Receptionist and Administrative Assistant

Woodlands School, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5ES

17 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  1 November 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  15 October 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time: 25 Hours Per Week Monday – Friday: 10:00 – 15:30 (30 minutes unpaid lunch break).
• Contract type: Permanent
• Pay scale: Grade C, Point 5-7

What skills and experience we're looking for

The Role

The Receptionist and Administrative Assistant is often the first point of contact for visitors, families and professionals. The role combines a welcoming reception service with accurate and responsive administration, helping the school to operate smoothly and professionally.

The postholder will work across a broad range of school processes, including communication, pupil administration, attendance, policies, data, transport, operational support and coordination of meetings and documentation. The role requires excellent organisation, confidentiality, sound judgement and the ability to manage competing priorities.

This is a varied role in a specialist school environment. The successful candidate will be positive, adaptable, calm under pressure and committed to supporting the wider school community.

Key responsibilities:

Reception

• Greet visitors and parents warmly, creating a positive first impression.
• Manage calls and messages promptly and professionally.
• Oversee visitor sign-in, identification checks and compliance with the school’s safeguarding procedures.
• Keep reception tidy and organised, handling post and deliveries efficiently.

Communication & Support

• Prepare and distribute letters, posters, newsletters, and certificates.
• Assist staff with helpdesk requests, photocopying, and general admin support.
• Maintain school calendars and assist with scheduling.

Administrative

• Manage pupil attendance records and update systems accurately.
• Coordinate lunch menus, dietary needs, and weekly fruit/milk orders.
• Update SharePoint sites and monitor form submissions.
• Organise photography for staff, pupils, and school events.
• Liaise with transport providers and handle route changes or emergencies.
• Complete filing, scanning, and maintain records.
• Maintain the school policy schedule, ensuring policies are reviewed, updated, amended and published within required timescales, and communicate policy updates and changes to staff via the Woodlands Staff Site.
• Provide administrative support across the school’s operational functions, including Finance, Health and Safety and HR.
• Coordinate and administer EHCP, SEND and wider pupil processes, including scheduling meetings, maintaining accurate pupil records and databases, preparing and distributing documentation, updating statutory information systems, monitoring actions and deadlines, and ensuring pupil information is accurate, up to date and compliant with local authority requirements.
• Support the school’s data administration processes by maintaining accurate records, systems and databases, ensuring compliance with UK GDPR, confidentiality requirements and the school’s data retention procedures

NOTE

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of suitable applicants, so we encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.

What the school offers its staff

Woodlands is a unique and inspiring place to work. We offer a warm and supportive team, a strong induction and ongoing training, and great opportunities to develop specialist skills in SEN, communication, therapy support and health care. Our values‑driven culture focuses on empowerment, independence and high expectations — giving you the chance to make a meaningful difference every day.

Note

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of suitable applicants, so we encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Woodlands school is committed to safeguarding and promoting equality of opportunity.
This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Applying for the job

This job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Woodlands School

• Organisation type: Special school, ages 2 to 19
• Size: 97 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 2 to 19
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Woodlands School website
• Email address: hr@woodlands.plymouth.sch.uk
• Phone number: 01752300101
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/woodlands-school-plymouth

Woodlands School is based in Plymouth, in the South West of England. Named Britain’s Ocean City, we are close to the sea and moors. With almost ten miles of coastline which is home to a host of marinas, docklands and seaside promenades, Plymouth is a great coastal location. Ideal for those that love the outdoors but also wish to live or be near to an urban area.
Woodlands is an inspiring place to work. At present there are 87 pupils on roll, aged 2 to 19. These young people have a range of complex needs, both physical and with their learning. Over the years we have realised that it takes versatile people to support our pupils, as no two days are ever the same. Our specially developed curriculums adapt to the changing needs of our young people and this, along with their health and care needs, provides the focus of the day.

Arranging a visit to Woodlands School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email hr@woodlands.plymouth.sch.uk.

School location

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