To think that Midday Assistants are not utilized or respected as much as they should be?

[AwfulMaureen]

In schools I mean. They are party to ALL of our children's social issues at playtime....which is often the hardest time for some children...I remember when my DD1 was having some issues in her new school and I asked the teacher how she was at playtime...the teacher said she'd try to find out!

She did bless her....but it made me see...the playtime assistants see all of it don't they? We have no contact with them...they don't get paid enough to be worrying about being hassled by anxious parents I know...but maybe they should be paid more and also be able to chat to parents about the kids' social development when some have issues...getting left out or bullied for instance...these things happen all the time don't they?

GoldMantra that's very interesting....I agree with you. Adult led play is important but I do think that the majority of children do need unsupervised (to a point!) play in addition. My more confident 5 year old adores playtime...it's heaven to her to be allowed to run around unfettered with the field.

I do think that the majority of children do need unsupervised (to a point!) play in addition.

Oh yes. Children absolutely need to lead their own play lots and to do lots of running around freely on and off throughout the day. The things I listed are being added to the existing playground provision in schools who recognise that what's happening now isn't right for all children or for any child for such long periods of every single day.

Ours don't seem to talk to the teachers, my boy came home with a note that said he had a bruise under his eye, we asked our son who said

X pushed me over
Y kicked me in the face

Next morning I asked the teacher, and got a I will try and find out but I'm sure that's not really what happened as me and Mr z would of been told..

Guess what my son was pushed and kicked in the face

Chatty yes...our school sometimes feels a bit like that. for your DS...I do think that there's a bit of laxness goes on.

Gold for many children, an area where they could stay and paint, or write would be a gift from Heaven. I was that kind of child...I would have chosen to stay in and read or draw if given the chance....and they SHOULD have the chance I think....they do PE...and play other games...perhaps children who stay in could then be asked to have a five minute walk too...in order to get some fresh air.

Chatty, have you asked for a copy of the accident/incident report? If they haven't got one, ask why. If your DS has an injury it should have been recorded and being asked for it may encourage them to review and improve their communication.

but they do not see it as one adult to 100 children because there are 2 ladies in the office and 10ish teachers taking lunch in the staffroom.... there are 2 adults on the playground at all times

Those other adults are not supervising the children, so if an incident occurred, the HT would be liable.

The 2 adults on the playground are the lunchtime supervisors. They must have half the children there surely? So that is 200 children being supervised by 2 members of staff.

Yes, you can get another member of staff from the staffroom if necessary but that would be too late if an incident occurred.

The more progressive schools are beginning to make the provision more appropriate by providing more qualified staff, high quality adult led play, safe zones or rooms which are well supervised and opportunities to continue working in the classroom without the interruption caused by break times.

This is what happens our school Gold. The children usually have a choice of indoor or outdoor play. Both supervised. Playground games are led by adults but are optional. The children can free-play if they wish. The ratio is 1 adult to max 30 outdoors and as high as 2 adults to 10 indoors.

Some of the adults are TAs or LSAs who take their lunch break when the teacher comes back to class at the end of lunch.

That sounds like DD2's school, Fairenuff. They have a unit for children with ASD but they cater for all the children the same at lunchtime and it makes for a lovely nurturing environment.

Lots of reception teachers are starting to keep their class with them during morning and afternoon breaks because they serve no purpose for the children.

Hi. I have only just joined this site after coming across this post.

I have been a 'Lunchtime Supervisor' for a few years now. I take care of Reception children. In my opinion the most demanding year. They start full time at this age, find themselves eating dinner and then out to play with children they hardly know. It's our job as supervisors to help them form little friendships. Luckily for me in the school I work at, Supervisors have a very good relationship with the teachers, after every lunchtime there is a discussion about how child X got on, who played with who etc. I DO think that supervisors should be available for parents to have a chat to, to ease their minds. It's a worrying time for parents passing their kids over, and lunchtimes especially are a worry for most parents, wondering if their child is making friends or sitting alone. I remember my children being at school and me worrying each dinnertime. YUP worried myself into a right state. SO I now attempt to pal children up, get them playing.... Children adapt very quickly, much quicker than their parents do I think.

Teachers have a class of 25 or so children, sitting at tables or on mats, they have TA's etc, Lunchtime supervisors have the same amount of children, they have to get these little people from one part of a school to another, get them dinners, encourage them to eat, fill waters, juices, then get them all lined up again to walk out onto the playground SAFELY....

I LOVE my job, absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I love to send those little kiddies back to their classrooms with full bellies and knowing that they have made a few friends along the way.... hopefully me being one of those friends.

It is tempting to spy on the playground... I know I thought about it a few times. If you are concerned go speak to a teacher, maybe ask if you could speak to the LTS.

As I SMSA (school meals supervisor assistant) or some jazz we also have a dinner man

It is a very very hard demanding job, mentally, you deal with all kinds of stuff, if I find a problem or something crops up I always always tell my supervisor and always tell the class teacher I make an effort to interact with teacher so it will get to the parent, if could be an argument, not eating, concerns about lunch box anything I am very hot on safeguarding and would rather deal or record it as we don't always know the bigger picture so that little snipet may add to something else

We have outdoor play unless it's raining