Job Description

We are looking for an Attendance Officer for our school.

Please be aware that you will need to comeplete the school's application form.

The working hours are 23 hours per week, working Monday to Friday 8:30am to 1pm 8:00 on a Wednesday, 38 weeks per year. There is some flexibility for the right candidate.

Working across both Blackthorn Primary School and Rectory Farm Primary School you will be responsible for monitoring, recording and managing attendance at Blackthorn Primary School and Rectory Farm Primary School. To support families with identified regular absence, maintain records and establish a suitable course of action.

About us

Located on the Eastern district of Northampton, Blackthorn is a one-form entry primary school with a nursery. In addition, Blackthorn Primary is very proud to run a Specialist Unit for children with an EHCP identifying a need for support with SEMH. Our school is driven by a passion to provide educational excellence for the children in our community.

We have been award 'Good' from Ofsted inspection in September 2022.

The children at Blackthorn are polite, respectful and keen to learn. Our team of dedicated staff believe that children achieve their best in a safe, secure and happy school community and we work hard to make sure this is the case for our learners every day. We strongly believe that good relationships between people in our school community are essential in securing success for your child, as such, an effective partnership between home and school will benefit your child's learning.

At Blackthorn, we strongly believe in supporting every individual, children and staff, to develop and be supported in their aspirations. Our staff culture is of enabling everyone to have opportunities to grow through support and we have a proven track record of developing both early career teachers and leaders at all levels to achieve their goals. We are proud to be a member of Northampton Primary Academy Trust (NPAT) with whom we work closely to provide opportunities for our children to broaden and enrich their time at primary school through the arts, sport and wider curriculum.

The ideal candidate will embody the NPAT values and will:

Be passionate about supporting children to achieve their best in everything that they do. Be committed to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion. Establish positive and supportive relationships with children. Be patient, calm and resilient with a positive attitude and a sense of humour.
Our work environment includes:

Modern office setting Flexible working hours On-the-job training Safe work environment Nursery provision from 3 years old, between 8.30am and 3.15pm, term time only

Areas of Responsibility and Key Tasks

Attendance Officer - Person Specification

1. Attendance

To build strong relationships between school and home to support children's attendance.

To review phone calls and messages taken each day in relation to absence (and lateness), monitor trends of absence and provide support and challenge for repeated absence.

To follow the school's absence policy and procedures and issue appropriate letters to learners and their families.

Meet with school staff, learners and parents to identify individual problems and possible solutions.

Ensure Parent Contracts are in place where appropriate and records are thoroughly maintained.

To carry out home visits in order to promote attendance.

To work with appropriate external agencies.

To work with the school's pastoral team, SLT to carry out attendance related work.

To establish the reason for non-attendance, make assessments and agree a plan for facilitating a return to school using appropriate strategies within specified timescales.

To initiate appropriate legal action to ensure the school is carrying out its statutory responsibility in respect of learners.

To keep clear and concise records of all consultations and to write any other reports.

To use IT systems to produce and analyse attendance data, providing reports to senior leaders and governors.

To acquire and maintain a working knowledge of the statutory framework relating to school attendance, child employment, child protection and special needs in order to be able to offer informed advice to parents, school staff, governors and others. And any other relevant frameworks as they are updated.

To comply with the provisions of the Data Protection Act and adhere to the requirements of all staff to maintain confidentiality in respect of governors, staff, parents, learners and members of the public.

2. Supporting Children and Families

To promote good attendance, healthy lifestyles and positive mental health.

To observe confidentiality and to support the school's endeavour to provide excellent pastoral care for all learners.

To improve parents and stakeholders ability and confidence to give children and young people the support and direction they require to build resilience;

3. Safeguarding

The role will be part of the safeguarding team at both schools and training to become a Deputy DSL will be provided.

To support parents with a co-ordinated approach to attendance, learning, behaviour and well-being at school and home, e.g. through parent events.

Involvement in the preparation and delivery of whole school initiatives for attendance, such as attendance rewards.

To ensure that practice is, in all respects consistent with the requirements of Blackthorn and Rectory Farm Primary Schools' Health and Safety Policy as well as with any subject specific health and safety guidelines including accurate keeping of registers, first aid, medicines, risk assessments, security and fire regulations.

To ensure all learners are protected from potential harm. To inform the named member of staff of any child protection issues. The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This is an outline job description only and the post holder will be expected to undertake the duties commensurate within the range and grade of the post or any other reasonable duties as directed by the Executive Headteacher.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Excellent numeracy/ literacy skills. Appropriate level of IT and keyboard skills. Awareness of data protection, security and confidentiality awareness.

Desirable

NVQ Level 2 or equivalent in relevant subject. Appropriate level of data protection, security and confidentiality awareness.

Knowledge, Experience & Skills

Essential

Experience of working in an office environment. Health & safety awareness. Understand, abide by, contribute to and promote all Rectory Farm Primary School's policies. Be able to attend training off site if required.

Desirable

Experience of working in a school setting

Technology

Essential

Working knowledge of administrative software, including email & Microsoft Office applications.

Desirable

Experience of using Office 365 and Arbor

Parents and Community

Essential

Understanding of the role played by parents and the community as a whole and experience of working with the public.

Relationships

Essential

Ability to establish and develop effective relationships within the school community, including: Teaching Colleagues Support Staff Governors/Trust Directors Parents

Desirable

Ability to manage difficult conversations and experience of working cohesively and contributing towards building a team ethos.

Interpersonal And Communication Skills

Essential

Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally. Prompt completer of tasks. Flexible and approachable. Resilient under pressure. Able to deal sensitively with people and resolve conflicts. Positive and energetic approach to work. Ability to provide a warm welcome to every visitor to the school.

Personal Qualities

Essential

Proactive in areas of responsibility with an awareness of whole school issues; A willingness to take on appropriate delegated tasks relevant to the post; An ability to use and understand discretion, confidentiality and professionalism; An ability to learn from mistakes and take advice.

Professional Ethos And Commitment

Essential

Ability to improve own practice/knowledge through self-evaluation and learning from others. Ability to show a committed, professional and loyal attitude to the school, openly modelling its aims and values;
Closing date:

12 noon Monday 21 July 2025.

Interview date:

Wednesday 23 July 2025

.

Start Date:

1 September

Visits to the school:

We warmly welcome and recommend visits to the school where there will be the opportunity to discuss the role further with the Executive Headteacher. Please contact Sam Chambers, Office Manager on 01604 407254 or via email at samchambers@blackthornprimary.net to book a visit.

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: 12.45-12.65 per hour

Expected hours: 23 per week

Benefits:

Childcare Company pension Free parking On-site parking Sick pay
Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Application question(s):

How many years experience do you have of working in a school?
Education:

GCSE or equivalent (required)
Experience:

working in an office: 1 year (required)
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 21/07/2025
Expected start date: 01/09/2025