Education Access Specialist

Education Access Specialist

Permanent, Part Time (14.8 hours per week)

£44,258 to £52,068 per annum FTE

Location: Chelmsford

Working style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: 29th July 2026

This is a hybrid working role contractually based in Chelmsford. The post holder will work from the Chelmsford office at least one day per month and across our operational area on other days, depending on business need.

Note: This role will be offered on a part time basis of 0.4 FTE (2 days/14.8 hours per week). The pro rata salary range is £17,703 to £20,827 per annum.

ECC is responsible for ensuring that children and young people at risk of missing out on education are supported in accessing suitable alternative high quality education provision.

This role is responsible for ensuring that children and young people out of education or at risk of missing out on education have access to suitable alternative high quality education provision. Provision must offer bespoke solutions to mitigate the risk around time spent out of education and ensure appropriate placements are managed effectively. The focus is securing placements for children unable to attend school across a wide range of providers and sectors.

Educated to degree level and experienced in working with schools, this role will need to exert influence on potential outcomes, working collaboratively with schools across Essex to reduce the number of permanent exclusions.

Accountabilities

• Work with complementary education development officer and others to promote the use of complementary and alternative provision within schools as an alternative to exclusion.
• Develop bespoke packages of provision to meet the needs of individuals not accessing a full timetable.
• Support schools in addressing the needs of children facing a range of situations including those who are unable to attend schools as permanently excluded or medically unable to attend school.
• Work collaboratively with schools to develop more robust processes to highlight early identification and intervention, so needs can be addressed before crisis point.
• Ensure appropriate education is in place for both children and young people who are unable to attend school due to permanent exclusion or illness, in order to meet statutory requirements.
• Manage and develop effective relationships with pupil referral units to ensure agreement on alternative provisions can be delivered, in conjunction with schools and academies.
• Contribute to the implementation of ECC's action plan to support a reduction in permanent exclusions and support the reintegration of pupils into mainstream education.
• Contribute to the referrals process of seeking independent alternative providers and schools commissioned by ECC to support children and young people with SEND ensuring education programmes are implemented quickly.
• Support the requirement for sufficient capacity within Essex's alternative provision market to meet ECC needs as well as enabling schools access to provision offering earlier intervention.
• Support the development of the new school based provision for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs.
• Work collaboratively with other professional bodies to support schools to develop high quality alternatives to exclusion and disengagement.
• Contribute to school based partnerships to meet the needs of pupils with challenging behaviour. Work with schools to ensure effective anti bullying measures are in place to protect all children and young people.
• Work within the service policies in relation to child protection and the working together to keep children safe in education guidance.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Educated to RQF level 6 (Bachelors) or equivalent by experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Evidence of experience in contributing to school improvement initiatives in schools and to improving outcomes for pupils, including those related to behaviour and attendance.
• Knowledge, understanding and experience of education regulations relating to exclusions, and alternative education provision.
• Established experience of supporting schools with extensive experience of successfully working with schools to deliver a reduction in permanent exclusions.
• Positive individual and effective communicator, able to negotiate with schools and deliver face to face services together with experience of working with leaders.
• Understanding of current education provision and how it operates at ECC.

Mobility: The role requires the post holder to be mobile throughout an operational area. A driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements through other means, is required.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. We also commit to interview all veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements of the role.

To support the role, a DBS check will be required. The post holder must register with the DBS update service and ensure it is maintained annually.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.