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Break time / lunchtime duty (primary)

27 replies

ElizabethWindsorBirthdayGirl · 20/04/2016 19:42

Just wondering if you could answer (some or all of) the following questions as am thinking about our current duty rota and need some external perspective:

  1. How many times do you have to do break time or lunchtime duty a week?
  2. Roughly how long is each session?
  3. Are you a teacher or TA?
  4. State or independent? (Ok if you'd rather not say).

    Thanks! QEIIxx
OP posts:
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Hulababy · 20/04/2016 19:48
  1. How many times do you have to do break time or lunchtime duty a week?

    I do 2 FA morning duties (I get my break but have to be available to treat any first aid issues) I don't get any additional time before/after for this unless it is particularly heavy numbers and I then arrange it with the class teacher.
    I also do one outside playtime duty (15 min morning) - when I do this I get a 15 min break either before or after official playtime.
    And I do a 15-20 min afternoon put door duty once a week when I work with EYFS - no time given before/after as no pay issue linked to afternoons.
    We don't cover lunch times generally - we have specific paid for lunch time team.


  2. Roughly how long is each session?

    15 minutes

  3. Are you a teacher or TA?

    TA.
    But all teachers and TAs do at least 2 duties a week. We have 3 members of staff out with KS1 (180 children) and 3 members of staff out with EYFS (90 children) usually.

  4. State or independent? (Ok if you'd rather not say).

    State infant school.
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ILoveMyMonkey · 20/04/2016 19:49
  1. playtime - once. Lunchtime - never as not paid for lunchtime do can leave site.
  2. playtime - 15 mins. Lunch - 1 hour.
  3. Teacher
  4. state
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ILoveMyMonkey · 20/04/2016 19:49

*so not do

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breward · 20/04/2016 20:27

One before school duty each week (inside supervision of Early Years children)- 30 minutes
No playground duties (all covered by TAs)
One after school duty (inside supervision of late-stay) 30 mins

2 prep supervision duties per term (4-5.30pm)
3 after school playground duties per term (15 mins)

Teacher, Independent school
(We sit with our class at lunchtime and have lunch together, I then hear children read at lunchtime- all children read individually to an adult each day- I usually have 10 minutes break at lunchtime... I am sure this is not unusual in both sectors)

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clam · 20/04/2016 20:39

State Primary, 2 form entry (with lots of TAs and many part-time teachers, so plenty of people to share the load) and 2 playgrounds to cover.

One 15-minute morning break duty a week.
HT asked recently if anyone was prepared to do lunch duties and not one single teacher agreed.

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jellyfrizz · 20/04/2016 23:35

Teachers in the state sector should not be asked to do lunch duty. It is in the overarching rights section of the STPCD.

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ElizabethWindsorBirthdayGirl · 20/04/2016 23:37

What about independents? Surely that doesn't apply?

OP posts:
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teacher54321 · 21/04/2016 07:21

Independent prep here-I do two break duties a week-an hour in total.

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ScarlettDarling · 21/04/2016 07:24

I'm a .6 teacher in a state primary. I do two play duties each week, 15 minutes each. No teacher or TA does lunch duties, we have dinner ladies!

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LindyHemming · 21/04/2016 22:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

quarkandmarmite · 22/04/2016 11:21

1) How many times do you have to do break time or lunchtime duty a week?
I do 1 break time duty as week, as does all other teachers. All TAs do a break time duty every day. We only have one break time. No teacher or TA does a lunchtime duty except SLT who do one each (sort out behavioural issues and indoors only) and some TAs are also employed as dinner time staff.

2) Roughly how long is each session?
Break time is 15 minutes. Lunch time is 1 hour for YR-Y2 and 50 minutes for Y3-6.

3) Are you a teacher or TA?
Teacher

4) State or independent? (Ok if you'd rather not say).
State

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twolittleboysonetiredmum · 22/04/2016 11:24

0.6 teacher here
2 x 15 min break time duty and 1 x 50 min lunchtime duty per week
State school

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twolittleboysonetiredmum · 22/04/2016 11:35

Oh and like another poster has said, if I'm not on duty at lunch then I'm generally doing detention with my own class or finishing off work with them

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jellyfrizz · 22/04/2016 13:10

The STPCD forms part of your contract if you work in a maintained (LA governed) school ElizabethWindsor. So no, doesn't apply to independent or academy schools.

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/451908/School-teachers_-pay-and-conditions-document-2015.pdf

54.2. No teacher may be required under their contract of employment as a teacher to undertake midday supervision.

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twolittleboysonetiredmum · 22/04/2016 13:13

Hmm jellyfrizz - I wasn't aware of that. All teachers on ups are made to do duties at lunch. On the basis as part of our wider duties.
The other lunchtime stuff is standard for most teachers and j guess wouldn't come under duties. It's just the crap you have to do to keep up I guess?

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Aducknotallama · 22/04/2016 17:38

In an independent school, I do two lunch duties of 20 mins each, two break duties of 15 mins each and one morning duty of 10 mins. I am a teacher, full time hours.

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LadyPenelope68 · 22/04/2016 17:44

State school, just morning break duty once a week for 20 mins, I'm a TA

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TheTroubleWithAngels · 22/04/2016 18:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jellyfrizz · 22/04/2016 18:05

I'm no expert twolittleboys but I don't think that any teachers in maintained schools should be asked to do lunchtime duties, even if on UPS. By law you have to have a 'reasonable' break for lunch whatever job you do.

Don't UPS teachers make very expensive mid-time meals supervisors?

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simpson · 22/04/2016 18:06
  1. once weekly but occasionally twice if someone else is off (there is a cover rota)

  2. 15 minutes

  3. TA

  4. state
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twolittleboysonetiredmum · 22/04/2016 18:10

We're used as back up for the mid day supervisors as they struggle with behaviour etc makes sense as far less trouble at lunch now but it is hard to prepare for the pm and eat your own lunch in 10 mins!

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jellyfrizz · 22/04/2016 18:47

Sounds like your school is breaking the law twolittleboys unless you get some other time during the day or you've volunteered to do it.

Rest breaks at work
Workers have the right to one uninterrupted 20 minute rest break during their working day (this could be a tea or lunch break), if they work more than 6 hours a day.


www.gov.uk/rest-breaks-work

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fish88 · 22/04/2016 18:56

I am a teacher in a special school, we have 2 15 minute playtime a day and one 30 minute dinner time play. I do 1 dinner time a week (have half hour dinner whilst the kids are eating) and do a playtime duty on the other 4 days. My TAs do the same as me. Classes are left to arrange their own cover at playtime so some staff in school may do less/more than me depending on the needs of their children.

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breward · 22/04/2016 19:14

We do not have any lunchtime supervisors/midday assistants at my school (indep). The teachers and TAs sit with the children at lunchtime then all TAs are on duty at lunchtime play. The TAs take a 30 minute lunchbreak when the children are back to lessons after lunch or they go home.

I must say the behaviour on the playground is so much better than at my previous school. So many problems happened at lunchtime with children running rings round the MDAs or the MDAs not dealing with problems. The TAs do not let them get away with anything!

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parrotonmyshoulder · 22/04/2016 21:50

We all do all breaks (TAs and teachers in special school). 45 mins lunch break for everyone and 45 mins duty. Nobody is entitled to more than this although we take loo breaks when we can!

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