Service Manager - Access, Attendance and Alternative Education

About UsAt Oxfordshire County Council, we want every child and young person to have the opportunity to learn, thrive and achieve their potential. Within our Children, Education and Families Directorate, our Education Access services work to remove barriers to education, strengthen inclusion and ensure that children and young people can access suitable, safe and timely learning.

We know that improving attendance and educational access takes more than the work of one team. It requires schools, education providers, council services, health partners, families and communities to work together, identifying difficulties early and providing coordinated support. That is why this role is so important.

As our Service Manager – Access, Attendance and Alternative Education, you will help shape how we support children and young people who face barriers to education, particularly those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged. This is an opportunity to influence practice across Oxfordshire, lead committed specialist teams and build partnerships that improve attendance, prevent exclusion and strengthen pathways back into education.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for someone who combines a commitment to educational inclusion with the expertise to lead effective statutory services and deliver sustained improvement. Reporting to the Assistant Director:
Schools and Settings – Sufficiency, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across the County Attendance Team, Exclusion Reintegration Team and Alternative Learning Pathways Team. Your portfolio will span school attendance, children missing education, elective home education, child performance licensing, alternative provision, exclusions and reintegration. You will act as the council’s named officer for the education of children who cannot attend school because of health needs and oversee delivery of its duties under section
19 of the Education Act
1996. You will work with school leaders to improve attendance and prevent exclusions, assure the quality and impact of commissioned alternative provision, and support team managers to resolve complex educational access challenges. You will advise senior leaders and elected members, use performance evidence to drive improvement and work with partners to strengthen reintegration pathways. You will lead delivery of alternative provision elements of the council’s SEND Reform Plan, that strengthens early intervention, inclusion and access to timely support within local communities.

Alongside this improvement work, you will maintain a clear focus on safeguarding, statutory compliance and the quality of day‑to‑day delivery. Partnership working sits at the heart of the role. You will build trusted relationships with schools, academy trusts, alternative providers, health, social care and wider partners, ensuring that children, young people and families help shape services and improvements. You will be accountable for financial planning, commissioning and effective resource management across a substantial service portfolio.

You will use evidence, professional judgement and performance insight to improve outcomes, demonstrate value for money and support sustainable delivery.

You will bring substantial senior leadership experience and a strong understanding of educational access, attendance and inclusion. You will hold a degree or equivalent professional qualification, alongside a management qualification or equivalent experience. You will understand the legislation, statutory guidance and responsibilities relevant to this service and be able to translate them into clear operational practice and strategic direction. You will be confident navigating complex issues, exercising…