Naila Iftikhar
Manchester
Summary
Dedicated Attendance Lead with extensive experience improving attendance within high school and academy settings. Carefully assessing and evaluating current processes to offer strategic improvements for reduced absences and enhanced student outcomes. Working within Attendance and Welfare roles for the last 10 years. Building positive working relationships with families and students from varied and complex socio-economic backgrounds and engaging in multi agency referrals.
Leading whole school strategic protocols as Attendance Lead and implementing strategies across whole school pastoral and support teams in school with analysis of impact.
Extensive knowledge of how to assist families and students to navigate through the varied barriers to education and a deep understanding of how attendance and welfare is linked to performance in schools and the impact of external factors. Collaboratively contributed to the school SEF plans.
Skilled and able to effectively communicate with multicultural families speaking 4 languages. Extensive expertise supporting young people and families through improved attendance and attainment. Providing guidance and management for pastoral teams and line managing the attendance team.
Offering professional, reliable support across varied legal matters and all DfE guidance and regulations around schools attendance and welfare matters. Proficiency in creating and maintaining accurate, detailed documentation to support legal documentation and case outcomes. I am a collaborative leader with dedication to partnering with coworkers to promote engaged, empowering work culture and have line managed my own teams. Documented strengths in building and maintaining relationships with diverse range of stakeholders in dynamic, fast-paced settings.
Overview
1
1
Certification
11
11
years of professional experience
Work history
Attendance Lead
Wise Owl Trust
Manchester, Greater Manchester
2026.02 - Current
Attendance and Welfare Co-ordinating Lead
The Barlow RC High School
Manchester, Greater Manchester
2023.04 - Current
- Supported families, pupils and schools in addressing and improving attendance, enforcing relevant legislation as required.
- Assessed and evaluated school services, offering improvement strategies to meet absence reduction targets.
- Ensured thorough child safeguarding and welfare through diligent monitoring and risk assessments.
- Offered advice and guidance at school attendance and family meetings to reduce absences in line with department targets.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of attendance, absence management and pupil registration laws to aid education of schools and families.
- Used assessment findings to action necessary timetable adaptations.
- Consulted with multidisciplinary team of professionals to optimise treatment plans for complex cases.
- Partnered with external support networks to deliver specific support .
- Maintained confidential case documentation in line with data protection regulations.
- Prepared reports and prosecution documentation for legal action and provided evidence in court.
- Provided mental health support to service users, as well as signposting community resources and local services.
- Supported staff learning and development for improved team capabilities.
- Upskilled staff through targeted training opportunities, enhancing team capabilities.
Education Welfare Officer
Cedar Mount Academy
Manchester, Lancashire
2020.10 - 2023.04
- Supported families, pupils and schools in addressing and improving attendance, enforcing relevant legislation as required.
- Led on whole school protocols and strategies including leading pastoral and welfare teams and providing reliable guidance for more challenging and complex families and students.
- Provided mental health support to service users, as well as signposting community resources and local charities.
- Promoted independence and positive wellbeing when working with vulnerable adults and children.
- Identified and implemented innovative strategies for maintaining and growing school attendance.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of attendance, absence management and pupil registration laws to aid education of schools and families.
- Offered advice and guidance at school attendance and family meetings to reduce absences in line with department targets.
- Ensured thorough child safeguarding and welfare through diligent monitoring and risk assessments.
- Prepared reports for legal action and provided evidence in court.
- Consulted with multidisciplinary team of professionals to optimise treatment plans for complex cases.
- Maintained confidential case documentation in line with data protection regulations.
- Supported families, pupils and schools in addressing and improving attendance, enforcing relevant legislation as required.
- Coordinated multi-disciplinary teams for effective case management.
School Attendance Officer
St Pauls Catholic High School
Wythenshawe, Manchester
2019.05 - 2020.09
- Identified and implemented innovative strategies for maintaining and growing school attendance.
- Assessed and evaluated school services, offering improvement strategies to meet absence reduction targets.
- Kept detailed, accurate records for well-maintained continuity between support staff.
- Collaborated with officials to prepare required legal documentation for court proceedings.
- Built positive, productive relationships for enhanced social support.
- Interacted with families professionally by phone, email and in-person to deliver accurate information.
- Maintained high standards of accuracy and quality in data entry and recordkeeping.
Administrative Manager
Kids Allowed LTD
Chorlton cum Hardy, Manchester
2018.06 - 2019.05
- Offered excellent customer service to colleagues and external representatives.
- Facilitated and processed incoming calls and emails, distributing relevant information to necessary departments.
- Established workflow processes and implemented modifications to improve administrative operations.
- Cultivated and deepened relationships with customers by providing exceptional service.
- Managed queries in-person, by phone and via email.
Finance and Administration Officer
KD Grammar School For Boys
Whalley Range, Manchester
2016.02 - 2018.06
- Compiled general ledger entries on short schedule with 100% accuracy.
- Generated invoices based on established accounts receivable schedules and terms.
- Resolved invoice coding and tracked recurring expenses for accrual entry.
- Observed strict confidentiality policies to maintain data integrity.
- Verified items billed against items received, following up with vendors to reconcile variances.
Attendance Support Officer
Kingsway School
Cheadle, Stockport
2015.05 - 2016.06
- Supported families, pupils and schools in addressing and improving attendance, enforcing relevant legislation as required.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of attendance, absence management and pupil registration laws to aid education of schools and families.
- Ensured thorough child safeguarding and welfare through diligent monitoring and risk assessments.
Attendance Lead and DDSL
Wise Owl Trust
Manchester, Greater Manchester
2026.02 - Current
Education
Level 7 Diploma - Leadership and Management
TQUK RQF
Manchester 01/2022 - 01/2023
Level 6 Diploma - Professional Supervision
TQUK RQF
Manchester 12/2021 - 12/2022
Level 5 Diploma - Health and Social Care
TQUK RQF
Manchester 12/2021 - 12/2022
Level 3 Diploma - Counselling Skills
Oxbridge Online Learning
Manchester 01/2019 - 01/2020
NVQ Level 2 - Business Administration
Manchester College
Manchester06.2016
GCSEs - Mathematics - B
Manchester College
Manchester06.2015
GCSEs - Psychology - B
Manchester College
Manchester06.2015
GCSEs - English - B
ICS Online Learning
Manchester06.2007
Skills
- Data analysis
- Community outreach
- Case management
- Multidisciplinary team collaboration
- Whole school attendance lead
- Line management
- Whole school protocols and strategy
- Efficient under pressure
- Solution-based interventions
- Confidential case documentation
- Fluent in English, Urdu and Punjabi
- Referrals and networking
- Child safeguarding
- Attendance records oversight
References
Available on request.
Certification
CPD Certification Service- Level 3 Advanced Safeguarding Training for Children and Young People
Open University - Supporting Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Well-being
Open University - Understanding Anxiety and Depression
University of Derby - Understanding Autism, Aspergers and ADHD
Timeline
Attendance Lead
Wise Owl Trust
2026.02 - Current
Attendance Lead and DDSL
Wise Owl Trust
2026.02 - Current
Attendance and Welfare Co-ordinating Lead
The Barlow RC High School
2023.04 - Current
Education Welfare Officer
Cedar Mount Academy
2020.10 - 2023.04
School Attendance Officer
St Pauls Catholic High School
2019.05 - 2020.09
Administrative Manager
Kids Allowed LTD
2018.06 - 2019.05
Finance and Administration Officer
KD Grammar School For Boys
2016.02 - 2018.06
Attendance Support Officer
Kingsway School
2015.05 - 2016.06
Level 3 Diploma - Counselling Skills
Oxbridge Online Learning
01/2019 - 01/2020
Level 5 Diploma - Health and Social Care
TQUK RQF
12/2021 - 12/2022
Level 6 Diploma - Professional Supervision
TQUK RQF
12/2021 - 12/2022
Level 7 Diploma - Leadership and Management
TQUK RQF
01/2022 - 01/2023
NVQ Level 2 - Business Administration
Manchester College
GCSEs - Mathematics - B
Manchester College
GCSEs - Psychology - B
Manchester College
GCSEs - English - B
ICS Online Learning