Education Access Coordinator

Please note that this is a Fixed Term Contract / Secondment opportunity for a period of 24 months. 

The position, whilst based from Basildon is a Countywide role and will require travel across, and potentially beyond, the county of Essex. 

This position has been classed as an anywhere worker role but has a typical expectation that the successful candidate will attend the office, in Basildon 1 day per month, in line with the organisation’s needs.

Interview Dates: Wednesday 4^th or Friday 6^th November 2026.

To read more about our business area, please visit: Education

The Opportunity 

Essex County Council (ECC) is committed to ensuring that children and young people at risk of missing education receive the support they need to access suitable, high-quality educational provision. 

We are seeking a flexible and proactive individual to work directly with schools, families, and a range of key partners to promote and secure access to education. The role will support pupils who are unable to access, or who are at risk of losing, their school place due to a range of factors, including behavioural needs, physical health difficulties, or mental health challenges. You will help ensure that children and young people continue to receive suitable educational provision in line with ECC's vision of improving educational outcomes for all. 

As an experienced practitioner, you will work alongside Education Access Specialists to identify and implement effective solutions for children and young people experiencing barriers to education. The role requires excellent interpersonal and partnership-working skills, with a particular focus on engaging families, reducing risks, and securing positive educational outcomes for children and young people. 

Accountabilities 

• Responsible for individual case management to ensure ECC responsibilities in relation to ‘Education other than at School’ are properly discharged by commissioning appropriate alternative provision for children.  
• Responsible for collaborating with schools for those who have been placed on a reduced timetable within a school environment or, who may be struggling for reasons of bullying, to ensure alternative options are considered.  
• Responsible for face to face working with families, children, and others to identify and secure the best provision for children unable to attend school, ensuring the risks of permanent exclusion from school are mitigated.  
• Work collaboratively with schools, providers, and families to ensure adequate support and guidance for children to move forward and achieve the best outcome for them.  
• Responsible for working with families and schools on all bullying cases to consider alternatives if appropriate and gain agreement from all parties.  
• Responsible for progressing cases, medical referrals, anti bullying, and reduced timetables to ensure next steps and actions are agreed.  
• Provide advice and guidance on policy, procedures, and review mechanisms to Headteachers, Governors and parents, relating to exclusions and reintegration.  
• Responsible for monitoring alternative education funded provision to ensure such provision is effective and value for money.  
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.   

The Experience You Will Bring 

• Educated to RQF Leve 3 (A Level) or equivalent by experience. 
• Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.  
• Practical experience of working in the educational field and supporting young people to overcome anti social behaviours, working within a team.  
• Practical experience of making decisions and using initiative to ensure positive outcomes for young people.  
• Practical experience of organising and prioritising own workloads with no supervision.  
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.  
• Ability to engage with and deal with young people often with complex and distressing circumstances.  
• Good knowledge of DfE guidance around exclusions and alternative provision   

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, Greater Essex was 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.

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.

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 daniel.warner@essex.gov.uk

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