Attendance Officer Full Time

Grays, Essex
Harris Federation
Working With Us

Discover your potential and help us transform children’s lives together

We’re not your average school – we provide our children with an education that combines academic success with good character building to give them the best chance to flourish when they leave us. We are a school for the future, and it all starts with our talented and dedicated team.

We are committed to being the best that we can be. 140 people come to work each day and deliver a wonderful experience for our students. We want to sustain a long-term career in education; we believe in working hard but taking care of one another, and having a flexible approach to work, all while enjoying the rewards of watching our students thrive.

Whether you’re a teacher, leader, or support staff member, we’re all one team with a shared purpose, and shared values. We’re curious to improve; not because we’re not good enough but because we know we can be even better. We want to give you opportunities to grow and succeed, so we offer development at all levels. Whether that be supporting you through your degree or helping you to secure your first leadership opportunity, we can make it happen.

We care deeply about creating an inclusive environment for our staff and students, and we encourage candidates from all different backgrounds and identities to apply. Find out more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion, by reading ourEquality Statement.

We’re proud to be part of the Harris Federation, the most successful large multi-academy trust in the country. And with our growing presence in the East Quadrant, where we are expanding in Thurrock and beyond, there’s never been a better time to join us!

If you’re passionate about education, and ready to make a difference, we would love to hear from you!

Main Areas of Responsibility

Your responsibilities will include:

• Assisting ALG in the management and development of attendance and punctuality policies
• Daily monitoring and follow-up of attendance and punctuality
• Participating on late desk and follow up detentions
• Contacting parents/carers of students absent at agreed time and recording reasons for absence if given
• Daily monitoring and early calls on the attendance of children in care or students on the vulnerable list
• Making home visits with the Academy welfare manager as required
• Sending letters to parents regarding attendance matters as requested by the Academy Welfare Manager
• Ensuring the smooth operation of the computerised registration system
• Ensuring daily attendance information is entered accurately onto the system
• Establishing the reason for absences including telephone calls, letters and home visits
• Preparing and distributing attendance and punctuality certificates
• Following up on poor attendance or punctuality
• Signing students in and out of the Academy outside normal start and finish times
• Liaising with the Educational Welfare Officer to ensure prompt, consistent and rigorous intervention with poor attendance
• Monitoring student attendance together with students’ progress and performance in relation to targets set for each individual
• Dealing efficiently and effectively with referrals on attendance concerns
• Alerting appropriate staff to problems experienced by students and making recommendations as to how these may be resolved
• Communicating with the parents of students and with persons or bodies outside the Academy concerned with the welfare of individual students
• Meeting with LAC students weekly and pass on any relevant information regarding their welfare

What We are Looking For

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Qualifications to degree standard or equivalent
• Sound Knowledge of Microsoft software
• Knowledge of Management Information Systems for input and export of student attendance data, including training in relation to attendance and report generation
• Knowledge of attendance policies and procedures
• Knowledge of the range of agencies that work with students and their families
• Basic knowledge of first aid; e.g. emergency first aid course
• Knowledge of a range of attendance codes and when they can be used
• Knowledge of many of the social issues facing students from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Three years’ experience of working in an inner-city school or educational establishment
• Experience of working with Academy welfare officer
• Experience of meeting with parents/carers formally and informally
• Experience of managing attendance systems
• Experience in a similar role
• Experience of working with young people, including those with challenging behaviour

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

Applying for this Position

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and