Melissa Higgins

As an Attendance Support Officer I am responsible for supporting residents and in particular, young people, in receiving an education and feeling supported by the institutions involved. I manage a case load of young people that are of compulsory school age and liaise with fellow professionals including health, Social Care, school leaders, Police and other local authority teams and charities to ensure that all young people have access to the education they are entitled to. I work with these agencies and the pupils and their families to put in place timetables and plans that suit the needs of the individual child. The above can be in the form of phone calls, meetings and home visits, as well as sign posting to other agencies.

Prior to joining the Team, I gained childcare qualifications working in private day nurseries and then at a local Primary school in Hillingdon. I feel that my past qualifications and learning experiences have set me up well to always stay child focussed and ensure the pupils needs and views are at the forefront of discussions and plans.

In my current role, I am passionate about ensuring all young people have access to the full-time education they are entitled to, knowing that every case and every child is different. This is partly why this role is very rewarding and I feel I often go above and beyond to ensure this.

Contact Details

Email: mhiggins1@hillingdon.gov.uk