School lunchtime supervisor

School lunchtime supervisors look after children during their lunch breaks, when they’re eating and in the playground. They are responsible for safety, good behaviour and helping any children in difficulties. Lunchtime supervisors work in primary, secondary and special schools.

Also known as:

• Lunchtime assistant
• Lunchtime supervisor
• Midday supervisor

Work activities

Lunchtime supervisors make sure children are safe and well-behaved during lunchtimes. They supervise children eating their lunch in a canteen or dining room. They could be supervising children eating school meals or packed lunches. While accepting that there will be noise as children let off steam after being in lessons, supervisors must deal with bad behaviour and calm quarrels. They might use a system for discipline, such as handing out yellow and red cards, and let a teacher know of any problems at the end of lunchtime.

Particularly in primary schools, lunchtime supervisors also encourage social interaction and good behaviour, such as sharing. They might use a reward system, such as handing out smiley face badges. Primary school supervisors gently encourage children to eat their lunches and to try unfamiliar, healthy foods. They cut up food and might show primary pupils how to clear up and put things in the right bins or recycling points. In some schools, supervisors help to set up dining tables and chairs, and clear up afterwards. If the weather’s good, children might be able to eat outside. This could mean that the supervisors need to bring out, set up and clear away picnic tables and chairs.

Supervisors are often also responsible for children in the playground, or indoors if the weather’s very bad (some lunchtime supervisors only have dining room responsibilities). They keep an eye on the children as they play, make sure they are safe and deal with bad behaviour. They might talk to a duty teacher about any particular problems, so the teacher can follow up any issues with the children involved after lunchtime ends. Supervisors comfort children who are upset, for example, because of bullying or having fallen over. They deal with problems such as cuts, bruises and grazes. Some supervisors have first aid training to deal with more serious issues. Otherwise, they might take injured children to the school office for treatment. In an emergency, supervisors make sure that someone calls an ambulance. They might take out and set up toys, games or sports equipment. In primary schools, lunchtime supervisors sometimes get involved in activities, for example, explaining rules or setting up teams. This is to encourage learning and development through structured play. Lunchtime supervisors are part of a team. They might work with other supervisors, including a team leader, teaching assistants and duty teachers. Good communication with teachers is very important, to let them know about any problems or issues the supervisor has dealt with, such as children who still need to be comforted in the afternoon.

Supervisors check on any strangers entering the school premises, directing visitors to reception and reporting anybody acting suspiciously to other staff. Lunchtime supervisors might wear aprons, coloured bibs or other uniforms. The work can be noisy, and those with playground duties must be prepared to work outside in different types of weather (although, they’ll supervise children indoors if the weather’s very cold, windy, wet or hot). There will usually be regular team meetings outside of lunch times, to discuss issues such as changes to lunch times, safety concerns and any particular problems an individual child might be experiencing.

Being able to read, write and speak Welsh may be an advantage when you’re looking for work in Wales.

Personal qualities and skills

To be a lunchtime supervisor, you’ll need:

• A strong sense of responsibility for children’s safety.
• Good listening skills and the ability to comfort children who are upset.
• Teamwork skills to work with other supervisors, teachers and teaching assistants.
• The ability to maintain order and deal with bad behaviour, with a firm but fair approach.
• Willingness to work outside (this isn’t always essential depending on the job).
• An awareness of religious/cultural differences, and the needs of children with disabilities.

First aid skills are very useful.

Pay and opportunities

Pay for school lunchtime supervisors tend to be paid at the National Minimum Wage or just above.

Lunchtime supervisors work during school lunch breaks, around five to 10 hours a week. This is usually between 11.30am and 1.30pm. They might also take part in regular, paid team meetings outside lunch times.

Lunchtime supervisors work in primary, secondary and special schools throughout the UK. Employers are mainly local authorities; privately run schools also employ lunchtime supervisors.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local newspapers, and on the Government’s Find a Job service, on job boards and on local authority websites.

Entry routes and training

You don’t need any qualifications to become a school lunchtime supervisor. Some local authorities only take on people aged at least 18.

You’ll have on-the-job training led by experienced staff. You might also go on a first aid course. You might work towards a relevant qualification such as a:

• Level 2 Award or Certificate in support work in schools.
• Level 3 Award, Certificate or Diploma in support work in schools.

Small schools might have only one lunchtime supervisor, making progression difficult. However, most have a team of supervisors, so promotion could be to a senior supervisor position. This job could help you develop some of the knowledge and skills you’d need as a teaching assistant.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: This career is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, so you must tell an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to tell them about any unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

You don’t need any qualifications to become a school lunchtime supervisor.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: Some local authorities only take on people aged at least 18.

Experience of working with children in another role is very useful. For example, a primary school lunchtime supervisor might have developed useful skills and knowledge as a playworker or by working in a nursery.

Related careers

• Nursery nurse
• Playworker
• Teaching assistant