Job Description

Receptionist & Administrative Assistant – Immediate Start

Location: Canterbury, Kent

Salary: £26,436.80 FTE (pro rata)

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–3pm (30 hours per week)

Contract: 3-month fixed-term contract, term time only

Start Date: Immediate – candidates must be available to start straight away

Are you an experienced, well-presented receptionist with a calm, friendly and empathetic approach? Available to start immediately?

We're recruiting on behalf of our client, a specialist education provider in Canterbury supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

They're looking for a professional and approachable Receptionist & Administrative Assistant to join their team immediately on a three-month fixed-term contract.

You'll be the first person students, parents, carers and visitors meet, so your ability to make people feel welcome, comfortable and reassured is just as important as your administration skills.

What will you be doing?

• Providing a warm, professional welcome to students, parents, carers and visitors.
• Managing reception, telephone calls, emails and general enquiries.
• Communicating with patience, empathy and understanding, particularly when supporting young people with additional needs.
• Maintaining a smart, tidy and professional reception environment.
• Welcoming external professionals, including regulatory visitors.
• Supporting safeguarding procedures, visitor sign-in and site security.
• Providing administration support to tutors and the wider education team.
• Maintaining student records, timetables and confidential information.
• Helping with appointments, room bookings and general office administration.

What are we looking for?

• Proven reception and administration experience, ideally within education.
• Experience working with or around children and young people with SEN.
• A calm, patient and empathetic personality, particularly in sensitive or challenging situations.
• Excellent personal presentation and high professional standards.
• Strong communication skills with parents, carers, colleagues and external professionals.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office.
• Excellent organisation, attention to detail and discretion.
• A proactive, reliable approach and the ability to manage a busy reception.
• Availability to start immediately.

Why consider this opportunity?

You'll be joining a dedicated team where your professionalism, empathy and organisational skills will make a genuine difference to the daily experience of young people, families and colleagues.

With daytime hours, Monday to Friday, this is a rewarding short-term opportunity within a specialist education environment.

Interested?

If you have the relevant reception and SEN experience and can start immediately, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today with your CV.

This position is subject to appropriate safeguarding and pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check.