At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children in their learning and development at Juniper Green Primary School.
- Company: Join a vibrant primary school dedicated to nurturing young minds.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working hours, and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while gaining valuable experience.
- Qualifications: Experience in child support and a passion for education are preferred.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to inclusivity and community service.
The predicted salary is between 25905 - 26111 £ per year.
Children, Education and Justice Services
Pupil Support Assistant - fixed term until 26/06/2026
Salary: £25,905 - £26,111 (pro-rata for part-time and Sessional)
Hours: 27.5 per week, 39 weeks sessional Monday to Friday
Juniper Green Primary School is a co-educational non-denominational primary school administered by City of Edinburgh Education Department. It serves the residents of the Juniper Green, Baberton Mains and Colinton/Hailes areas of Edinburgh, a broad social mix. Most pupils move on to secondary school education at Currie Community High School. The school is a modern building with excellent educational facilities. There are 14 classes and a term time only nursery. The building has classrooms with flexible space for active learning as well as a playground that is well designed for interesting and active play.
The Headteacher and two Depute Headteachers. All members of the senior leadership team have a teaching commitment. The support staff comprises of a business manager, school administrator, a clerical assistant, a PSO and 12 pupil support assistants. The school has an active and engaged Parent Council. After School Care club is available for pupils from P1-P7.
At Juniper Green Primary staff work together to ensure we get the right support, in the right way for every child. It is important to us that everyone feels they are a visible, valued and respected part of the Juniper Green family. Staff are included and involved in decisions about the school and the way we work to support our children.
We are looking for individuals to join our dynamic team who ideally have previous experience of supporting children and who are committed to providing a high-quality service with enthusiasm and creativity. This post is regulated work with children and/or protected adults under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. The preferred candidate will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check. Where an individual has spent a continuous period of 3 months or more out with the UK in the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check. An unconditional offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of both these pre-employment checks being deemed satisfactory.
We are committed to creating a workplace culture where all our people feel valued, included and able to be their best at work, and we recognise the benefits that a diverse workforce with different values, beliefs, experience, and backgrounds brings to us as an organisation. As part of our goal to improve our organisational culture and create a great place to work together for the people of Edinburgh, we want to make sure that we’re bringing the best people into our roles, not just in their skills and experience but also in their approach to work.
To help achieve this, we’re changing the way we interview and assess candidates by moving from a competency-based interview approach to a behavioural and technical (skills for the job) based approach. This new way of interviewing will allow us to assess how you think and how you would bring Our Behaviours of Respect, Integrity and Flexibility into your ways of working.
Our salary range typically reflects the initial starting salary and annually increases until it reaches the top of the range. Are you keen to shape the future of Scotland’s capital city? The City of Edinburgh Council is looking for dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to work with us and deliver key services across our capital city. We’re the second largest local authority in Scotland with a workforce of over 19,000 who all play a crucial role in maintaining and supporting vital services to over 500,000 residents. We offer an incredible variety of career opportunities across a broad range of sectors. Join us and you’ll find a role where you can make a difference and grow your career.
Our Culture: Our Behaviours, respect, integrity, and flexibility guide everything that we do, and we strive to make sure all colleagues feel valued and have a sense of belonging in the workplace. We want to make sure that we bring people into our roles who demonstrate Our Behaviours and are dedicated and committed to our purpose of serving our community. We are focused on delivering excellent customer service to meet citizens' needs and make the city a better place. We recognise the benefits that diverse perspectives, experiences and backgrounds bring to our organisation, and we’re committed to employing a workforce that represents the population of the city we serve. We particularly encourage applicants from under-represented groups including women, LGBT+ people, racially minoritised groups, people with disabilities and people who are neurodivergent.
As part of our commitment to inclusive recruitment, we are delighted to announce that we have extended our guaranteed interview scheme to include all applicants who are or have been care experienced, and who meet the essential criteria for the post. This extends our current arrangements of being a Disability Confident Employer, that guarantee an interview to applicants who meet the criteria for the post and who declare a disability. Happy to talk flexible working.
Colleague Support and Wellbeing: As outlined in our People Strategy 2024-27, we aim to nurture a healthy workforce where we can all thrive. We offer regular events, initiatives and learning opportunities covering a range of different health and wellbeing topics. We’re committed to supporting employees to achieve a healthy work-life balance. There are several policies in place to support this ranging from flexible work options to career breaks. Our full suite of employment policies can be found here. We have a range of support options available including access to counselling, a mental health support service, an occupational health service, speak up supporters and a colleague listening service.
Reasonable Adjustments: We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience at work for all our colleagues and we’ll work hard to ensure that we meet the changing needs of colleagues throughout their time with us. We’re also geared up to support all candidates who may require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Candidates invited for interview should let the hiring manager know what they need, and they will do everything they can to accommodate your request.
Pupil Support Assistant - Juniper Green Primary School employer: The City of Edinburgh Council
Contact Detail:
The City of Edinburgh Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Pupil Support Assistant - Juniper Green Primary School
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the school! Research Juniper Green Primary School and its values. This will help you tailor your approach during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their community.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your responses to behavioural interview questions. Think about how you've demonstrated respect, integrity, and flexibility in past experiences. We want to see how you can bring these behaviours into your role as a Pupil Support Assistant.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with current or former staff at Juniper Green. They can provide insights into the school culture and what it’s really like to work there. Plus, it might give you a leg up when it comes to references!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Pupil Support Assistant - Juniper Green Primary School
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for supporting children shine through. We want to see how much you care about making a difference in their lives!
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the values and behaviours we hold dear at Juniper Green Primary School. Highlight your experience and how it aligns with our commitment to respect, integrity, and flexibility.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your skills and experiences are easy to understand and relevant to the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! It’s the best way to ensure it gets to us directly and helps us keep track of all applicants.
How to prepare for a job interview at The City of Edinburgh Council
✨Know the School's Values
Before your interview, take some time to understand Juniper Green Primary School's values and mission. They emphasise respect, integrity, and flexibility, so think about how you can demonstrate these behaviours in your responses.
✨Show Your Experience with Children
Be ready to share specific examples of your previous experience supporting children. Think about times when you made a positive impact on a child's learning or wellbeing, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since the interview will focus on behavioural and technical skills, practice answering questions that start with 'Tell me about a time when...' This will help you articulate how you've handled situations in the past, showcasing your problem-solving abilities.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask insightful questions about the school culture or the team you'll be working with. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you determine if it's the right fit for you.