Access to Education Officer

Coventry City Council; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the United Kingdom seeks an Access to Education Officer for a full-time, fixed-term contract. The role involves supporting families in accessing educational services, ensuring children missing education are investigated, and licensing children in employment. Ideal candidates have strong communication skills and experience in front-line services. This position requires attention to detail and the ability to adapt in a fast-paced team setting.

Benefits

Guaranteed interview scheme for specific groups

Inclusive workplace culture

Qualifications

• Experience of dealing with the general public in a front-line service.
• Ability to deal with clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong appreciation of confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Investigate cases of children missing education.
• Support families from overseas in accessing educational provision.
• Ensure children in entertainment are licensed appropriately.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

High level of computer literacy

Ability to work independently

Job description

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. The Education Improvement and Standards team strives to deliver outstanding services for our customers, predominantly 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. The service is responsible for delivering statutory duties for the Council in respect of Pupil attendance enforcement, Children Missing Education, 6th day provision for permanently excluded pupils, the administration of the Fair Access and Supported Transfer process, and Child licencing and employment.

Values

• 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 for the recruitment of an Access to Education Officer to join our Access to Education Team within the Attendance and Children Missing Education Team. This is a Full‑Time (37 hours) fixed‑term contract for 24 months. The Access to Education Team covers a wide range of areas including supporting newly arrived families to access school places, Children Missing Education, licensing for children in entertainment and employment. All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK; we are not offering sponsorship for this role. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and will be conditional upon a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Who are we looking for?

The successful candidate will have experience of dealing with the general public, preferably in a front‑line service, with excellent communication and organisational skills and the ability to deal with clients from all backgrounds, sometimes in difficult situations. Some clients will come from overseas, so a high level of communication skills is required to support these families to access the service. The candidate should be polite and approachable, able to work both as part of a collaborative team and independently with minimum supervision. Accurate work, attention to detail, the ability to prioritise and a high level of computer literacy are crucial. The Access to Education Officer will be responsible for ensuring that children missing education are effectively investigated and that children and young people from overseas access their entitlement to educational provision in a timely manner. They will also ensure that children in entertainment and employment are licensed appropriately and support the recruitment of Local Authority Chaperones. A strong appreciation of confidentiality and the ability to cope with changing demands in a fast‑paced team are required.

For further information regarding this post please contact Helen: [e-mail]

Guaranteed Interview Scheme – As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people who meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the following criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Currently in care or have previously been in care
• Consider yourself disabled or have a long‑term health condition

Interview date(s): 27th November 2025