What you expect from/makes the best Midday Assistant

[Areceptionone]

As a reception class teacher what are the main things you want from a MDA looking after your class,

Do you expect to be to be told if certain class members are repeat offenders of bad behaviour?

Do you want to be verbally told if kids have hurt themselves or is it ok for it to be in your first aid book? Or is this information overload.

How do you communicate class numbers to your MDA so they know how many kids need to be brought back to class ?

Do you like them to help settle the class to sit on the rug, have a drink etc ?

Any other things you would like/expect to happen ?

Thanks, it's just to get a quick idea as it's always such a quick handover I want to be as helpful as possible to the teacher
(I did do another post but the title was incorrect, so asking for that to be deleted)

[Kite22]

I think the processes will depend on your individual school.

Many schools will have things like 'bump notes' and you will be told by the senior dinner lady what the system is.
Same with communicating numbers - there will be a system - quite possibly the numbers will be in the office when you sign in.

then some schools will have teacher collect the line outside, others will want them brought in - it is all very individual.

[Areceptionone]

Thanks, I'm in my first post as a Midday and I want to do the best I can and hear what might make it easier but there doesn't seem to be a "process" for passing over head count.
We have a staffing issues, so we have teachers or temps filling in who don't always follow the rules so the children don't have the consistency of rules.

I suppose these things are unavoidable at the moment, I'm being told I'm making a good influence on the kids ,which is nice ,but I do like to know the process for things, but if it's just one of those things, I love the job so that's fine. Thanks again

[JanglyBeads]

If you're expected to bring the class in from being outside then you definitely need to know how many you should have, that's a safeguarding issue!

[JanglyBeads]

Look at what your Job Description says and ask the teacher? Bear in mind that you shouldn't work more hours than you're paid for.

[Areceptionone]

Thanks and Yes jangle that was my thinking. It's just verbally passed over as the children are brought into the hall, if I'm busy and miss the teacher then I don't know the number for the class.
Is it for them to get the number of kids to me or me to chase them down for it ?
Surely there's a more efficient way. I was looking for reasonable ideas that others use that I can suggest to make us more efficient.

I'm always late getting out, but only by 10 mins or so, as the main midday always blows the whistle with only 5 mins to my shift finishing, so by time we have walked them back and hand over etc.

[JanglyBeads]

I don't know as didn't work in that way when I was doing that role.
There should be a clear handover procedure! Who is your manager, ask them?