Job Description

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We are seeking to appoint an Opal Leader to be part of our enthusiastic and hardworking lunchtime team.

Purpose

The Opal Leader will support and facilitate meaningful and productive child-initiated play during the school lunchtime period.

Line Management

The post holder is responsible to the OPAL Lead and School Business Manager for fulfilling the duties set out below.

Statutory Requirements

The post holder will have a responsibility to promote and safeguard the safety and welfare of children in accordance with the schools' Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy; Anti Bullying Policy; Behaviour Policy; and in line with the school's values and mission statement.

Responsibilities

· Ensure well-being of pupils.

· Ensure that all lunchtime team staff are completing their main duties to a high standard and that all staff are facilitating play development.

· Ensure that you and the lunchtime team have read the Opal Policy and are fully supportive of it.

· Ensure the safety, welfare and general conduct through appropriate application of the school's policies and procedures.

· Establish safe and proper behaviour, by appropriate intervention or referral to senior staff, as appropriate.

· Identify and report any unauthorised visitors on school premises.

· Complete any relevant documentation required by the school in relation to incidents occurring during the lunchtime break period.

· Ensure you and the lunchtime team are aware of children's special medical conditions and the relevant precautions and treatments necessary.

· Take any immediate action to attend to sickness or accidents by carrying out minor first aid and summoning relevant assistance.

· Report any major accidents or bumped heads to the class teacher, and office and record in the accident book.

· Ensure a diverse range of playable resources are provided for, and are accessible to, all children.

· Ensure there are sufficient resources to promote each of the 'play types'.

Policy

· Check the quality and condition of resources and repair or remove any resources that are not of a suitable condition.

· Ensure resources are stored appropriately.

· Discuss resources with the children (school council) and use their views to create development plans.

Organise and carry out the replenishment of resources through

· Securing funding from internal or external sources.

· Purchasing resources as required.

· Co-ordinating appeals within school and local communities for resources.

Provide support and training for other school staff or pupils as required

· Build lunchtime members expertise and practice.

· Organise and support pupil Playground Leaders with their role.

· Facilitate peer led play opportunities.

· Provide suggestions for play activities and games.

Ensure enriching play events or opportunities are created

· Discuss and plan with pupils/staff and School Council.

· Implement planned activities which promote play development.

· Review activities to promote self- evaluation and play development.

· Create opportunities for play to support the social and behavioural development of pupils.

· Ensure a rich and varied set of play opportunities is available to all children.

Knowledge, experience and training

· Prior experience of working with children in an educational or play setting is essential.

· Relevant qualifications or experience of working with children.

· Calm, reliable, flexible and resilient.

· Enthusiastic and organised with excellent communication skills and good sense of initiative.

· Caring, responsible and compassionate.

· A good command of written English as well as IT skills to be able to manage work related communications as well as rotas and schedules.

· Willing to take on various tasks as required.

· Able to establish productive supportive relationships with pupils and staff.

· Experienced in positive and effective behaviour management.

· Creative and have the confidence to deal with problem resolution.

The post will involve working 9 hours per week - 11-45-1315, Monday to Friday plus 2 hours per week (which can be flexible) during term time only. The salary grade is Scale 3 points 5-6.

The closing date for applications is midday on Friday 15th December. Shortlising will take place and interviews will be confirmed to candidates by 20th December.

Interviews will take place on Wednesday 10th January 2024.

In line with our commitment to safeguarding, all successful applicants will be subject to reference checking and satisfactory completion of a DBS check.