Lunchtime supervisor/ midday assistant aka dinner lady

[Laurenmummytoo2]

Well I had an interview for a lunchtime supervisor and omg I got the job! I start next week and quite nervous, I don't have experience in this but have personal experience with children having 3 of my own. Does anyone have any tips that may come in handy, have you been one, did you enjoy it? What things might it involve etc..
I'm very excited but also nervous.

My dc have always hated the bossy dinner ladies so it would be good to not be bossy and mean. Though, kids can be disrespectful to the midday assistants and they can and do play up.
You need to find the balance between being nice and being firm without being shouty and abrupt.

Thanks for your replies I'm not the nasty bossy type haven't got the heart to be like that to children.
I'm so excited I love children and I will show that!
My 10 year old already given me the advice of don't be bossy we have one like that and everyone hates her 🤣
I am hoping to be firm but be fair and they will all be treat the same.

I will do, thanks for your replies fingers crossed I pick things right up.
I'm scared I'll be just left to it kind of thing and expected to know what to do.

Aaaaw, I do this. It’s much fun! You’ll find you do a lot of walking, so comfy shoes, never wear sandals - a chair leg on your bare foot is painful! Develop a loud (not shouty) voice so you can be heard. Have a particular something about you that they remember you by - like funky socks or something. Get down to their level and listen when they have a take to tell (this is tricky sometimes when you’re really pushed for time in the dinner hall!)

Always keep a pair safety scissors in your pocket (in your apron if you have one) when you're in the dinner hall. The number of children who rip the pull strip off frube type yoghurts is insane! If you've got scissors, you can just quickly snip it off.

Keep a packet/handful of tissues in your pocket on the playground to deal with big dangles of snot 🤢

Aww I can't wait!
Thankyou for your advice.
I will wear some comfy shoes, what type of clothes do you wear?
Don't want to over dress but don't want to look a slob 🤣 all school maybe different I understand that sure ill see how the others dressed. I know I am based in the dinnerhall to start with not sure what things I'll have to do, presumably helping cut food, use cutlery etc..
Xx

@CaptainCallisto I am laughing at that one, never thought of that. I'll be sure to take some tissues 🤣 I will check about the scissors thing don't want to get done on my first day haha. Thankyou!

I just wear whatever! Tomorrow will be jeans and a shirt, probably my trainers but DMs if it’s raining as I walk there. Nothing that you don’t mind being splattered with gravy or beans!

Build a positive relationship with the class teacher; find out if there have been any issues in the morning that might spill over into lunchtime; don't go in with rose tinted glasses that loving children will be enough!

You are an adult in school and deserve the same respect as any other member of staff. Behaviour can sometimes be worse for lunchtime supervisers because that respect isn't there. When you have their respect, then it's time to be fun 😉

Ask about kitchen rules. It's their domain & make sure you don't interfere in it.

Ahh congratulations! No advice but happy for you. It's a job id quite like to do too!
Hope all goes well!

If they all eat in the hall it can get very noisy. Some of those loops earplugs that filter noise might be helpful.

Just be yourself and do your best to follow any training given. I've been doing it for years, love it, but it's full on. After so many years, I don't stand any messing around (hopefully not the bossy one though) but hope I know when to take time out to listen, support and have a bit of fun. Over time you'll develop your own fans - funnily enough I wanted a daughter, but it's the boys that seem to like me, I have five who regularly wave, call out my name and have to tell me things.

I'd wear layers the first few days - that way you're warm enough outside, but if inside and it's anything like our school it's so hot inside, heating on too high, lots of bodies adding warmth and you get hot rushing around - I'm still wearing my sandles, cropped trousers inside and rarely wear a cardigan even in the height of winter. Don't be afraid to ask your colleagues if you're not clear how to deal with anything.

Thankyou guys, I'll let you know how it goes today 💖

Congratulations! I hope you have an amazing first day!

@Laurenmummytoo2 hope it went well I've sent you a pm

My mum was a dinner lady for 24 years 😊she loved it for the most part, sometimes school politics got her down but that's a fact of life in most jobs I reckon.

When my DD started at primary school, some of the mums and dads recognised my mum as having been their dinner lady (different school) - she made a lovely lasting impression on a lot of kids over the years, the all loved Mrs H

Thankyou everyone it went fine, the staff and children were lovely 💖 x