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Original poster

Midday supervisor job- are they always like this?

32 replies

LukeSkywalkerBoots · 09/11/2020 15:12

Hi all

I’ve recently started the above job. We are required to put out and put away 27 heavy tables and the same amount of heavy benches every day. There are two of us doing this but it’s very hard work and apparently a lot of people have quit over it.

Also at times they expect only one of us to be in the hall dealing with 50 odd kids per sitting, including all the clearing away, assisting and helping the little kids cut up their food. We have said that it’s too much and you end up running around like a mad person but nobody seems to listen or understand.

We also regularly run over our supposed end time because everything takes too long to clear up.

OP posts:
Original poster
LukeSkywalkerBoots · 09/11/2020 15:16

I should add that 4 people are on the playground while 1 person is in the dining hall.

OP posts:
SnuggyBuggy · 09/11/2020 15:18

It sounds like too much work for 2 people. I'm guessing they are trying to make their budget stretch though.

AriesTheRam · 09/11/2020 15:24

Definitely not at the school im at.We haven't had kids in the hall since February due to covid the kids are eating in their classrooms.We don't move heavy tables either.I think it depends on the school tbh.

Punxsutawney · 09/11/2020 15:33

Are you not working in bubbles? The canteen is not open at my primary at the moment. Children eat in their classrooms in class bubbles (FSM are a packed lunch) and don't mix with anyone else. They have their own designated lunchtime supervisor.

Original poster
LukeSkywalkerBoots · 09/11/2020 16:10

They do have bubbles but only 3 of them, so the two lowest years are together, then the middle 3 years and then the upper 2. So there are a lot of kids to deal with. My back is aching and I’m shattered.

OP posts:
LadyMonicaBaddingham · 09/11/2020 16:15

Have you been on or been offered a manual handling course?

Original poster
LukeSkywalkerBoots · 09/11/2020 16:20

@LadyMonicaBaddingham no, should I have been?

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Rustyigloo · 09/11/2020 16:23

Im an SMSA and that sounds exactly like my experience.
It's backbreaking.

Rustyigloo · 09/11/2020 16:26

Just to add....... we were given 10 minutes to clean down tables, put them away, wipe down chairs, put them away and then clean the floor.

It was impossible. We complained and complained and now we get 20 minutes.

Gingercatlover · 09/11/2020 16:36

Yes, that was how it was in my last school!

It was an utter joke tbh, I left for another school where they eat in the classrooms so we just literally supervise the children.

Far more pleasent experience.

Original poster
LukeSkywalkerBoots · 09/11/2020 16:50

Yes that does sound much better @Gingercatlover . I find myself getting really stressed because of the expectations placed on us for bugger all £ and how we have to rush around like loonies hurting ourselves putting tables out. It is very hard to finish work on time.

On top of that there is a meeting for us scheduled this week for 20 mins before we are meant to finish work- but we will still be clearing up! I mentioned it and was told we were expected to have sped things up to be finished by then!!!

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leafcolourchanger · 09/11/2020 17:14

@LadyMonicaBaddingham

Have you been on or been offered a manual handling course?
You should have been otherwise if you injure yourself due to not being shown how to lift correctly they are open to being sued.

Are you setting out individual tables? The school my sons went to had tables where the stools are attached to the table and they fold in the middle. Easy to move around.

CremeEggThief · 09/11/2020 17:20

Yup, in my experience. It shouldn't be, but it was. The amount of times one of us had to lift heavy tables too by ourselves, when it's a 2-person job.

Original poster
LukeSkywalkerBoots · 09/11/2020 17:40

I’m honestly on the verge of quitting. I’ve been feeling really cross ever since I left work hours ago and I don’t need the stress for- what- £200 a month?

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Original poster
LukeSkywalkerBoots · 09/11/2020 17:43

@leafcolourchanger yep, trestle tables that seat 5 kids each, plus a heavy bench per table. Each table and bench has to be pulled out of/ stowed away in this awkward cupboard. I’ve been told that someone who recently quit really injured her back doing it. I’ve had to sit here with hot water bottles when I get home.

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DameFanny · 09/11/2020 17:54

Are you getting paid for all the extra time? Because if not they may be breaking the minimum wage - point this out to them at least. And ask about the manual handling safety training - which needs to be delivered in paid time, not out of hours iirc

Original poster
LukeSkywalkerBoots · 09/11/2020 18:01

I was offered overtime for the safeguarding etc courses, but not for when we leave late. Also been asked to go in early for training 1/2 hour before start and not offered overtime for that.

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DameFanny · 09/11/2020 18:02

It doesn't need to be overtime, just your hourly rate. Overtime is time over full time hours generally, to reflect that past a certain amount of hours per day or week the work is more onerous

Rockbird · 09/11/2020 18:03

That's insane. I've been an MDS in the past and now see how it's done in the school I work at and the caretaker/site manager do all the tables, chairs and sweeping. 1 person for 50 children isn't good enough either. We felt short staffed with 2 people.

I really wouldn't be happy with that situation and, I know it's not helpful, but I would be out of there ASAP.

IOwnDogsNotFrogs · 09/11/2020 18:17

If you’re overseeing second half of lunch sitting we always help tidy away the tables but usually the caretaker does it.
I had 60 kids today on my own and the hot meal children aren’t allowed to queue for their own food now so we have to serve them at the tables, serve water, puddings, clear up spills, open packets etc.
Your situation doesn’t sound unusual to me to be honest.

IOwnDogsNotFrogs · 09/11/2020 18:18

Oh I’m not a MDS by the way, we don’t have specific ones.
I work in a school and lunch supervision is part of our duties.

C130 · 09/11/2020 20:14

This is the nature of the job I am afraid. A lot of hard work for little pay. When I did this work, I would go home and be spent for the rest of the day. I found that I was constantly having to stay over time nearly every day waiting for the teacher's to come out and take the children in to the classroom from the playground. Those minutes add up over the course of time. The pay is low enough as it is without giving more time for free. There was a lot of lifting and putting chairs away. Again this is part of the duties I know. There was never enough supervisor's for the amount of children, which added to the stress.

C130 · 09/11/2020 20:40

I do think that is also a lot of tables you are having to deal with. They need more people by the sound of it.

starfish4 · 09/11/2020 21:22

Before Covid, we were on a ratio of 1:75. Yes, lots of heavy lifting, keeping an eye on children at the same time and dealing with any behaviour issues, upsets and trying to find teachers. Enjoy it though, and time goes really quickly.

The main concern I'd have, is only one of you in your own in the hall if you have a first aid issue. You haven't got another adult that can help you if emergency, or at least keep an eye on the other children.

Original poster
LukeSkywalkerBoots · 09/11/2020 22:31

I also thought of the first aid issue. Makes no sense to have loads of people on the playground and one person inside.

I’ll be honest I want to quit. I’ve got pain in my back and I’m really pissed off. Feel pathetic about quitting a job after a week tho.

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