Education Support Officer - Secondary and UASC

• Education_Support_Officer_-_Secondary_and_Post_16_-_JD_PS_July_2025
• Candidate_Pack_-_People_Directorate_-_June_2025

Please apply online via the link provided.

12-month fixed-term contract or 12-month secondment opportunity for internal staff

We have an exciting vacancy for an Education Support Officer - Secondary and UASC on full-time, 12-month fixed-term contract basis.

At Bracknell Forest, we pride ourselves on being a council which is stable and well-managed where our employees can thrive in a supportive environment. We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance and offer a variety of flexible working practices, including options for remote working and arrangements that allow you to work from home, dependent on the needs of the service.

About you...

You will be able to manage an allocated caseload of Children Looked After, in relation to supporting their educational journey through the Secondary School phase, to prepare them for transition to further education, training or employment. You will be given the time you need to support Children Looked After to achieve - where we are known for our high standards.

We are looking for someone who is a qualified HLTA and/or have substantial experience of working in a secondary school setting. Proven knowledge of the secondary phase curriculum (KS3 and KS4) as well as Key Stage attainment and assessment processes is required along with an understanding of the principles of child development and learning processes.

A knowledge of the statutory framework for assessment, issuing and maintenance of Education, Health and Care plans with reference to pupils with special needs would be beneficial for this role.

Along the way, you will also have the support and training you need to thrive in this role.

About the team...

We help our children and young people to be able to fulfil their potential in life. The service consists of a multi-disciplinary team that works with children, young people, schools, colleges, businesses, universities, social workers, PAs and foster carers to support young people through school and onto either further education, employment or training.

Key responsibilities...

• To assist in the development and maintenance of the highest standards of educational achievement possible for Bracknell Forest’s Children Looked After (CLA).
• To work in collaboration with other members of the Virtual School, social workers, PAs, teachers in schools/colleges and other settings, and with carers, key workers to promote good attendance and academic achievement for Young People Looked After using the PEP meeting as the trigger for this.
• To attend and, where appropriate, chair Personal Education Planning meetings and ensure the timely completion of paperwork and distribution to relevant parties.
• To evaluate and monitor the impact and effectiveness of PEPs for the individual children you support and as an authority, particularly in respect of the appropriate use of the PPG (where applicable.
• To support Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking children and young people (UASC) to access ESOL courses and other relevant training, as required, and lead the weekly UASC Conversation Club at Stellar Grove with support from a TA.

Benefits...

• 25 days* annual leave increasing to 28 days* after 3 years’ continuous service.
• The opportunity to buy up to 10 additional days* annual leave per year and sell 5 days.
• Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance.
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice for an electric car at a fixed monthly cost (subject to eligibility).
• An inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks.
• Local government pension scheme.
• Life insurance cover (linked to the pension scheme)
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
• Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits such as annual leave entitlements, occupational maternity/paternity leave, and more. (Terms and Conditions apply – please refer to candidate pack for more information.)
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
• A great office location next to travel links and Bracknell Forest’s thriving town centre.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing.
• Sports and Social Club.
• Staff dental and health plans.
• Discounted leisure centre and gym membership.
• Supermarket discount.

*(pro rata for part time)

Our values...

At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.

Reasonable adjustments...

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process.

Interview date

Interviews will be held on 19th August 2025.

Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.

We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.

Want to ask us a question?

For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:

Name: Lorraine Petersen

Job title: Virtual School Headteacher

Phone number: 01344 353408

At Bracknell Forest we champion equality, diversity and inclusion. At Bracknell Forest Council, we are always learning, ambitious and inclusive. Please see our candidate pack for more details.

Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.

Any successful internal candidate will be offered the position as a secondment and, in line with Section 8.1 of the Secondment Policy, must consult with their manager before applying

We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.

Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.

No agencies please.