Midday Assistant

The Job Holder is responsible for ensuring supervision of all pupils during the lunchtime period both in the dining area and during playground activities., 1. Ensures the safety of pupils during the lunchtime period; taking into account pupil ages, disability and behaviour.

2. Arranges age-appropriate activities for pupils during inclement weather.

3. Ensures application of the school behaviour policy during this period, referring serious issues to the Midday Supervisor where applicable.

4. Refers to senior members of staff on duty in cases of emergency; or, if unable to contact staff, call for the public emergency services by dialling 999.

Notwithstanding the detail in this job description, in accordance with the School's/Council's
Flexibility Policy the job holder will undertake such work as may be determined by the
Headteacher/Governing Body from time to time, up to or at a level consistent with the Main
Responsibilities of the job.

1 RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUPERVISION/DIRECTION/COORDINATION OF
EMPLOYEES

Employees supervised by job holder (but not in direct line relationship)

No and Levels / grades Types of work Where based
FTE

Several Newly appointed The supervision of pupils during Primary School
Midday Assistants lunch period

What does the supervision of these employees involve? (Demonstrating, guiding and training)

Provide guidance and assistance to the above in school routines and midday procedures.

Does the job involve supervision, direction or management of people who are not employees? eg contractors, students on secondment

No and Levels / grades Types of work Where based
FTE

Placements Work experience Lunchtime supervision of pupils Primary School throughout students the year

What does the supervision of these employees involve?

Explaining the role of the job and allocating tasks to ensure that children's behaviour and eating habits are closely monitored.

Does the Job Holder develop policy or provide advice and information which impacts on the supervision/direction/coordination of employees?, Manual Records Maintain lunchtime register and update Daily the school incident record book.

School Equipment Carry out visual checks on school Daily equipment, (eg, tables, chairs, etc, and the positioning of recreation equipment); ensuring that it is assembled and dissembled each day; reporting any faults for rectification.

School Premises Patrol the school grounds during the Daily lunch period and monitor pupils' behaviour and safety. During bad weather, redirect pupils' lunchtime activities.

Does the Job Holder develop policy or provide advice and information which impacts on physical resources?

NOT APPLICABLE

4 RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPACT ON PEOPLE

Task/Duty Who benefits? How they benefit?

Supervision of pupils during midday lunch Pupils Safety and well being periods.

Responding to incidents (eg, misbehaviour, Pupils Safety and well being bullying/ violence, accidents or ill-health, loss of property, etc)

Does the Job Holder develop policy or provide advice and information which impacts on people?

YES

Shared contribution as part of the school team for providing input into pupil behaviour management, playground organisation (ie, where pupils may play in given weather conditions, the division of the playground and demarcation of agreed play areas, etc).

5 KNOWLEDGE

Type of What knowledge is Why are these needed? How is it knowledge essential? normally

acquired?

Specialist Approaches to pupil To manage pupils' Previous behavioural management. behaviour and thereby experience ensure their safety and well being during midday lunch periods.

School Policies All school policies which To ensure compliance On-the-job
and Procedures impact on pupils within the school experience and

training

Legislation Child protection and To recognise child On-the-job

Health and Safety protection issues arising experience and and potential safety training

hazards, and to carry out

basic risk assessments

School Safe usage and operation To carry out visual On-the-job
Equipment checks and risk experience and assessment of school training equipment and to report faults for rectification.

How long would it take for a Job Holder to become fully operational?
Given that basic qualifications/experience are met in full, it would take the Job Holder 1 week to become conversant with lunchtime routines and arrangements and a further three months to develop effective working relationships with pupils., Resolving pupil behavioural issues during the midday lunch period; assessing the potential for physical or emotional harm to the pupils concerned, and intervening as necessary and appropriate.
Example

Checking for and locating pupils who have failed to turn up for lunch; sending out pupil runners to toilets, classrooms, school grounds etc, and alerting and checking with teaching staff in order to establish reasons for their failure to attend.

b) Give an example of the most difficult or demanding situation/problem the Job Holder has to solve., The Job Holders' principal responsibility is to ensure the operation of the midday routine, and to support the management of pupil behaviour, safety and well being.

b) What is a typical cycle for allocating work to the Job Holder eg hourly, daily, weekly?

Daily

Scope for initiative

c) How much freedom/discretion does the Job Holder have: to change the way work is done?
(e.g. recommending changes in policy, procedures, resources)

Shared contribution as part of the school team for providing input into pupil behaviour management and playground organisation; and determining/changing staff rotas and duties as necessary.

to allocate their time to duties?

Free to plan own workload to meet school midday requirements

d) What is the level of guidance/instruction available?

School policies and procedures, child protection and health and safety legislation and briefings from line manager

e) What sort of direction, management or supervision is given to the Job Holder?

There are regular informal meetings with the Midday Supervisor and/or Head teacher to discuss ongoing and specific lunchtime requirements. Whilst there is daily contact and support available from the Midday Supervisor and/or Head teacher, the Job Holder is expected to use initiative in responding to all issues arising at lunchtime.

f) Give three examples of problems or decisions the Job Holder would be expected to deal with themselves without reference to a supervisor/manager. How often do these occur?

Expected problem Nature of available Typical guidance Frequency

Pupil behavioural problems Experience and knowledge of A few times per individual pupils; school week policies

Intervention in instances of pupil Experience and knowledge of A few times per disagreements and arguments. individual pupils week

Unexpected problem Nature of available Typical guidance Frequency

A pupil involved in a serious accident First aid procedures; school Occasional procedures for dealing with such incidents

g) Give two examples of problems or decisions the Job Holder would be expected to refer to their supervisor/manager. How often do these occur?

Problem or decision Point of referral Typical
Frequency

Serious incidents arising during the Headteacher/Deputy Head Few times per lunch period teacher annum

Pupils repeatedly failing to conform to Headteacher/Deputy Head Several times simple requests Teacher per annum

10 PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Physical Demand Typical How often? Other details

Duration (eg how heavy?)

Stamina - on feet throughout shift, Shift lasts Daily walking around school site. between 1½

- 2 hours

Lifting and carrying:

• Children's recreation Several times 10 - 12 Kgs equipment daily


• Tables and chairs in the school hall


11 MENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB

Nature of task Mental Demand Duration Frequency

Being alert to the behaviour, safety General Throughout Daily and needs of pupils and pre-empting awareness the shift any situations that may cause behavioural problems.

To what extent is the job subject to work-related pressures e.g. regular deadlines, frequent interruptions, conflicting demands?

Nature of pressures/ Source For how How often? interruptions long?

Interruptions Staff and pupil requests Few minutes Throughout the shift

Deadlines To prepare the hall in time for Daily lunch and dissemble for the afternoon assembly

Analytical To assess the potential of any behavioural situation arising, to respond in the most appropriate manner and to determine the correct moment for distraction, intervention, interception or remedial action.

Creativity To arrange appropriate activities for pupils during inclement weather

7 INTERPERSONAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS ESSENTIAL FOR THE JOB

Skill Used for? With whom?

Oral To alert school staff to developing pupil All school staff behavioural incidents

Persuasion and To encourage behaviour in accordance with Pupils
Influencing school standards

Counselling and To attend to personal needs and provide Pupils
Caring reassurance and comfort in times of distress, etc, Yes; although normally pupils being supervised would also be confined indoors during inclement weather.

c) What unpleasant environmental working conditions or behaviour from other people are met in performing the job? (See guidance notes for examples)

Working Condition or Behaviour from other How long does it How often does it people last at any one typically occur?

time?

Midday Assistant (Primary) - AAAD5003 - Part Time - 3 hours per week over 2 days (Thursday & Friday) 11:30am - 1pm - Grade: 2 - £11.59 per hour.

The Governors of Rode Heath Primary would like to appoint a part-time Midday Assistant to join our team of lunchtime staff.

This position would suit a person interested in working with children to ensure the enjoyment and safety of pupils over the lunchtime period. You need to be someone who is energetic, enthusiastic and likes being with children, is happy being outside on brisk wintry days as well as hot sunny days and would encourage children to eat their lunch. In addition, the children would like you to be helpful, understanding, patient, caring and fun.

The days worked are term time only., a) In what kind of places does the Job Holder normally work (eg office, library, gardens, clients' homes)?