Education Access Specialist

Education Access Specialist

Permanent, Part Time (14.8 hours per week)

£44,258 to £52,068 per annum FTE

Location: Chelmsford*

Closing Date: 29th July 2026

*This is a hybrid-working role contractually based in Chelmsford. You will work from our Chelmsford office at least one day per month and across our operational area on other days, depending on business need. This could be discussed further at interview.

Please note that 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 being able to access 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. This 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 complimentary 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.

Responsible for supporting 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.

Responsible for ensuring 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 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.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

To read more about us please visit: Education – Working for Essex

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone’s Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, on our careers site.

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. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service.

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.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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