Attendance Officer

What skills and experience we're looking for

Do you have experience overseeing attendance at a school level? We are looking for an Attendance Officer to join our dedicated academy team at Harris Lowe Academy Willesden. This role is likely to suit an individual looking to develop in a school environment with attendance related experience.

The actual salary for this role will be £28,067.69 - £29,752.53 (39 weeks per year, 37.5 hours per week).

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.

What the school offers its staff

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 progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

Further details about the role

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

Commitment to safeguarding

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.