Attendance and Inclusion Manager

• Category: Care - Children and Young People
• Contract type: Permanent
• Working hours: 36 hours per week
• Posted on: 10 February 2026
• Location: Victoria Gate, Chobham Road, Woking, GU21 6JD

We are committed to the development of our workforce.
This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.

This full-time, permanent role has a starting salary of £61,784 per annum, based on a 36 hour week.

We have a great opportunity to join our fantastic Attendance Service as an Attendance and Inclusion Manager for the West of Surrey, based out of Victoria Gate in Woking.

We support hybrid working with the right balance. We come together in person for at least two days per week on average, the rest of your time will be visiting schools, with some time working from home.

Our Offer to Yo
u

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

About the Role

As an Attendance and Inclusion Manager, you will play a vital role in shaping the life chances of children and young people across the west of Surrey. Your leadership will help ensure that no child is left behind, by ensuring regular school attendance and breaking down the barriers that prevent children from accessing education.

You’ll lead skilled, passionate teams who carry out Surrey's statutory responsibilities for attendance. Working both strategically and on the ground, you’ll collaborate with schools, families, safeguarding partners and wider agencies to create environments where children feel safe, supported and included. This is a role where your decisions have a direct and lasting impact on a child's future — and that’s what makes it both challenging and highly rewarding.

In this varied position, no two days will be the same. You might be advising a headteacher on complex attendance issues one moment, analysing borough‑wide attendance trends the next, and supporting your team as they design targeted interventions. You’ll provide expert guidance, constructive challenge and strong leadership to help schools improve attendance, reduce persistent absence, and ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.

As a people leader, you’ll oversee and develop a team of Attendance Officers, ensuring their practice remains high‑quality, consistent and aligned with Surrey County Council's policies and standards. You’ll nurture professional growth, model best practice, and foster a culture of continuous improvement within the service.

This is a role for someone who is energised by problem‑solving, partnership‑working and making a measurable difference for children and families.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours :

• Proven management experience within education, inclusion or attendance‑related services
• Strong knowledge of attendance legislation and statutory responsibilities
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills, with confidence negotiating and influencing others
• Experience working with families, schools and a range of multi‑agency partners to support positive outcomes for children

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and candidates will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.

To apply, we request…