Access to Education Lead West

Job Introduction

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.

The starting salary for this role is £65,451 per annum, working 36 hours per week based Term Time Only.

We are looking for a new Access to Education Lead to join our Access to Education (A2E) service, supporting children and young people who are unable to attend school. We offer the opportunity to work from home on a hybrid basis and are willing to discuss flexible working arrangements.

This is a key leadership role working alongside the Area A2E Lead - East and Children Not in School Service Manager to ensure high-quality educational provision for pupils where the Council has a statutory duty under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996.

Our Offer to You

• 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

This role provides leadership and strategic oversight for the A2E West service, leading the senior leadership team and managing teachers delivering education to children who are out of school. Working closely with the Children Not in School Service Manager, the postholder drives service improvement, oversees quality assurance and complex case management, and ensures that educational provision meets the needs of children while supporting successful returns to school.

As Designated Safeguarding Lead, the role is responsible for safeguarding practice across the service and represents A2E at a range of multi agency meetings. The postholder works with partners to meet the Council's statutory duties under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996, ensuring compliance with national standards, promoting effective partnership working, and maintaining high quality provision for children and young people.

Why Join Us?

A2E operates in a dynamic environment supporting high-need groups across Surrey. You'll be part of a committed team making a real difference to children's lives, with opportunities for professional development and involvement in shaping service strategy. Our A2E Service provides education for pupils aged 5-16 who are out of full-time education, often due to medical reasons, complex SEND needs or social, emotional and mental health needs. Led by the Children Not in School Service Manager, you will be joining a dedicated team which consists of a Deputy Area Lead, Teachers, SENCo and educational support staff, offering vital support to our local children, young people and their families.

About You

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

• Qualified Teacher Status and a relevant degree with a clear understanding of safeguarding responsibilities.
• Experience of managing and leading staff with demonstrable experience of strategic leadership within an education setting
• Experience of developing systems and process to support service delivery
• Strong knowledge of SEND and inclusive learning environments.
• Excellent communication, case management, and problem-solving skills with an ability to work collaboratively with families and multi-agency partners.
• Competence in MS Office and data management systems.

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following application questions:

1. Please provide an example of how you have successfully managed and developed a team of staff. What strategies did you use to ensure high performance and professional growth?
2. Give an example of how you have worked effectively with multiple agencies to support a child or young person with complex needs. What was your role and what was the outcome?
3. Explain your experience in creating inclusive learning environments for pupils with SEND. How have you adapted teaching or support strategies to meet individual needs?
4. Share an example of when you contributed to service development or policy improvement. What changes did you implement and what impact did they have?
5. How have you used data and reporting to monitor and improve service delivery? Provide an example of a system or process you introduced or enhanced.

Contact Us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. Please contact Mark Keiller via email or MS Teams.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on the 30th October, with interviews planned to follow, week beginning 9th November.

Local Government Reorganisation

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation and will move to new authorities in April 2027. This role is currently employed by Surrey County Council and will remain so until then. If you are employed by Surrey County Council on 1 April 2027, your employment will transfer under TUPE arrangements to one of the new councils, with your current terms and conditions protected. The provisional allocation for this post is West Surrey, subject to final confirmation through the wider transition process later this year. Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council.

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria, as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.

Attached documents:

• DRAFT - TBM-2022-003 - Area Lead for A2E CNiS JD (002).pdf - Access to Education Lead - Job Description

Working conditions

Contract: Permanent N/A