Playtime and Lunchtime Assistant

Blackheath Prep is 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.

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.

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.


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

Terms of Appointment

• The post is available ASAP on a permanent, part time and term time basis.


• The hours of work are 17.5 per week - 10:30am - 2pm, Monday to Friday, during term times (approx. 34 weeks of the year).


• Actual salary is £9,228 - based on part time hours and part time working weeks (£25,642 FTE)


• 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.


How to Apply

Please send by email a completed application form and equal opportunities form to Emma Over, HR and Recruitment Assistant: recruitment@blackheathprep.co.uk

Closing date for applications is 9am, Monday 16 September 2024

Interviews will be held on Friday 20 September 2024.


• Please note that the recruitment campaign might end earlier as the applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so please do not delay in applying


The school 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.

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.


• The post is available ASAP on a permanent, part time and term time basis.


• The hours of work are 17.5 per week - 10:30am - 2pm, Monday to Friday, during term times (approx. 34 weeks of the year).


• Actual salary is £9,228 - based on part time hours and part time working weeks (£25,642 FTE)


• 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.