Senior Cover Supervisor

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Senior Cover Supervisor to join our supportive team. This role involves leading the day-to-day organisation of cover, supervising classes in the absence of teachers, and ensuring continuity of learning across the school. You will play a key role in maintaining high standards of behaviour, supporting student progress, and working closely with teaching and support staff. In addition, you will coordinate cover arrangements, liaise with the Cover Manager, and support the induction and development of supply staff.

Ideal Candidate will:

• Experience working in a school environment (ideally at least 2 years)
• Confident in leading and supervising whole classes
• Strong behaviour management skills and high expectations of students
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Highly organised with the ability to coordinate and prioritise daily cover arrangements
• Experience of supporting or working with SEN and/or EAL students
• Ability to work independently and use initiative in a fast-paced environment
• Capable of supporting and inducting supply staff, promoting consistency and high standards
• A team player who can build positive relationships with staff and students
• Strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting student wellbeing
• Competent in using ICT to support learning and administrative tasks
• Flexible, reliable, and able to respond positively to changing priorities

Overall Purpose of the role:

• To provide short term cover in the absence of the classroom teacher.
• To provide practical support for learning, educational activities, developing social skills, integration and for securing students' physical and emotional wellbeing.
• To work as part of a team including teachers and other support staff to support the learning and welfare of all students.
• To have high expectations of our students and be committed to raising their achievement.
• As a Senior Cover Supervisor, to take a leading role within the cover team, including coordinating daily cover arrangements, allocating work on a daily basis, and liaising with the Cover Manager regarding supply staffing requirements.
• The postholder will also support the induction of supply staff and provide guidance to ensure consistency and high standards across the team.

Safeguarding Requirement:

This post requires the post holder to work in settings with children and young adults. Any employment offer is therefore subject to the results of an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). People who may have contact with younger children (i.e. primary school age) are also required to complete a declaration about family or other members of their household.

Key outputs:

• To undertake short term cover in the absence of the class teacher administering pre-planned activities to whole classes whilst maintaining the high quality of learning and behaviour.
• Cover Tutor time, Personal Development time and Cornerstone (Skills for Life lessons) as and when required.
• Liaise with staff and Curriculum Leaders to ensure work is appropriately set and delivered.
• To provide objective and accurate feedback to the teacher on student achievement, progress and other matters within the lesson (ensuring the availability of appropriate evidence when relevant).
• To deal with any immediate problems or emergencies in accordance with the school’s policies and procedures.
• To report back as appropriate on the behaviour of students by following the commitment to learning procedures during the class and any issues arising.
• On occasions when cover is light you may be required to carry out tasks including:
• Offer support to departments, including displays
• Help with the invigilation of exams
• Help with support of individual students including those with SEN needs
• Assisting College Technicians
• Assist the Lead Cover supervisor to keep the Learning Resource Centre up to date including the checking in and out of books and resources.
• This list is not exhaustive but intended to provide examples of additional work which may be required.
• In liaison with appropriate staff, to supervise the students on the school site prior to start of school, during morning day break and after school (bus duty).
• Consistently implement and use our Commitment to Learning policy.
• To manage the behaviour of students whilst they are undertaking their work to ensure a constructive environment to support learning.
• Follow the evacuation and lockdown procedures during emergency situations.
• Attend training sessions, staff meetings and any department meetings as required.
• As part of your wider duties and responsibilities you are required to promote and actively support the school’s responsibilities towards Safeguarding.
• Safeguarding is about keeping people safe and protecting people from harm, neglect, abuse and injury. It is about creating safe places, being vigilant and doing something about any concerns you might have.
• Please refer to the school website for our Safeguarding policy.
• Carry out your duties with due regard to school policies, procedures and relevant legislation. These will be drawn to your attention in your appointment letter, your statement of particulars, induction, and ongoing performance development and through school communications.
• As a Senior Cover Supervisor, to provide induction and ongoing support for supply staff to ensure consistency and high standards.
• To allocate cover work on a daily basis, ensuring appropriate deployment of staff and effective use of resources.
• To liaise with the Cover Manager regarding supply staffing needs and requirements.
• Any other responsibilities commensurate within the requirements for this role or as directed by the Principal/Associate Principal and flexibility to support colleagues across college as required.

Expertise in role required:

• Essential:
• Be able to demonstrate high standards of numeracy and literacy
• Ability to engage and influence others
• Excellent communication skills
• Commitment to the safeguarding of young people
• Working knowledge of relevant policies and codes of practice - e.g. Keeping Children Safe in Education, Safeguarding
• Other (Physical, mobility, local conditions):
• Is willing to work flexibly within scope of overall hours.
• Desirable:
• NVQ 3 for Teaching Assistants or equivalent qualifications or experience
• Experience of working in school environment for at least 2 years
• Experience of working with children who have SEN / EAL
• Experience of teaching individuals, groups and whole classes
• Excellent behaviour management skills
• Ability to use ICT to support learning
• Ability to monitor and evaluate impact of interventions and strategies