Office Administrator

Allscreens Nationwide Ltd; Blackburn; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Wensley Fold CE Primary seeks an experienced school office administrator to support the HT, DHT and FOM. You will manage administrative, financial and organisational tasks across the school, plan and develop support services, and ensure smooth reception operations.

You will handle admissions processes, maintain pupil records in SIMS, coordinate parent visits and communications, and assist with newsletters and attendance systems. A strong commitment to safeguarding is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in school office administration is preferable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of data protection and safeguarding procedures.

Responsibilities

• Undertake administrative, financial and organisational processes across the school.
• Assist with planning and development of support services.
• Manage reception duties and visitor sign-in/out.
• Support admissions, including Nursery and parent visits.
• Maintain pupil records and SIMS data.
• Coordinate paperwork for parent consultations and school events.
• Produce standard letters, newsletters and reports for HT and senior staff.
• Support attendance systems and distribution of post.

Skills

Office administration

Communication skills

Data protection

Tools

SIMS

MS Office

Job description

What skills and experience we're looking for

Job Purpose

Under the guidance of the HT, DHT and FOM, be responsible for undertaking administrative, financial and organisational processes throughout the school.

Assist with the planning and development of support services.

General Management

To work alongside the finance and operations manager and ensure the efficient running of the office both operational and financial.

Develop and support with all procedures, protocols and office systems to meet the administration and operational needs of the school.

Reception Duties

To ensure that all visitors to the school are received in a friendly and professional manner and that they feel welcomed and well attended to.

To manage the process for children who arrive late and supervision of children who leave during the day for appointments/sickness

To be responsible for arranging medical or other appointments with the school nurse/dentist and other agencies, as required.

To process ID checks for all visitors in accordance with the school’s safeguarding procedures ensuring everyone is signed in and out and wearing the appropriate identification.

To ensure all queries, either in person or by telephone, are dealt with swiftly and appropriately using tact and diplomacy at all times.

To collaborate to ensure the answer-phone messages are checked early every morning and then regularly thereafter during the day.

To ensure messages are clearly recorded and passed onto the relevant staff in school

To handle difficult situations and issues with sensitivity and a calm manner, being at all times aware of the need to safeguard pupils, operate within data protection guidelines and maintain strict confidentiality at all times.

Admissions

To support with admissions by ensuring all documents are completed clearly and in a timely manner, including to Nursery.

To arrange prospective parent visits to the school for the Headteacher or senior staff

To maintain pupil record folders and files

To support with ensuring all school admission packs are kept up-to-date and distributed in liaison with other office staff and the EYFS Team.

To support with ensuring Admission packs are up to date and available for all parents/carers.

To support parents/carers with completing the forms and following up missing information where necessary

To support with the preparation of information and records for forwarding on to appropriate Primary schools and Secondary schools as necessary

To support with the preparation of appeals paperwork and related Local Authority communication.

General Administration

To produce standard letters, the newsletter and reports as requested by the HT and senior staff

To support with ensuring that school emails are checked every morning and then regularly thereafter during the day and deal with or forward messages to appropriate staff.

To make appointments for the Headteacher, senior teachers and teaching staff as requested.

To arrange meetings with parents and other individuals as requested

To coordinate all paperwork or other arrangements for Parent Consultations or any other meetings held during the year

To support with managing an effective computerised system for record keeping processes (SIMS) and to attend training courses as necessary to keep up to date with the systems

To support in the administration and organisation of school photos to include arranging photographer visits, production of class/sibling lists, collating of all information relating to the family requirements, distributing photos when returned and importing into SIMS pupil records.

To support with the distribution of school reports and accompanying paperwork to ensure they are distributed in a timely manner and to ensure all pupils reports are ready, copied and collated in time.

To support the effective implementation of school attendance systems

To liaise with the school uniform company as required

To support with the administration of the school’s post including sorting and distribution and for ensuring that post is sent to appropriate people on a daily basis

To support with the penalty notice paperwork following any unauthorised absence following handover from the Finance and Operations Manager.

Other Duties

In the event of an emergency to adhere to the office evacuation procedures and to support with an accurate register call, as required.

To uphold the reputation of the school through the sensitive dealings with children, parents and visitors at all times.

To cover duties of other office staff as requested by the HT.

To support with monitoring and maintaining an appropriate level of stock control for office supplies, including printing and photocopying.

To assist with dealing with lost property.

Any other duties as can be reasonably expected within the boundaries of the school office.

Support with the management of lunchtime menus and the electronic system for lunches.

To organise letters, payments and enquires for school trips.

To manage systems linked to all Wraparound care.

To be part of the scheme of delegation regarding school orders.

To keep up to date records on SIMS regarding groups of children e.g. Free School Meals.

Safeguarding Children

Have a strong commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children and young people in line with the ‘Guidance for Keeping Children In Education Safe’, the Children’s Act 2004 and Education Act 2002.

To adhere to the principles of safeguarding as they apply to children and young people in relation to the post holder’s role and take an active part in maintaining the policy.

What the school offers its staff

Wensley Fold CE Primary is a proud, outstanding Church of England standalone academy. Our school is built on a strong set of values which every member of our school community lives by; Courage, Compassion, Trust, Respect and Aspiration. We are proud to achieve our school vision of ‘Make each day count’ in everything we do and have a deeply rooted- commitment to leaving no stone unturned, developing all children to their fullest potential.

Our school community is made up of our staff who are an incredibly supportive team, our parents who are excellent partners in learning and our children who are motivated to learn, well behaved and simply the best!

The school has a strong commitment to staff wellbeing and continuing professional development. Each staff members is supported in the ambitions that they have to develop their skills whilst maintaining a strong commitment to individual wellbeing and workload management.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.