Children Missing Education Officer
| Posting date: | 08 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £29,587 to £34,386 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 07 January 2026 |
| Location: | Reading, Berkshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Reading Borough Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | DOC0025 |
Summary
Term -Time + 10 days
We are looking for a Children Missing Education (CME) Officer to join our Education Access Team. This is a vital role ensuring that children who are missing education are identified, safeguarded, and supported back into learning.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the role
This position plays a key role in safeguarding and supporting children who are not accessing education. Working closely with schools, families, and multi-agency partners, the role ensures every child receives their full educational entitlement.
Key responsibilities include:
Managing CME cases and safeguarding concerns, escalating issues where necessary.
Conducting welfare checks and liaising with families to support reintegration into education.
Tracking and monitoring CME cases, maintaining accurate records and reporting.
Providing advice and guidance to schools and partners on best practice.
Organising and attending meetings with parents, schools, and stakeholders to resolve complex cases.
About you
We need someone who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and can work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. You’ll be confident, approachable, and able to manage a varied caseload.
Essential skills and experience:
Educated to A-Level standard or equivalent.
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
Knowledge of education legislation, safeguarding, and CME guidance.
Ability to prioritise tasks, work independently, and meet deadlines.
Commitment to safeguarding and equal opportunities.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
Closing Date: Sunday 11th January 2026
Interview Date: Thursday 29th January 2026
Interview Process: To be confirmed
We are looking for a Children Missing Education (CME) Officer to join our Education Access Team. This is a vital role ensuring that children who are missing education are identified, safeguarded, and supported back into learning.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the role
This position plays a key role in safeguarding and supporting children who are not accessing education. Working closely with schools, families, and multi-agency partners, the role ensures every child receives their full educational entitlement.
Key responsibilities include:
Managing CME cases and safeguarding concerns, escalating issues where necessary.
Conducting welfare checks and liaising with families to support reintegration into education.
Tracking and monitoring CME cases, maintaining accurate records and reporting.
Providing advice and guidance to schools and partners on best practice.
Organising and attending meetings with parents, schools, and stakeholders to resolve complex cases.
About you
We need someone who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and can work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. You’ll be confident, approachable, and able to manage a varied caseload.
Essential skills and experience:
Educated to A-Level standard or equivalent.
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
Knowledge of education legislation, safeguarding, and CME guidance.
Ability to prioritise tasks, work independently, and meet deadlines.
Commitment to safeguarding and equal opportunities.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
Closing Date: Sunday 11th January 2026
Interview Date: Thursday 29th January 2026
Interview Process: To be confirmed
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.