Job Description

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Hawthorns Connect is seeking a part-time Receptionist and Administrator to join our team within a newly established satellite provision.

Hawthorns Connect is a satellite provision of The Hawthorns School. It will provide education for up to 20 pupils, all of whom have a diagnosis of autism, with anxiety presenting as the primary barrier to school attendance. Pupils placed at Hawthorns Connect will typically have experienced significant challenges within mainstream or specialist settings and will meet the criteria for Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA).

Hawthorns Connect will operate as a trauma-informed and autism-informed provision, with a clear focus on re-engaging young people with education. The school is committed to supporting pupils to rebuild trust, develop resilience and access meaningful learning opportunities, enabling them to achieve their full potential and move towards fulfilling and successful adult lives. The expected academic outcome is that pupils will leave Hawthorns Connect equipped with five GCSEs.

Staff appointed to Hawthorns Connect will be required to demonstrate high levels of skill and experience in working with neurodivergent children, applying trauma-informed approaches to support emotional regulation, engagement and sustained progress.

We want our pupils to be the best they can be. Are you someone who can help us do that?

·Are you thoughtful, compassionate and reflective and a team player?

·Do you want to support pupils to engage, learn and achieve?

·Do you share our ethos of kindness, curiosity, integrity and participation?

·Do you have experience of working or living with neurodivergent young people?

If so, then you could be the resilient and collaborative person who needs to join our school community. We work hard, have a desire to learn, are adaptable and have a 'can do' attitude. If you are someone who embraces a challenge and has a sense of humour we would love to hear from you. In return, we can offer you professional fulfilment and development, care and attention to wellbeing and a brilliant and supportive team to work with.

The Hawthorns is one of a community of Special Schools, supported by the well-established and highly regarded SEAX Trust. The Trust respects and trusts each school to evolve its unique identity, whilst providing layers of support and networking at all professional levels. Do consider joining us in achieving our goals. At least come and see us. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Please find further information about the benefits of working within SEAX Trust in the attached information pack. We are a Trust which truly values its staff and successful applicants will have a wealth of benefits, including same-day GP appointments, free physiotherapy, counselling and a range of other wellbeing incentives. If you would like more information, please telephone The Hawthorns School on 01245 207607. We welcome your interest.

Best wishes

Hayley Kersey

Headteacher

Information about the School

The Hawthorns School opened its doors in January 2023 for children with autism. We are now in our beautiful purpose-built school in the heart of Chelmsford and are extending our provision for KS3 and KS4 pupils.

The provision at the school caters for pupils who have a diagnosis of autism and offers a full-time education with a focus on social communication, emotional regulation and relationship-building while, at the same time, offering a broad and balanced range of curriculum subjects, including literacy and numeracy.

Pupils will be aged 7-16 and will have an EHCP. There will be ten residential places available for pupils from Monday to Thursday each school week. These will be managed by the school and will enhance the day curriculum offer.

We have established a school which embodies the ethos, vision and values of the SEAX Trust and the other schools in the Trust (Thriftwood School & College, Langham Oaks School, Grove House School and Kingswode Hoe School).

The Hawthorns’ mission:

Our mission is to provide a personalised and imaginative curriculum designed to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding to build the basis for a purposeful and fulfilling adult life for young people with autism. Through outstanding teaching and secure relationships, pupils will gain the confidence to communicate effectively, acquire appropriate accreditation for next steps forward, learn core skills for life, develop healthy relationships, self-advocate, contribute to their community and keep themselves safe.