parents/carers to improve attendance, reduce suspension, meet SEND needs, and create positive school experiences based on a relational approach. Additionally, the Education Advisor will be responsible for monitoring the completion of termly Personal Education Plans (PEPs), identifying where additional support and advice are needed, and challenging schools on the effectiveness of their practices and procedures. This role will primarily work across the secondary age cohort and support transitions into Post 16 education. This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the educational experiences and outcomes of vulnerable learners. For further information or to arrange an informal discussion with the Virtual School Head, please email Mikaela.Carrasco@Coventry.gov.uk. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Who are we looking for? The successful candidate will have extensive experience working in an education setting, providing advice and guidance to school staff, parents/carers, and other stakeholders on factors that impact children and young people’s educational outcomes and access to education. They will also have a strong understanding of key areas, including: A significant knowledge of legislation relating to education and children, including attendance and suspension/exclusion. A clear understanding of current best practices for improving the educational outcomes of children and young people with social, emotional, and mental health needs. A detailed knowledge of intervention programmes designed to support children and young people, along with experience in assessing and reporting on their impact. A thorough understanding of safeguarding procedures and responsibilities. Experience of local authority processes for special educational needs and disabilities, including Statutory Assessment and Education, Health and Care Plans. This role requires a proactive, knowledgeable, and committed individual who is passionate about improving educational experiences and outcomes for vulnerable learners. Following recommendations from Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) for an additional pre employment check with effect 1 Sept 22, please note, an online search may form part of this recruitment process. All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role. If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you. Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria: Members of the Armed Forces and veterans Are currently in care or have previously been in care If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable. Interview dates: 26th and 27th March 2026 About Coventry Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change. We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse. At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things. To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities. If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies