Attendance Officer

Manchester Enterprise Academy; Wythenshawe; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Manchester Enterprise Academy (MEA) is seeking an Attendance Officer to join our dedicated team. This role focuses on improving attendance and engagement across the school, working 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, with a strong

Qualifications

• Experience of working with children, young people and families.
• Strong safeguarding, child protection and attendance legislation knowledge.
• Ability to manage complex cases and make sound decisions.
• Resilient, well-organised and able to work calmly under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Implement and support school attendance policies and procedures, ensuring staff understand their impact on pupils and families.
• Manage a caseload of attendance cases, maintaining documentation and preparing evidence for legal action.
• Track, analyse and report attendance data to identify patterns and inform interventions.
• Coordinate with the Senior Leadership Team, teaching staff and external agencies to plan attendance initiatives and interventions.
• Coordinate and undertake home visits with partner agencies such as the Police, Health and Social Care.
• Deliver training to staff, governors and stakeholders on attendance regulations and best practice.

Skills

Safeguarding knowledge

Case management

Communication with families

Organisation under pressure

Relationship building

Inclusion & equity

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.