Family Liaison Officer

Overview

We are looking for a Family Liaison Officer who:

• Is hard working and an intuitive team player
• Is proactive with high attention to detail
• Is caring and people-focused 
• Wants to contribute to the school as a whole

As a member of our staff you can expect:

• Brilliant children – enthusiastic and able, with excellent attitudes to learning
• Strong leadership; a school that is well organised and managed
• A fantastic staff; supportive and friendly
• Continuing Professional Development
• Excellent resources
• School meals for £2

Job Description

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB

To assist in tackling underachievement by working in partnership with families, parents, carers and pupils in a school context to enable pupils, particularly the most disadvantaged to have full access to educational opportunities and overcome barriers to learning and participation.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

PARENTAL SUPPORT AND INFORMATION

To plan and facilitate specific, often targeted, support for parents, particularly those who are most vulnerable or hard to reach the FLO will:

1. Develop positive relationships, maintain contact with families and carers and facilitate the development of family support for the pupils
2. Carrying out EYFS home visits with EYFS teachers and staff to ensure early identification of needs. 
3. Attending open days and new pupil induction meetings for parents of pupils starting the early years foundation stage, to ensure early identification of needs. 
4. Attend termly coffee mornings for all year groups to promote the support on offer to parents, answer questions and identify needs. 
5. Be available to class teachers to discuss concerns about parents or support for parents. Pass information to teachers about pupils/ parental support, or communicate directly with the family.
6. Research the availability of support from outside agencies e.g. more formal parenting sessions (such as Pippin or Share), holiday schemes and family learning opportunities (such as ESOL classes, computer literacy etc) and food vouchers. Keep a directory and advertise to parents.  If none available, then plan and present the course, where appropriate.
7. Set up support from above agencies for identified parents. 
8. Make referrals to outside agencies, including those relating to pupil support and SEN (referrals to these only made in consultation with Senior leadership team). Keep detailed records of referrals made and file any reports provided by outside agencies.
9. Monitor after school club provision and their attendance to ensure they meet the needs of all our parents.
10. Liaise with School Business Manager to identify families who are entitled to Targeted and Expanded pupil premium.

ENCOURAGING PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT IN LEARNING

To ensure parents are fully engaged in their child’s education the FLO which may include:

1. Support parents in the engagement of specific events 
2. Organise specific clubs/events to bring in harder to reach groups through the organisation of targeted events and activities, seeking funding where required
3. Liaise with the School Business Manager and teachers on the organisation of the parent/teacher meetings, making sure interpreters have been arranged and chasing up any parents who have not yet confirmed their attendance
4.  Set up meetings with teachers where parents are struggling to support children’s learning at home or where there appears to be a breakdown in communication/engagement with the school
5. Organisation of family learning courses, liaising with the senior leadership team and other directorates, seeking funding where required
6. Liaise with families concerning school journey, where needed

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY

To ensure the school’s attendance and punctuality statistics in line with agreed targets and expectations the FLO which may include:

1. Be available every morning to be a visible presence to parents, encourage good attendance and punctuality and provide immediate support and advice when necessary.
2. Monitor attendance in line with Attendance and Punctuality policy and plan action accordingly 
3. Follow up poor attendance– including home visits, referral to school nurse and liaison with local authority regarding court action 
4. Analyse attendance figures for school termly data analysis. 
5. Plan support for parents, where necessary.
6. Lead a range of initiatives to ensure the highest attendance figures possible.
7. Meet with parents with regard to ongoing late collection of children, where needed.
8. Prepare termly and annual LA and DfEs attendance returns 
9. Preparation of attendance & punctuality information for Governors Reports where requested by Head Teacher

ADMISSIONS/TRANSITION

To ensure smooth transitions into the school for all new pupils the FLO which may include:

1. Promote the school to prospective parents, providing them with background information on the school, assisting them with the completion of the application forms where necessary for casual admissions to the school (i.e. those outside the usual entry into nursery/reception) 
2. Take a lead role in managing and administrating the admission process, liaising with the borough regarding any vacant spaces, ensuring the borough have offered places based on the admission criteria, issuing offer letters, liaising with teachers regarding visit dates, parent meetings, tours and start dates.
3. Liaise with the Headteacher regarding new applications, securing background information to support applications and liaising with parents/carers to inform them of the progress of their application & the next steps.
4. Organise tours/termly events for prospective parents who have completed admission forms, providing them with background information on the school
5. Liaise with the Headteacher regarding class allocation taking into account any support needs which the family have asked to be considered and also advising them of any concerns which may be relevant which have been noted during the application process
6. Set up of meetings for the parents/carers to visit the school, meet with the class teachers and go through the admission forms with the family
7. Induct new families on school procedures and timings and produce a welcome pack for new parents, so they have a good understanding of the way the school works
8. Show new children around on their first day and work with the class teacher to assign them a mentor to smooth their entrance into the school
9. Keep track of new arrivals and identifying trends within particular groups.
10. Ensure all new arrivals procedures are followed.
11. Ensuring correct procedures have been followed for managed moves and dual registered pupils
12. To promote the speedy and effective transfer of information from primary to secondary school and other primary schools

SUPPORT FOR PUPILS

To provide support for the most vulnerable pupils in the school the FLO will:

1. Assist as Deputy Designated Safeguarding lead.
2. Meet with parents (where appropriate) regarding concerns
3. Complete all relevant forms regarding safeguarding.
4. Liaise with Social Services, police and other agencies on CP issues.
5. Attend CP case conferences, presenting reports from school.
6. Attend CP training and assist with delivering training to other staff.

GENERAL OFFICE DUTIES

1. Assist with the setting up and maintaining of pupil files and ensuring children are correctly registered on MIS system
2. Assist with the organization and administration of events and performances when required
3. Reception cover and assistance
4. General administration/typing/telephones

EQUALITIES

Ensure implementation and promotion in employment and service delivery of the Council's equal opportunities policies and statutory responsibilities.

Person specification

Salary & contract

 28 hours a week, term time only

Grade 5 - £34,863 to £35,892 (full-time equivalent)

Pro rata (take home pay before deductions) £23,476.54 to £25,058.80

Location

John Ball Primary School
Southvale Road
Blackheath
London
SE3 0TP

Supporting documents and application form

• Click here to view our Safeguarding Policy
• Click here to view and download the application form 
• Click here to view and download the Safer Recruitment Form 
• Click here to view our Equal Opportunities Policy Statement
• Click here to view our Recruitment Policy

Deadline and how to apply

To apply, please send completed Application Form and Safer Recruitment form to Penny Ashcroft, hr@johnball.lewisham.sch.uk

Please use the job title as reference for your application.

We are also inviting prospective candidates to see the school before applying. If you would like to, please use the same email to arrange a tour.

Closing Date: Wednesday 8th July 2026 at 9am

Interview Date: Monday 13th July 2026

Start Date:  Wednesday 2nd September 2026

Equal opportunities

John Ball Primary School is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all members of the community, regardless of gender, age, marital status, disability, ethnicity, religion, belief or sexual orientation.  As we are working to become a racially just school we actively invite applications from black and global majority groups.

We operate a blind shortlisting process and will redact personal information before presenting applications to the assessors so they are unable to determine age, background etc.

John Ball Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff, volunteers and external agencies to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check, internet profile check, medical clearance and satisfactory employment references.