SEN Midday Meal Assistant

At NYKays Recruitment Ltd we are recruiting for Midday Meal Supervisors to start immediately or for the school academic year of September 2024/25 working on a long-term contract which could possibly lead to a permanent position. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to support schools in providing care and support to children with a range of Special Needs and behavioural difficulties within the Education/Special Needs sector.

It is essential that you have experience working with children/young people with learning difficulties, particularly autism to be considered for this role.

Supervision and control of pupils in the dining hall, including:

• Where appropriate, assist/supervise pupils with their general hygiene requirements (washing, toileting, changing clothing etc., in accordance with school policy) prior to entering the dining room.
• Organising dinner queue and entrance of pupils into the dining hall and from dining hall to playground; ensuring good behaviour and calm atmosphere.
• Dealing with any bullying/fighting/unruly behaviour that may occur by intervention or calling for assistance, reporting incidents to: Headteacher/Senior Midday Supervisor according to severity of incident.
• Directing pupils to seats, deciding on seating arrangements, separating problem pupils where necessary.
• Encouraging pupils to eat (including those with packed lunches) especially those with SEND needs. Being aware of pupils on special or restricted diets for medical reasons from information provided at the school.
• Encouraging social skills and good table manners, ensuring safety with knives and forks. Ensuring pupils tidy/clear up in a satisfactory manner.
• Cleaning up spillages when food is dropped where such spillages are hazardous to pupils/staff.
• Dealing with anybody spillages in the dining hall in accordance with infection control procedures, ensure pupils go to the medical room if appropriate.
• Sharing responsibility with other Midday Supervisors and/or staff for the maintenance of order and discipline in the dining hall area.
• Prepare the use of specialist equipment or activities, taking into account pupils’ interests, language, cultural background and physical ability.

Supervision and control of pupils in the playground and about other school premises including:

• Where appropriate, collecting pupils from classrooms if going straight into the playground, ensuring that they are adequately dressed for the prevailing weather conditions where necessary.
• Supervision and control of the school entrance during lunch break to ensure children do not leave the playground without permission/authorisation. Check on any strangers who may enter school premises in accordance with school guidelines, be observant of any loiterers and report to Headteacher/Senior Midday Supervisor.
• Direction of pupils to the playground and supervision of their activities and behaviour, ensuring their safety and well-being, providing emotional support where necessary.
• Preventing bullying, being aware of changes in friendships, encouraging socialising, play etc. Occasionally participating in games.
• Discouraging any dangerous activities. Dealing with any acceptance or challenging behaviour under the direction of guidelines in operation at the school.
• Reporting any bad behaviour, assaults, carrying of weapons/banned substances by pupils to the Headteacher/Senior Midday Supervisor.
• Supervision and control of pupils inside school premises when they are not allowed outside in inclement weather. Occupying pupils in various games and activities. Ensuring in accordance with instructions given that all pupils return to the care of teachers at the end of the lunch period.

Application Requirements:

• A sound level of literacy and numeracy.
• Working with or caring for pupils of relevant age. Understanding of relevant policies/codes of practice and awareness of relevant legislation.
• Commitment to and understanding of Equal Opportunities.
• Basic understanding of child development and learning.
• Basic food hygiene.
• Appropriate knowledge of first aid.
• Basic health and safety.
• Able to communicate with both adults and children effectively.
• Confidence in dealing with young people, maintaining discipline, motivation and ensuring well-being of children including acting on bullying.
• Ability to self-evaluate learning needs and actively seek learning opportunities.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Work constructively as part of a team, understanding classroom roles and responsibilities and own position within these.
• Ability to promote school when talking to visitors, colleagues and members of the community.
• Display commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children.

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the postholder may be required to undertake other duties which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the manager. This job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the postholder. The postholder is expected to comply with all relevant policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and the Confidentiality of Information. The postholder may be required to work outside normal school hours on occasion, with due notice.