Attendance Officer

Prospere Learning Trust; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

High quality CPD

Health Plan

Pension Contribution

Generous holidays

Cyclescheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Credit Union

Flexible working

Mental Health First Aid

Blue Light Card

BYOND cashback

Job summary

Manchester Enterprise Academy (MEA) is seeking a dedicated Attendance Officer to improve attendance and engagement across the school, working with pupils, families, school leaders and external agencies to remove barriers to attendance. The successful candidate will have experience with children and families in education or related settings, with a strong safeguarding and legislation understanding.

This permanent 35-hour post is term-time plus three weeks (41 weeks) and starts at £29,969

Qualifications

• Experience of working with children, young people and families within education, social care or community settings.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding, child protection and relevant legislation.

Responsibilities

• Implement and support attendance policies and procedures.
• Manage a caseload of attendance cases with accurate documentation.
• Track, analyse and report attendance data to inform interventions.
• Coordinate attendance initiatives with SLT, staff and external agencies.
• Deliver safeguarding-related meetings and staff training.

Skills

Experience with students and families

Safeguarding knowledge

Case management

Organisational skills

Job description

We currently have an exciting opportunity for an Attendance Officer to join our fantastic team at Manchester Enterprise Academy (MEA)

MEA is seeking a dedicated and resilient Attendance Officer to play a key role in improving attendance and engagement across the school. This is a vital position, working closely with pupils, families, school leaders and external agencies to remove barriers to attendance and ensure every child can access a high-quality education.

The successful candidate will have experience of working with children, young people and families within education, social care or community settings, together with a strong understanding of safeguarding, child protection and relevant legislation.

This is a permanent post, working 35 hours per week, term time only plus three weeks (a total of 41 weeks per annum). The starting salary is £29,969 (full-time equivalent £33,143), Grade 6. The role is expected to commence once the pre-employment checks are complete.

Key responsibilities

As Attendance Officer, you will:

• Implement and support school attendance policies and procedures, ensuring staff understand their impact on pupils and families
• Manage a caseload of attendance cases, maintaining accurate documentation and preparing evidence to support legal action, including court proceedings where required
• Track, analyse, and report on attendance data, identifying patterns and trends to inform interventions and strategic planning
• Work closely with the Senior Leadership Team, teaching staff and external agencies to plan and deliver attendance initiatives, campaigns and targeted interventions
• Coordinate and undertake home visits, including lone visits, unannounced visits and joint visits with partner agencies such as the Police, Health and Social Care
• Support the monitoring and enforcement of attendance parenting orders and post-prosecution casework
• Deliver training to staff, governors, and key stakeholders on attendance regulations, legislation, and best practice
• Conduct meetings and interviews in line with safeguarding and child protection procedures
• Liaise with staff to support appropriate learning provision for pupils facing barriers to on-site attendance
• Promote equality, inclusion, and accessibility in all aspects of service delivery
• Maintain high standards of health and safety and engage in ongoing professional development

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Experienced in supporting children, young people, and families
• Knowledgeable about safeguarding, child protection, and attendance-related legislation
• Confident in managing complex cases and making sound, balanced decisions
• Resilient, organised, and able to work calmly under pressure
• Skilled in building positive relationships with pupils, parents, staff, and external agencies
• Committed to inclusive practice and improving outcomes for all students

Why join MEA?

• Be part of a supportive and committed team
• Make a genuine difference to the lives of children and families
• Access ongoing professional development and training opportunities
• Join a school community focused on inclusion, high expectations and pupil success

All school staff are expected to share the Trust’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Specific safeguarding responsibilities are detailed in the attached job description.

Working for Prospere Learning Trust

Great schools thrive because of the great people in them. We invest in our staff to achieve their full potential and offer a range of benefits including.

• High quality CPD for all roles
• Bupa Level 1 Health Plan - annual cash back allowance for a range of every day health care expenses
• Generous Pension Contribution - over 26% for teachers and over 17% for support staff
• Good holidays – teachers as per School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document; non-teachers receive 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 31 days with 5 years' service
• Cyclescheme - save up to 39% on a bike and accessories and get Strava for free
• Employee Assistance Programmes - including access to free counselling and 24/7 helplines
• Credit Union - regular savings, Christmas saving scheme and access to affordable loans
• Flexible working options - we're happy to talk flexible working where possible
• Mental Health First Aid in every school
• Blue Light Card - discounts on holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, insurance, phones, and many more
• bYond cashback card - spend smarter with a prepaid cashback card for your everyday purchases

Visit our website to learn more about our Trust: prospere.org.uk

Manchester Enterprise Academy

MEA is a vibrant secondary academy in Wythenshawe, South Manchester, serving 1200 students. Our campus features modern facilities, including Theatre, Art, Fashion, Dance studios, new Science labs, and a £1 million multi-sport facility with a 3G pitch. We also offer a cafe, dining facilities, Food Technology rooms, and updated ICT, Business, and Language classrooms. Our vision, “A Fantastic Future for All Our Students,” focuses on achieving top academic results through the MEA Way: Safe, Respectful, Ready and Kind.

'Staff have high expectations for all pupils.'

‘Pupils from all backgrounds are well supported to gain the resilience and knowledge that they need for a positive future.’

Visit our website to learn more about our school community: https://www.manchesterenterpriseacademy.org.uk/

Job Application Information

As per Keeping Children Safe in Education, we conduct online searches on shortlisted candidates to identify any relevant issues for interview discussion. Shortlisted candidates will be required to submit a self-disclosure declaration, declaring any relevant convictions, adult cautions or other matters which may affect your suitability to work with children. Information will be provided on where to seek guidance on whether certain offences are now protected and should not be disclosed within the self-disclosure form.

Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 all positions within the School are exempt. Therefore, we are entitled to carry out Enhanced Disclosure checks for all staff and volunteers. It is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relating to children.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; we do not sponsor visa applications. If you’ve lived or worked outside the UK in the last five years, additional information will be required. Job offers are contingent on satisfactory pre-employment checks, including references.

Safeguarding Commitment

All schools within the Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

Equality Statement

Prospere Learning Trust values diversity and welcomes applications from all candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

For application support, contact us on 0161 527 7953 or email [e-mail]