Education Improvement Service

Find out more about the duties carried out by Knowsley Council and how they can help your child.

Knowsley Council Education Improvement Service

The Education Improvement Service (EIS) at Knowsley Council is responsible for delivering the council's statutory duties in relation to school improvement, attendance, admissions, the virtual school for Care Experienced, and advice and guidance to schools on safeguarding children.

The EIS is made up of a number of teams, including the Education Improvement Team, the school admissions team, the attendance team, and the safeguarding team.

The Education Improvement Team provides strategic leadership to the school system and consists of officers with significant experience of senior leadership in schools. Their work includes strengthening school leadership and governance, developing and aligning local educational policy to national policy developments, and delivering statutory duties in relation to schools causing concern.

The school admissions, attendance, and safeguarding teams provide specialist advice to schools and broader stakeholders within their area of expertise.

The EIS provides a wide range of services to schools

  • Advice, guidance, and support for all aspects of school improvement.
  • Targeted Local Authority reviews to quality assure provision and identify priorities.
  • Pre and post Ofsted support, including support for action planning and monitoring visits.
  • Professional development and support for leadership and governance.
  • Brokering school-to-school support for schools in categories of concern.
  • Specific programmes for recently appointed and acting headteachers and Newly Qualified Teachers.
  • Support for the recruitment of headteachers.
  • Coordination of school admissions for primary and secondary school places, including appeals. representation for community schools and the Fair Access Protocol.
  • Collation of data and advice on the school exclusion process.
  • Advice and guidance to schools in relation to school safeguarding.
  • The virtual school takes the lead role in promoting educational attainment and progress for all Knowsley Care Experienced.
  • Fulfilment of statutory responsibilities regarding school attendance enforcement and children missing education.
  • Monitoring of Elective Home Education to ensure suitability.

Contact details

Emails

Name Role Email
Nadine Carroll Head of Education  nadine.carroll@knowsley.gov.uk
Nicki Forget Head of Service for Inclusion and SEND nicola.forget@knowsley.gov.uk
Joanne Knight Education Improvement Officer-SEND
Education Improvement and Inclusion		 joanne.knight@knowsley.gov.uk
Penny France Education Improvement Officer, Education Improvement penelope.france@knowsley.gov.uk
Karen Austin-Smith Education Improvement Officer, Education Improvement karen.austin-smith@knowsley.gov.uk
Katy Race Education Improvement Officer, Education Improvement katy.race@knowsley.gov.uk
Susan Smerdon Head of Virtual School Susan.smerdon@knowsley.go.uk

Telephone

Education Improvement Enquiries - 0151 443 3234

Chat with us