Attendance Officer and Play Development Lead

Salary FTE Grade 4 £26,403 to £28,598

Actual salary £22,710 to £24,598 (with under five years' service)

Contract term 37 hours per week, 39 weeks, permanent

Start date April 2026 (or earlier)

Closing date Midnight Sunday 1 February 2026

Mercia Learning Trust

Mercia Learning Trust is a successful partnership of four primary and three secondary schools located in the south-west of Sheffield. Established in 2012, with one secondary school, our trust has grown to serving over 5000 pupils, with 650 staff.

Why do we exist?

· To empower everyone in our communities, especially the most disadvantaged, to succeed.

How do we behave?

· We are kind - showing care and supporting each other.

· We have integrity - doing the right thing and always putting children first.

· We work with diligence - overcoming obstacles and having no excuses.

What do we do?

· We run schools that focus on academic excellence, cultural capital and the development of character.

How will we succeed?

· A culture of excellence – high standards shaped by clarity, not control.

· Academic focus – empowering all children through an exceptional curriculum.

· Purposeful collaboration – relationships built on trust, reducing sub-optimisation and driving collective success.

Our staff are a crucial part of our trust, just like our pupils. We are devoted to recruiting, training, retaining and taking good care of our highly skilled and dedicated team.

Woodlands Primary School

Woodlands Primary School is a 2-form entry primary and nursery for children aged 2-11 in a vibrant South Sheffield community. This popular and over-subscribed school has around 500 pupils. In February 2022, Ofsted graded our school as strongly Good.

The role

We have an exciting opportunity for a talented and empathetic individual to join our Inclusion team as an Attendance Officer and Play Development Lead. Working closely with colleagues across the Inclusion and senior leadership team, you will play a central role in improving pupil attendance while also leading the development of a high-quality, inclusive play experience for all pupils.

You will help to design, implement and review strategies to improve attendance, re-engage pupils with education, and provide effective support to families facing barriers to regular school attendance. This will include maintaining accurate attendance records, identifying and reporting concerns, and working collaboratively with pupils, families, school staff and external agencies to secure positive outcomes.

Alongside this, you will take a lead role in promoting pupil wellbeing, safety and engagement during lunchtimes by shaping and developing purposeful play opportunities. You will oversee and enhance play provision, modelling positive interactions, supporting good behaviour, and ensuring that play is inclusive, stimulating and accessible to all children. This will involve managing resources, working closely with staff and pupils, and contributing to a positive, welcoming playground culture.

The role also includes supporting children with specific social, emotional or behavioural needs through structured and play-based approaches that foster connection, confidence and personal development, helping pupils to build the skills they need to thrive both socially and academically.

The candidate

You will be able to build successful relationships with pupils and families, even when they may not wish to engage. An unflappable nature is key. You must be ambitious and strive to continually improve systems and processes. You must be a team player - willing to listen to the views and ideas of others, but also able to challenge when necessary. If you are a dedicated and passionate professional with a desire to make a real difference to the lives and education of our pupils, then we want to hear from you.