SEN Admin Assistant/Receptionist

We are looking for a Receptionist and SEN Administrative Assistant to join our academy.

About Us

Harris Academy South Norwood is an extremely popular 11-19 academy that has been judged Outstanding by OFSTED since 2010. We deliver a broad and challenging curriculum to all our students in a calm and well-ordered environment. We have high expectations of all members of the school community. This is reflected in our consistently high student performance at GCSE, progression to post 16 study at our sixth form and then on to some of the best universities in the country.

The Beulah Hill Campus is a wonderful place to learn and teach. We have a very hardworking team of teachers and support staff; they provide a caring and welcoming atmosphere for our students. The Campus site is a huge site with close to 8 acres of school buildings, sports halls, gymnasium, tennis courts and large playing fields / athletic track thus providing excellent facilities for our students. The Beulah Hill campus also has full-time basketball and football coaches through its partnership with Greenhouse and Kinetic. We have recently invested over £1 million to further improve our outstanding facilities including the development of a state-of-the-art Design Technology room equipped with laser cuter and 3D Printers, Food room and a newly laid sports field to ensure all year-round sporting opportunities. The Academy has a limit of 800 places across Year 7-11. We are unlike other schools; we do not want to expand at this moment in time, in fact we wish to remain small for as long as possible! This will ensure a small school where each child is known to staff and a caring environment can be provided.

We are traditional in our approach to discipline and uniform, yet forward-thinking and at the cutting edge of curriculum development, learning and pedagogy. The Academy aims to develop the whole child. We have a real focus on progress and attainment, yet ensure students develop their cultural awareness. We have a breadth of extra-curricular activities including Drama, Creative writing, Chess, Food and Art Clubs alongside support and extension in traditional subjects. We are proud of our Campus; we are proud of our students and proud of the education that they receive.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Safeguarding DSL and SEN Admin

• Monitor and interrogate CPOMS, categorize and report findings to DSL or the principal
• Attend safeguarding meetings for vulnerable students, where allocated by the DSL
• Work with the DSL on actively keeping the safeguarding register up to date and all hard files for vulnerable students
• Monitor referrals made by the Academy to social care and all information requests, corresponding with appropriate services regularly
• Maintain safeguarding files and documentation on CPOMS and the Safeguarding Register
• Compile, export and discuss CPOMS data exports with the DSL weekly
• Overview the transfer of student files into and out of the Academy, logging all movement on CPOMS, Safeguarding register and corresponding with other educational institutions.
• Providing overall administration support to the Special Educational Needs Department.
• Planning of all Annual Review documentation ensuring deadlines are met.
• Typing and distributing IEP reviews, recording on Bromcom and linking documentation.
• Typing correspondence to parents, agencies, professionals, staff and any internal correspondence under the direction of the SENCO Maintaining and up to date schedule of HLTA intervention.

Reception - cover

• To present the professional and welcoming face of the Academy to all visitors, staff and students, including telephone callers.
• To ensure all visitors are signed in to the academy in accordance with safeguarding procedures.
• To respond to queries from parents/carers and the general public with exemplary professionalism, ensuring that any messages or complaints are immediately dealt with, forwarded to the appropriate member of staff or escalated as required.

General Admin

• General administrative duties such as typing, photocopying, filing, collation and distribution of post.
• In liaison with appropriate academy staff, to contribute to the maintenance of academy information
• databases and filing systems relating to pupils, ensuring confidentiality is observed at all times and records are accurate and up to date.
• To assist academy staff in all aspects of academy life, including contacting parents and pupils where
• To provide general administrative support to the academy as required, including preparation of documentation, and administrative duties relating to specific areas such as academy calendar maintenance, extra-curricular activities, school trips, school meal arrangements.

Qualifications & Experience

The successful candidate will have:

• Qualifications to GCSE level or equivalent (ideally to A Level)
• Competency in the use of Microsoft Office packages
• Proficiency in the use of computers and databases
• Previous experience in an administrative or front office/reception role
• Demonstrable customer service experience
• Experience of working in a school or educational establishment

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan including access to a virtual GP, electric car scheme, 26 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays) for staff who work across the full year, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.