Receptionist - Pre-Prep School

Aldar Education; Al Ruways Industrial City; On-site; AED 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cranleigh Abu Dhabi is seeking a Receptionist for its Pre-Prep School to welcome pupils, families and staff and support attendance monitoring and safeguarding procedures.

The role requires strong Arabic and English communication, professional reception standards and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a busy school environment.

Qualifications

• O Levels or equivalent qualification.
• 1–2 years in school reception, administration, hospitality or customer service.
• Fluency in Arabic and English is essential.
• Experience with iSAMS, Engage, SIMS or similar systems is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Welcome pupils, parents, visitors and staff in a warm, professional manner.
• Respond promptly to attendance enquiries and monitor daily attendance.
• Maintain accurate attendance records and sign-in/out for visitors.
• Manage visitor sign-in, badges and safeguarding compliance.
• Support administrative tasks, enquiries by phone/email, and routine communications.
• Protect confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.

Skills

Front desk operations

Arabic and English communication

Attendance monitoring

Visitor management

Customer service excellence

Education

O Levels / High School Diploma

Tools

iSAMS

Engage

SIMS

ADEK compliance

Job description

Role Overview

Receptionist – Pre‑Prep School at Cranleigh Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). This front‑desk role supports the Pre‑Prep division by welcoming students, parents, staff and visitors, managing attendance records, safeguarding procedures and communication with the academic and pastoral teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Welcome pupils, parents, visitors, contractors and employees in a warm and professional manner.
• Serve as the primary reception contact for the Pre‑Prep School.
• Respond promptly to attendance enquiries from parents, teachers, pastoral teams and school leadership.
• Monitor and record daily student attendance using iSAMS, Engage or other approved systems.
• Update attendance records accurately when new information is received.
• Follow up with parents regarding unexplained student absences.
• Escalate recurring absence patterns or attendance concerns to the relevant Senior Leadership Team member or Head of Year.
• Maintain accurate punctuality and late‑arrival records.
• Prepare and issue approved follow‑up letters to parents when required.
• Coordinate late arrivals through the correct student sign‑in process.
• Manage early collections and ensure students are released only through approved sign‑out procedures.
• Verify parent or authorised collector information before releasing a pupil.
• Prepare daily absence reports and distribute them to designated departments.
• Support attendance reporting required for school leadership, pastoral teams and regulatory purposes.
• Work with ADEK‑compliance systems and processes to maintain accurate regulatory records.
• Maintain attendance information for school trips, events, activities and examination sessions.
• Respond to telephone calls professionally and direct enquiries to the appropriate colleague.
• Manage incoming emails efficiently and in accordance with school communication protocols.
• Provide clear information to parents while protecting confidential student and school data.
• Maintain a calm and helpful approach when handling sensitive or urgent enquiries.
• Manage the visitor sign‑in and sign‑out process.
• Issue visitor badges and confirm that visitors understand relevant safeguarding requirements.
• Notify employees promptly when their visitors arrive.
• Prevent unauthorised access to pupil areas and report security concerns immediately.
• Maintain a tidy, organised, and welcoming reception area.
• Keep reception forms, visitor materials, stationery and information resources properly stocked.
• Support the wider administrative team with filing, printing, scanning, photocopying and document preparation.
• Assist with parent communications, notices, letters and routine school correspondence.
• Provide administrative support for school events, meetings, activities and parent sessions.
• Maintain organised electronic and physical filing systems.
• Handle personal, attendance, medical and family information with discretion.
• Attend administrative, pastoral and operational meetings when required.
• Record relevant actions and complete assigned follow‑up tasks.
• Work collaboratively with teachers, pastoral employees, school leaders, security personnel and the wider administration team.
• Follow school policies relating to attendance, safeguarding, confidentiality, health and safety and visitor management.
• Report child protection concerns immediately through the school’s approved safeguarding procedures.
• Support smooth daily transitions during arrival, collection and other busy periods.
• Complete other reasonable administrative duties assigned by school leadership.

Ideal Profile

• O Levels, NVQ, High School Diploma or an equivalent recognised qualification.
• 1–2 years of experience in a school, reception, administration, hospitality or customer service environment.
• Fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English is essential.
• Previous experience using iSAMS, Engage, SIMS or another school information system is advantageous.
• Strong understanding of professional reception and customer service standards.
• Ability to maintain accurate attendance, punctuality, visitor and collection records.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a welcoming approach to children and families.
• Professional telephone and email communication skills.
• Strong organisation with the ability to manage several priorities.
• Calm and dependable when working under pressure or during busy school periods.
• Excellent attention to names, dates, attendance codes, permissions and confidential details.
• Confidence handling sensitive student and parent information.
• Ability to communicate respectfully with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Strong teamwork and willingness to support wider administrative duties.
• Understanding of safeguarding, child protection and visitor security expectations.
• Commitment to the welfare and safety of children.
• Clean police clearance and satisfactory safeguarding checks.
• Ability to provide satisfactory professional references.

Key Skills

• School reception and front‑desk operations
• Arabic and English communication
• Parent enquiries and visitor management
• Student attendance monitoring and follow‑up
• Punctuality and late‑arrival management
• Early collection procedures
• iSAMS, Engage, SIMS, ADEK compliance
• Daily absence reporting and telephone/email administration
• Data confidentiality and safeguarding
• Visitor badge and sign‑in systems
• Administrative support, filing, printing and event preparation
• Multi‑tasking and customer service excellence