Blackheath Prep - Playtime and Lunchtime Assistant

Summary

We are seeking to appoint a Playtime and Lunchtime Assistant. You will be part of a team responsible for supervising pupils during the morning and lunchtime breaks ensuring the safety and welfare of pupils is maintained, and runs efficiently.

Detail

Job Title: Playtime and Lunchtime Assistant

Hours of Work: 17.5 per week - 10:30am - 2pm, Monday to Friday, during term times (approx. 34 weeks of the year)

Type of Contract: Permanent

Salary: Actual salary is £9,719 - based on part time hours and part time working weeks (£27,008 FTE)

The Headmaster and CEO of Eltham College Family of Schools and the Head of Blackheath Prep are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic individual to take up the post of Playtime and Lunchtime Assistant. The successful candidate will be part of a team that is responsible for supervising pupils during the morning and lunchtime breaks to ensure that the safety and welfare of pupils is maintained, and that this period of the day runs efficiently. The successful candidate will have experience of working with children or young people and working within a team. The role is part time, working 17.5 hours per week and term time, working approximately 34 weeks of the year.

Specific Areas of Responsibility

• Supervise pupils on the playground, in the dining area and classrooms (for wet play)
• Encourage pupils to eat their lunch and monitor those who don’t, reporting any concerns to the form teachers
• Monitor pupils who aren’t engaging in play and feedback any concerns to the form teachers
• Manage pupils’ entrance and exit from the playground to classrooms and dining area in an orderly manner.
• Set up and distribute morning snack and clear away at end of playtime
• Organise and prepare playtime equipment and return to storage at end of breaktimes
• Set up in dining hall alongside lunchtime team where necessary.
• Report any incidents of serious misbehaviour to the relevant staff member, in line with the school’s behaviour policy
• Take necessary action to minimise disruption and harm to pupils, in line with the school’s behaviour policy
• Make sure children tidy up after themselves in the lunch area and when using play resources/equipment
• Follow any directions and strategies from class teachers on supporting pupils with specific behavioural needs
• Offer care and comfort to distressed or lonely children and respond proactively to attempt to diffuse disputes between children.
• Organise play activities to encourage pupils to play and make use of play equipment
• Offer educational instruction where needed to help pupils to share play equipment
• Help to resolve issues between pupils during play activities.
• Observe pupils and the environment and take action to minimise any identified health and safety risks
• Ensure all pupils are in sight or accounted for at all times during breaktimes
• Deliver first aid to respond to minor incidents and refer any major incidents to a qualified first aider
• Record details of incidents in line with the school’s reporting procedures
• Be aware of and support pupils with medical/dietary needs
• Promote the school’s policy around healthy eating to pupils
• Clean up food and water spillages where necessary
• Feedback concerns relating to pupils’ health and safety to a senior member of staff.
• Benefits
• Benefits include school fee remission, life assurance and pension scheme.
• Wellbeing benefits include free annual eye test, annual flu vaccination and access to our Employee Support helpline.
• Travel benefits include Season Ticket Loan and Bike2Work scheme.
• Free staff lunch is provided during term time.

Blackheath Prep is an independent prep school for just over 370 students aged 3 to 11. Founded in 1996, it occupies a beautiful five-acre site close to Blackheath village. Its original Georgian and Victorian buildings have been extended and adapted to include large playgrounds and extensive playing fields, tennis courts, cricket nets and a Forest School area. In April 2023 we were delighted to announce our merger with Eltham College to form a family of schools. In January 2024, the Prep was inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and received outstanding feedback.

A full job description and person specification can be found within the Candidate Information Pack.

To apply please download the application form below (labelled as 'Other Document') and return to HR@eltham-college.org.uk, ensuring that your application arrives with us by the closing date below.

Closing date: 9am on Monday 19 January 2026

Interviews will take place Friday 30 January 2026.

Suitable candidates may be interviewed before the closing date and Eltham College Family of Schools reserves the right to withdraw the position if an early appointment is made.

We welcome applications from all parts of our community as we aspire to attract staff that match the social and cultural diversity of our student intake. Candidates will be assessed against relevant criteria only (i.e. skills, qualifications, abilities, experience).

Blackheath Prep part of the Eltham College Family of Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.