Community Focussed Schools Officer

The Education Directorate in Cardiff Local Authority supports all schools across the city and like all local authorities has faced significant challenges since the Covid pandemic, notably school attendance and a rise in Elective Home Education (EHE). Whilst attendance is improving there is still a need to understand and support aspects of non/low attendance and the correlation with the rise in EHE.

The directorate has recently launched a new Inclusion Strategy and Attendance Plan.

The new School Improvement model in Cardiff will enable develop greater opportunities for schools to support each other in creating bespoke approaches for their families and communities. This will require professional learning opportunities and greater collaboration at a local level.

The post will be part of the Education Directorate and sit within the Targeted Support Service, which comprises a number of teams including Education Welfare, Education Other than at School and Elective Home Education. Naturally this part of the service links closely with Inclusion services and its engagement and safeguarding functions mean it also works with Children's services and the Youth Justice Service.

The role will be responsible for developing the Community Focussed Schools programme with particular focus on the Professional Learning aspect and how this links with Enrichment and Family Engagement.

The role will help facilitate-

• Development and delivery of professional learning and training for all education staff on Community Focused School strategies including family and community engagement, with a specific focus on attendance and engagement support.
• Development and sharing of resources to support children and families.
• Identification and sharing of effective and innovative practice across the local authority.
• School to school collaboration.
• Embedding multi-agency approaches.

The post holder will meet regularly with colleagues from schools, other departments , directorates and local authorities to share good practice and share ideas.

The key tasks are.

• Developing and embedding a broad range of impact measures for CFS locally, which promote how CFS approaches impact attendance and engagement.
• Allowing a greater focus on literacy and numeracy programmes with families that can directly impact children’s attainment and attendance.
• Working with specific community groups to understand and reduce the impact of bullying.