11 days remaining to apply

  • Start date details

    As soon as possible

  • Closing date

    16 March 2026 at 9am

  • Date listed

    5 March 2026

Job details

Job role

  • Catering, cleaning and site management

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Working pattern

Part time: 10hrs per week (3.30pm-5.30pm Monday-Friday), Term time plus 4 weeks (working hours during school holidays to be arranged)

Contract type

Permanent

Hourly rate

£12.69

What skills and experience we're looking for

Do you take pride in creating environments that are calm, clean and welcoming for children to enjoy? At Ferndown First School, we recognise that a well-presented corridor or a freshly prepared classroom plays a vital role in supporting an effective school day.

We’re a warm, kind and down‑to‑earth community where every adult plays a part in helping our children thrive. And yes, that absolutely includes the heroes who keep our school gleaming.

We’re looking for a reliable, friendly and quietly brilliant Cleaner to join our team. If you take pride in creating spaces that feel cared‑for and ready for learning, we’d love you to bring your cleaning superpowers to our team.

What you’ll do

  • Keep classrooms, corridors and shared spaces clean, tidy and ready for action (glitter may attempt to resist, but you’ll win).
  • Use cleaning equipment safely and sensibly, and maintain good hygiene standards with the right tools for each area.
  • Spot and report hazards so the school stays safe and running smoothly.
  • Work flexibly with staff to help the day go that little bit easier for everyone.

Who you are

  • Kind, reliable and the sort of person who finds quiet satisfaction in making things look their best.
  • Calm, positive and able to notice the small things – like that mysterious smudge that definitely wasn’t there five minutes ago.
  • Discreet, professional and trusted to work independently or with others.
  • Flexible, willing to learn and confident using cleaning materials safely.
  • No experience needed – just a good attitude, a willingness to learn and a pride in doing a job well.

What the school offers its staff

About us:

Ferndown First School is a friendly, nurturing and community‑minded school serving children from Reception to Year 4. We pride ourselves on creating a safe, caring and inspiring environment where every child is known, supported and encouraged to thrive. With well‑resourced learning spaces, dedicated staff and a strong commitment to high‑quality education and care, we work closely with families to make school life happy, inclusive and full of opportunity. If you want a role where your positivity, teamwork and commitment truly matter, we’d be delighted to welcome you to our community.

Why join us?

  • Comprehensive support, Induction and training package
  • We’re a supportive team who’ll have your back during the good, the bad, and the “Did that really just happen?” moments.
  • Professional development opportunities because we’re all about helping you grow, both as a person and in your ability to juggle six things at once!
  • A rewarding role where no two days are the same and every day makes a difference!
  • Free access to the Employee Assistance Programme and our Cycle to Work Scheme.
  • The opportunity to develop your career in a School, and within the Southern Education Trust – a growing Trust where our mission is “making lives better”.

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.

Closing date: 9am, 16th March 2026

Interview date: 24th March 2026

Please note: Applications may be viewed on receipt and interviews arranged sooner than the above date.

Become part of our journey by completing our Support Staff Application Form and returning it to recruitment@southern.education if you would like to apply (please see our Cleaner Job Description and Safeguarding Children Policy for further information). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Isabel at the recruitment address, who will be happy to assist you.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, this role involves directly working with children and significant contact with children, and therefore we expect all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Please ensure a full work history is completed in your application form including any gaps of employment. Applicants will be required to complete satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for this post prior to commencement. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.The Trust is an equal opportunities employer.

If successfully shortlisted the HR Department will also be conducting an individual online search including social media platforms of your ‘name, education and employment’, to demonstrate due diligence following ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ guidance. The search will not form part of the actual shortlisting process and any concerns arising from the search will be discussed directly with you.

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.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

View advert on school website (opens in new tab)

Additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

About Ferndown First School

School type
Academy, ages 4 to 9
Education phase
Primary school
School size
360 pupils enrolled
Age range
4 to 9
Ofsted report
View Ofsted report

Ferndown First School is part of the Castleman Academy Trust. We are a Yr R to Yr 4 First School with 360 pupils on roll.

School location

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