Virtual School Education Support Officer

Virtual School Education Support Officer

Job Reference: ncc/TP/80/3149/NP

Number of Positions: 1

Contract Type:
Fixed Term

Working Hours:

37

Location:

County Hall Morpeth

Closing Date: 06/08/2026

Region / Division: UK Region

Band 5 – full time working.

Fixed term for one year in the first instance.

Northumberland County Council is recruiting an enthusiastic and motivated Education Support Officer to join our multi-disciplinary Virtual School. As an Education Support Officer, you will support the education of children in care and care leavers working with schools, education settings and care teams to ensure children in care have a high-quality Personal Education Plan (PEP) in place, within statutory timescales.

This role will involve oversight of cared for children in Year 11 living in and out of authority who may have complex behavioural difficulties, SEND or attendance issues. Supporting them to attend education, preparation for exams and supporting their journey into Year 12. Ensuring pathways into EET are appropriate, supportive and meet their individual needs.

You will support Designated Teachers and care teams to help create stable learning environments, breaking down barriers, supporting stability and providing professional challenge where needed to ensure cared for children do the best they can in education.

The role will include monitoring and promoting the attainment and progress of children in care, including the appropriate use of PP+ (pupil premium plus).

The role will include working with school, challenging where needed and direct work with cared for children, which may include 1:1, mentoring, behaviour support, attendance support and delivering therapeutic interventions e.g Thrive, Lego therapy etc.

Experience of working with children and young people in KS4/5 is essential.

Benefits and perks:

• 26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part-time employees)
• Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexi scheme (if applicable) – up to 2 days flexible leave available per month (pro rata for part-time employees)

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below. This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.