Lead a vibrant supervisory team where every day is an opportunity to thrive!
Are you an organised, caring, and enthusiastic leader looking for a meaningful part-time role in a nurturing setting that values your unique contribution?
Lanterns Nursery School is a truly special place. Making a meaningful difference to young children and their families is deeply embedded in our DNA. As one of only three Headteacher-led Maintained Nursery Schools in Hampshire, we offer a nurturing, high-quality environment supported by a wonderful team. We are looking for a dedicated Senior Supervisory Assistant to lead and guide our friendly supervisory team across our daily catering and dining routines.
Why Lanterns?
- A Culture of Inclusion: Everyone is welcome here. Our children naturally embrace diversity, and you will play a key role in supporting all children during mealtimes and snack periods, including those with Special Educational Needs (SEND).
- Leadership & Team Support: You will lead, deploy, and support passionate, determined supervisory assistants who look after one another to ensure our daily food preparation, snack, lunch, and tea routines run seamlessly.
- Professional Growth: While prior experience is preferred, full induction, training (covering food hygiene, behaviour management, emergency procedures, first aid awareness, and health & safety), and ongoing guidance will be provided to help you succeed in your leadership role.
The Role: Leadership, Care, and Coordination
As the Senior Supervisory Assistant, you will play a vital leadership role in managing team deployment and ensuring that our children remain happy, healthy and safe throughout the lunchtime sessions.
Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities:
- Team Management and Deployment: Organising, managing, and deploying Lunchtime Supervisory Assistants effectively across the school. Training and inducting new team members and ensuring fairness is applied at all times.
- Catering and Meal Preparation: Overseeing food preparation, serving, and setup across all eating sessions—including lunch, snacks, and tea - as well as table setup, clearing, washing up, and ensuring accurate meal numbers correspond with dining management.
- Pupil Supervision and Nurturing Independence: Supervising pupils during eating and social periods, promoting positive behaviour and self-help skills, and ensuring any issues or behavioural incidents are resolved or appropriately referred.
- Communication and Staff Liaison: Maintaining effective liaison with teaching staff, school management, and supervisory assistants to share relevant insights into child behaviour and ensure smooth daily transitions.
- Safety and Wellbeing: Overseeing food hygiene, health and safety, emergency procedures, and equality practices, ensuring all accidents or safety concerns are promptly reported to the Headteacher and School Business Manager.
What You’ll Bring
- Experience and Leadership: Prior experience working in a school, nursery, catering, or supervisory role is preferred. Confidence to make clear decisions respected by staff, pupils, and parents.
- Warm Rapport and Behaviour Awareness: A perceptive insight into child behaviour, awareness of staff and employment issues, and a strong commitment to confidentiality and fairness.
- Flexibility and Initiative: A positive "can-do" attitude with strong organisational skills, initiative, and the ability to adapt flexibly to changing school and catering needs.
- Reliability and Teamwork: A punctual, dependable approach to leading a team and communicating effectively across all levels of school staff.
What We Can Offer You
- Hampshire County Council Benefits: Competitive pay conditions, family-friendly policies, and term-time-only working schedules.
- Employee Support: Access to the Employee Support Hub, including confidential counselling and health advice.
- A Joyful Environment: A rewarding leadership role in a workplace filled with children who have an infectious enthusiasm for life.
Application Procedure
Ready to see what makes us different? Applications are reviewed upon receipt, and we will contact successful candidates for interview ASAP. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications are received.
An application pack can be found on our school website, or you can contact our friendly team on 01962 860393 or via email at [email protected].
Safer Recruitment & Safeguarding
Lanterns Nursery School and Extended Services and Hampshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks
Pay: £8,598.00 per year
Work Location: In person
