At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children in their learning and development while managing school operations.
- Company: Join Perth & Kinross Council, a people-focused organisation making a difference.
- Benefits: Generous leave, pension scheme, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on children's lives in a supportive and inclusive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience with children, kindness, empathy, and a willingness to collaborate.
- Other info: Flexible hours available; work in a beautiful rural school setting.
The predicted salary is between 18300 - 19300 £ per year.
Main Purpose of the Role
Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job; it’s about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch.
We currently have the following opportunity:
- Primary School Support Worker (Fixed Term until 16 August 2026) - PKC13459
- £22,342 - £23,548 (36 Hours per week, Term-time only)
- Blackford Primary School
The Primary School Support Worker (PSSW) will work as part of a team to support children and young people in accessing learning across the curriculum. Our children have a diverse range of strengths, interests and needs. Our inclusive support team helps them overcome social, emotional, learning, communication, physical, and personal care challenges.
This role is incredibly rewarding, as PSSWs play a vital part in helping children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Some children may present with distressed behaviours and require support from a caring, understanding, and inclusive individual who can follow positive behaviour plans to help them move forward. We work together as a team to help them learn, thrive and achieve.
In addition to working directly with children, the successful candidate will also undertake a range of administrative tasks to support the daily operations of the school. This may include assisting with routine office duties, supporting communication with families, managing resources, and ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the school environment.
This role is based on site at Blackford Primary School and is not suitable for remote working. While this demanding and rewarding role is advertised as 36 hours per week, there may be a degree of flexibility of the contracted hours for those who wish to job share or work on a part-time basis. Please indicate on your application if you would be interested in full-time or part-time hours.
About the School
Blackford Primary School is a small, rural school set in a beautiful location just off the A9 between Greenloaning and Auchterarder. We are seeking a caring, positive and enthusiastic individual to join our staff team in supporting children’s play, relationships, learning, and the smooth running of our school office. We currently have 53 children in the Blackford Primary family who enjoy learning and playing outdoors in our school grounds and the surrounding community.
Skills & Experience Required
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- A genuine interest in and care for the development and wellbeing of all children.
- Kindness, empathy, patience, and a sense of fun.
- Respect for confidentiality in relation to children, young people, and their families.
- Experience (paid, voluntary, or lived) of supporting children and young people with additional support needs.
- Reliability, flexibility, and the ability to use initiative in a busy school environment.
- A willingness to contribute to both pupil support and administrative duties as part of a collaborative staff team.
Desirable
- Experience of working in an office environment and confidence in using Microsoft programmes (e.g. Word, Outlook, Excel).
Working at Perth & Kinross Council
Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours.
Here’s what we can offer you:
- A generous annual leave package
- 6 days public holiday and an additional discretionary day
- Eligibility to join our pension scheme
- Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave, time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework
- Access to a range of benefits
We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. A healthy work-life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.
Next Steps
We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Laura Fowler, Head Teacher Blackford Primary School 01764 661390 or Blackford@ to find out more.
External candidates are required to provide contact details for 2 referees, including email addresses. One of these must be your current or most recent employer. Internal applicants applying for secondment must obtain line manager approval through the secondment form available under My Forms - Secondment Request Form on MyView. Please note that secondment requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.
We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or recruitment@ to discuss any reasonable adjustments. Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process.
Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.
Working with children and/or protected adults is regarded as a regulated role and under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 you will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check. If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 10 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check.
A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.
Primary School Support Worker, Blackford Primary School - PKC13459 in Auchterarder employer: Perth and Kinross Council
Contact Detail:
Perth and Kinross Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Primary School Support Worker, Blackford Primary School - PKC13459 in Auchterarder
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the school! Before your interview, take a stroll around Blackford Primary School's website and social media. Familiarise yourself with their values and recent activities. This will help you connect better during the interview and show that you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Grab a friend or family member and do a mock interview. Focus on common questions like how you’d handle challenging behaviours or support children with additional needs. The more comfortable you are, the better you'll perform when it counts.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion! When discussing your experience, highlight specific moments where you made a difference in a child's life. Whether it's through volunteering or personal experiences, let your enthusiasm for supporting children shine through.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, send a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity. It’s a nice touch that can set you apart from other candidates and shows your eagerness to join the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Primary School Support Worker, Blackford Primary School - PKC13459 in Auchterarder
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for working with children shine through. We want to see that you genuinely care about their development and wellbeing, so share any relevant experiences that highlight this.
Be Specific About Your Skills: Make sure to mention any specific skills or experiences you have that relate to supporting children with additional needs. Whether it's through paid work, volunteering, or personal experiences, we love to see how you can contribute to our team.
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic application! Take the time to tailor your responses to the job description. Highlight how your values align with ours and how you can help create a positive environment at Blackford Primary School.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Perth and Kinross Council
✨Know the Role Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Primary School Support Worker. Familiarise yourself with the specific needs of children and young people, especially those with additional support needs. This will help you demonstrate your genuine interest in their development during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Empathy and Kindness
During the interview, share personal experiences that highlight your kindness, empathy, and patience. Use examples where you've successfully supported children or young people, particularly in challenging situations. This will show that you have the right attitude and approach for this rewarding role.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Expect to answer questions that assess your values and behaviours. Prepare specific examples from your past experiences that illustrate how you've handled various situations, such as supporting distressed children or working collaboratively in a team. This will help you align with the school's values.
✨Demonstrate Your Administrative Skills
Since the role involves administrative tasks, be ready to discuss your experience with office duties and using Microsoft programmes like Word and Excel. Highlight any relevant skills or experiences that showcase your reliability and flexibility in a busy environment.