Education

“Improving outcomes for children and young people”

Education in Somerset

Working to ensure every child in Somerset has the best educational start in life. That’s what our Education and Inclusion services are all about here in Somerset.

From ensuring children and young people in care have access to high quality learning via our Virtual School, to looking after over 3000 Education, Health and Care plans across Somerset – whichever team you join you’ll promote positive outcomes for children in Somerset.

And we’re ambitious for the future. Our SEN Statutory team are focussed on rapid improvement across both statutory assessments and reviews and we’re investing in the team to support this journey.

Join us and you’ll find a challenging and highly rewarding career, where you’ll have every opportunity to make a positive difference to children’s lives.

You can also read Somerset’s Strategic Vision for Education by clicking here

The teams in Education

Educational Psychology Service

Virtual School

SEN Statutory Team

Educational Psychology Service

Our Educational Psychologists are committed to working in a person-centred way, to support the inclusion, participation and achievement of children and young people in Somerset. Join this team and you’ll work in a variety of ways and offer problem-solving consultation, advice and support to teachers, parents, and SENCOs, the wider community, as well as the children and young people concerned.

The team provide a statutory service to Somerset County Council and North Somerset Council, a core service to schools and settings in Somerset through a Community Educational Psychology model, and a preventative Education Psychology service to schools and settings in North Somerset.

Virtual School

Although we are not a ‘real’ school with buildings and classrooms, our Virtual School aims to do the very best we can to help children and young people in care enjoy education and succeed in the real schools they attend.

Join this team and you’ll work closely with Designated Teachers and Social Workers, giving advice to make sure Personal Education Plans (PEPs) are thoughtful and will help children and young people to make progress. You’ll also work with other staff at times when there might be difficulties in school, for example if there are issues with attendance or exclusions.

SEN Statutory Team

Join this team and help get it right for children, young people and their families, enabling them to be taught in their local school with the support they need.

Working at pace, the team have responsibility for completing statutory Education, Health and Care assessments and maintaining over 3000 Education, Health and Care Plans for the children and young people of Somerset.

Meet some of our team

Joanne Bundy, Senior Assessment and Reviewing Officer

“I started working for Somerset County Council in September 2019 having previously been a Reception Class Teacher and Early Years Unit Lead. I’d always had an interest in Special Educational Needs (SEN) at a school level – so this role was an ideal opportunity.

My work is varied and interesting, with support readily available if I am ever unsure of next steps. I’m really proud to work within a newly expanded team, where everyone is working hard to improve the outcomes for children and young people with Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans.

The professional development I’ve has access to has been brilliant, I’ve attended SEN conferences, had opportunities to shadow colleagues and we have regular guest speakers from a variety of professional background in our team meetings. I love that I’m always learning something new and contributing to the improvement of our service.”

Get in touch

We're always pleased to hear from talented people. So if you've got any questions about the opportunities that we have available in Education, or if there's anything else you'd like to know before you apply (or even during the application process), please get in touch with us.

Email the team

Latest jobs

Educational Psychologist

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Inside the council

"The council is full of supportive colleagues who encourage you to try your best. I really enjoyed building close working relationships with colleagues across the council. They’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, and every colleague's skillset and background is valued."

"The council offer flexible working and really trust their colleagues to work from home. Management is supportive and avoids resorting to without micro-managing. There are opportunities to develop with managers keen to support your career progression."

"Supportive and inclusive employer. Working here is immensely rewarding, knowing you have helped so many people. The way SCC has dealt with the challenges presented by Covid, and the support it has given the community, makes me feel proud to be part of the organisation"

"Salaries aren't as high as private sector, but the great benefits package does make up for that. The council offer flexible working and lots of opportunity to build a long-term career in an ever changing government organisation. If you like the challenge of continuous change, this could be the place for you."

"If feel that my work for the council is hugely valuable. That I am supporting some incredibly important services. The organisation is forward-thinking in terms of ways of working, offering good technology and working-from-home benefits, all underpinned by an understanding management culture."

"The council is a good place to work if you want to work part time. You have access to ongoing learning. Management on the whole is good. Everyone works very hard, focused on doing something worthwhile and helping professionals, and keen to demonstrate that they are offering good value for money."

"Working for the council is challenging and stimulating. Social Care is difficult but rewarding when the quality of the service can be maintained. There is a genuine culture of reward for hard work. Social Care is a changing and evolving service, and the council has a dynamic reputation."

"Supportive work environment and colleagues. Over the last 12 years I have worked with a variety of brilliant teams, each time developing new skills and gaining experience. SCC has adapted well to remote working during the pandemic with staff wellbeing at the top of the agenda."