Bracknell Primary School jobs in Berkshire

Storyybrook School Administrator

Job description & person specification

A little about us

Storyybrook is a new school, but the people behind it bring years of experience in primary education, SEND, inclusion, safeguarding, SEMH and supporting children who haven't always found school easy. We are building the kind of school we believe children deserve: ambitious about what they can achieve, thoughtful about what they need, and built around relationships that matter.

And because we're at the beginning, you won't be joining a school where everything has already been decided. You'll be joining us in creating it. We want people who bring ideas, share what they know and help shape what Storyybrook becomes.

We take our work seriously, but we don't believe that means taking ourselves too seriously. We want warmth, humour, curiosity and humanity, for the children and for the adults who work here.

Our vision

At Storyybrook, every child is entitled to an excellent education and the opportunity to succeed. We are creating a community where every child feels seen, understood and empowered to grow in confidence, develop resilience and achieve success academically and personally. Some pupils may have experienced exclusion, anxiety, trauma or disrupted education; these experiences do not determine their potential.

Strong relationships, therapeutic practice and emotional support create the conditions for ambitious learning. We believe in high ambition and high support.

Role details

Location: Storyybrook, Malt Hill, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG42 6JQ

Hours: 8:30am–1:30pm, Monday to Friday (25 hours per week)

Contract: Term Time

Salary: £15.5k per annum

Start Date: January/February 2027

Reports to: Headteacher; works closely with the Deputy Headteacher and wider school team

Purpose of the role

The school administrator is often the first point of contact for families, pupils, local authorities and visiting professionals. You will help create a welcoming, calm and organised school office where people feel listened to, information is handled carefully and important concerns reach the right people promptly.

This is a varied and trusted administrative role in a small specialist SEMH primary school. You will help our staff focus on children by keeping essential communication, attendance, pupil information and office systems running accurately and sensitively. You will be an important part of our founding team, without being expected to take on the specialist decision-making responsibilities of school leaders.

Key responsibilities

1. Create a welcoming and relational first point of contact

· Welcome children, families, visitors and professionals warmly, respectfully and without judgement.

· Respond to telephone calls, emails and enquiries promptly, accurately and professionally.

· Communicate sensitively with families, including those who may be anxious or distressed, and use agreed accessible communication arrangements.

· Follow visitor identification, sign-in, safeguarding and site security procedures.

· Recognise when an issue requires a teacher, the DSL or a senior leader, and pass it on promptly rather than attempting to resolve matters outside the role.

2. Maintain accurate attendance and pupil administration

· Use Arbor to support accurate attendance records, absence notifications and reasons for absence, in accordance with school procedures.

· Promptly escalate unexplained absences, concerning patterns or potential safeguarding indicators to the designated staff member.

· Keep pupil contact details, emergency contacts and relevant medical information accurate and appropriately protected.

· Support the administration of admissions, transitions, local authority consultations and pupil documentation under leadership direction.

· Maintain reliable filing, correspondence and records in accordance with confidentiality and retention requirements.

3. Keep the school office running effectively

· Manage day-to-day correspondence, diaries, meetings, routine forms, document preparation and data entry.

· Help prepare parent communications, newsletters and routine school information.

· Order and monitor supplies, record deliveries and process routine purchasing paperwork within agreed authorisation limits.

· Support communication with contractors and external professionals, following agreed procedures.

· Organise and prioritise competing demands, maintaining accuracy and seeking guidance when priorities conflict.

4. Support safeguarding, confidentiality and safety

· Understand that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and maintain professional curiosity and vigilance.

· Recognise, record and promptly report concerns to the DSL or deputy DSL using the school’s procedures; never promise secrecy.

· Handle personal and sensitive information on a need-to-know basis and report potential data breaches promptly.

· Follow safeguarding, online safety, visitor, emergency, first aid, medical, fire and lockdown procedures within the limits of training.

· Maintain appropriate boundaries with children, families and professionals, including in digital communication.

5. Work in partnership around the child

· Treat families as valued partners who know their children well.

· Share routine information accurately through agreed channels, referring sensitive decisions or complex concerns to the relevant professional.

· Support respectful, consistent communication between staff, families, local authorities and visiting professionals.

· Understand how SEMH, SEND, anxiety and previous experiences of education may influence a family’s contact with school.

· Help maintain an inclusive, welcoming environment that protects pupil dignity and privacy.

6. Help build Storyybrook’s professional culture

· Contribute positively to Storyybrook’s values of belonging, respect, resilience, inclusion, integrity and love.

· Be dependable, adaptable, organised and open to constructive feedback.

· Undertake relevant induction and training, including safeguarding, data protection and Arbor.

· Communicate openly with colleagues and seek support when a situation falls beyond your responsibilities.

· Undertake other reasonable administrative duties consistent with the nature, hours and level of the role.

Role boundaries

The postholder does not automatically act as the designated safeguarding lead, attendance decision-maker, SENDCo, finance manager or admissions decision-maker. These responsibilities remain with appropriately designated leaders. The role does not routinely include behaviour support, personal care, teaching or clinical therapy.

Person specification

Essential qualifications, experience and skills

· A suitable standard of written English, literacy, numeracy and digital competence for accurate school administration.

· Experience of administration, reception or a busy customer-facing role.

· Clear, sensitive spoken and written communication.

· Confidence using email, word processing, spreadsheets and electronic record systems, with willingness to learn Arbor.

· Strong organisation, accuracy, prioritisation and the ability to manage interruptions.

· Ability to maintain confidentiality, follow agreed procedures and escalate concerns appropriately.

· Ability to remain calm and professional when children or adults are distressed.

· Commitment to safeguarding, equality, inclusion and positive relationships.

· Ability to work both independently within defined responsibilities and collaboratively with colleagues.

Desirable qualifications and experience

· Experience of administration in a school, SEND/SEMH setting, health service or social care environment.

· Experience using Arbor or another management information system.

· Knowledge of school attendance administration, pupil records or local authority communication.

· Understanding of trauma-informed practice, SEND or emotionally based school avoidance.

· Experience supporting accessible family communication.

· Relevant safeguarding, first aid or data protection training.

Essential knowledge and understanding

· Understanding of the importance of accurate attendance and pupil records.

· Awareness of confidentiality, data protection, professional boundaries and safeguarding responsibilities.

· Understanding that families may need sensitive, flexible and non-judgemental communication.

· Understanding of when to refer decisions and concerns to teachers or designated leaders.

Personal and professional attributes

Qualifications and experience matter, but how an adult treats children and families matters enormously at Storyybrook. We are looking for someone who:

· Is warm, patient, approachable and non-judgemental.

· Is discreet, reliable, attentive to detail and able to manage competing priorities.

· Brings calmness and empathy without losing sight of necessary procedures and boundaries.

· Is reflective, flexible and willing to learn new systems.

· Values teamwork, professional integrity and the opportunity to help build a new school.

· Brings appropriate warmth and humour to school life.

Working at Storyybrook

The school office is part of our relational culture. A reassuring welcome, an accurate attendance record or a sensitive conversation with a parent can make a meaningful difference to a child’s day. We want our administrator to feel valued as a member of the school community and supported to develop their skills as the school grows.

Safer Recruitment

Storyybrook is committed to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare. All appointments are subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks, including satisfactory references, identity and right-to-work verification, an enhanced DBS check and children’s barred list check where eligible, and other checks required for the role. Online searches may be undertaken for shortlisted candidates as part of due diligence.

This job description outlines the principal responsibilities of the role and may be reviewed as Storyybrook develops, following appropriate consultation with the postholder.

How to apply

Please complete our school application form via https://www.storyybrook.co.uk/careers

Closing date: 20th November

Interviews: Week commencing 23rd November

We welcome applications from people with different backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process where appropriate.

Pay: £15,500.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company events
• Company pension
• Free parking
• On-site parking

Work Location: In person