Receptionist / Administrator - Full Time, Term Time Only

Are you an experienced Receptionist/Administrator with excellent customer service skills and a warm, welcoming manner? Do you enjoy providing hospitality and dealing with front desk queries in a busy office? If so, we would love to hear from you. 

We are looking for someone who will bring enthusiasm, initiative, good humour and a clear appreciation of our main purpose to serve the needs of all young people. Working in a busy reception environment means that you will need to manage conflicting priorities in telephone calls, in person visitors, radio calls and emails as part of a small and supportive team. 

As Receptionist / Administrator you will help support the day-to-day running of the main office with a core focus of greeting visitors and callers. Often the first point of contact for a diverse community of pupils, parents, staff, and visitors, you will be an outstanding ambassador for both the school and the company, demonstrating exceptional people skills, a commitment to providing a high level of customer service.  

We are looking for someone who: 

• Takes pride in the work that they do and is a good team player. 
• Has substantial receptionist and administration experience. 
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing. 
• Can prioritise their own workload and meet deadlines, with planning skills to balance conflicting demands. 
• Has the ability to relate well to children with SEND, and a clear appreciation of our main purpose to serve the needs of all young people. 
• Has confident working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite and Teams.  

Working knowledge of a bespoke school database and experience in an educational environment is highly desirable, however we are still keen to hear from you even if you don’t have this (training will be offered) – it is important to us that we have the right person for the team and someone with a passion for customer service, administration, and running efficient systems and processes.  

This is a term time only post, with one additional week to work at the end of August before the start of the new school year. 

Actual salary is between £22,652 – 24,528 for working 37 hours and 40 weeks (39 weeks in line with School terms plus 1 week in August) 

Full time hours 08.00-16.00 Monday to Thursday, 08.00-15.30 on a Friday. 

Please review the job description and person specification for further information about the role. If you would like to work in this unique and beautiful environment, please complete the application process. 

About the Dorset Centre of Excellence:  

The Dorset Centre of Excellence is located at the eastern edge of Shaftesbury, approximately 2.3 miles from the town centre. The site is accessed via a private road and enjoys a secluded setting within its grounds. The accommodation extends to over 160,000 sq ft, set within in grounds of 55 acres. Coombe House School located at the Dorset Centre of Excellence meets the needs of children and young people with social communication, social emotional and learning needs, and all are supported by an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).    

What the Dorset Centre of Excellence can offer you: 

• A workplace set in beautiful surroundings. 
• Competitive salary. 
• Access to a free, confidential employee assistance programme.  
• Enhanced NEST Pension Scheme (10% employers' contribution).  
• Continuous professional development and training  
• Use of leisure facilities (gym and swimming pool), at specified times.   
• Death in Service (3 x salary).  
• Health Care Plan after probation period - claim back costs towards dental check-ups, eye tests, prescription charges and therapies.  
• Highly supportive leadership team and working alongside a multi-disciplinary team of other SEN Specialists.  
• Wellbeing support, including qualified Mental Health First Aiders on staff body. 

This post involves working with children or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them and will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. 

Closing date for applications:  Monday 6th January 2025 

NOTE: We will close the post earlier if sufficient suitable applications are received. 

If you have any questions regarding the recruitment process or require any further details please contact Claire Taylor, Assistant HR Manager on 01747 449 858 or by email hr@coombehouse.org.uk 

 We are committed to safeguarding and expect everyone who works in our school (and visitors to our school) to share this commitment. We take all safeguarding and welfare concerns seriously and encourage our pupils to talk to us about any worries they may have. We will always act in the best interests of the child. The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS.