Lunchtime supervisor interview at a school

[Genericusers]

Aka dinner lady. Please help, I'm so anxious.
I've a DBS and know general safeguarding aka signs of abuse and neglect, the importance of reassuring the child, never promising to keep secrets, making a written copy and referring to the safeguarding lead asap.

What else are they likely to ask? Aside from why do you want the job. Also struggling to think of questions to ask in return..
Thank you

Why do you want the job?
Any ideas for games in the playground?
How do you feel about blood and vomit? 😆

They might want situation-based responses so have a couple of those up your sleeve. Things like "tell us about a situation when something didn't go to plan, and how you handled it", "tell us about a time when you had to resolve a conflict".

Use the STAR structure for these answers - Situation, Task, Action, Result. Most of the detail should be in the Action part of the answer (what you did).

They might ask how flexible you are able to be in terms of swapping days if necessary.
Are you able to stay after you should have left to fill out accident forms or report incidents.
They are likely to want to know you understand how important your discretion is, and not to gossip about the staff or children.
Most important thing they'll want to establish is that you are reliable and will turn up on time every day.
Good luck.

I was one for 6 years when the kids were at primary.

To be honest they were looking for "bodies" ...people who'd turn up every day, work hard - we had to clean up and fold down tables as part of our duties... was very physical, especially in the heat, then go home. Perhaps ask questions on the extent of duties.

What happens in school stays at school. So discretion and a lack of gossip was as important as safeguarding.

How are allergies managed at the school?

Haha should have read @Cuppaand2biscuits before posting! Great minds...

Talk up your work ethic and reliability. That’s the key to lunchtime roles. Ability to work quickly and be reliable.

They will probably ask how you will deal with certain situations. Kids with no one to play with,falling out, fights etc.

Q: What would you do if a parent approaches you outside of school about something that has happened in school/a concern about school?
Q: What would you do if a child refuses to eat anything?

Safeguarding isn’t just about ‘secrets’ it’s safety all round - wet floors, spilt drinks, hail, broken equipment, walking sensibly etc don’t get caught out by that question.

First aid or willingness to do a course.

Understanding/being respectful of a child, not providing information for example to any noisy kid that asks.

Dealing with tears and playground fights arguments

I would say - I’d be happy to read your behaviour policy - or look it up on line.

You also need to know about allergies and how children react, milk, eggs, nuts, some fruits, etc
Which kids are diabetic and need blood sugars taken - say you’ll happy be trained.

Kids who are unable to copy in loud spaces and need quiet spaces etc

Do you a have experience of dealing with children? They would want to know about that.
Think through how you might deal with various scenarios that might happen on a school playground or lunch hall.

A lot of the previous posts indicate stuff that you would actually be trained in (or given bits of paper to read and sign). Every school will have its own lunchtime operating procedures. They will have strict guidelines on safeguarding, first aid, allergies etc which you will be expected to follow. They will tell you or list during training how you are expected to deal with all the situations presented.
Schools present a united front on these things, you are not expected to know or make it up on the fly.

So as a Pp says, it is more you asking what their behaviour/safeguarding policy is than you telling them what you might do if confronted with a situation.

I'd also make sure you are prepared for the reality of working for an hour or so right in the middle of every week day for around minimum wage with no holidays in term time.

The PP is correct in that they train you - however job offers are based on how well you answer the questions in the interview - if looking into the behaviour policy - it should be online etc then this will give you a head start on other candidates. So yes you get trained - bait not if you flunk the interview.

I have an interview for a lunchtime supervisor. This website has been really helpful with interview questions so think I will be ok with that. The second part of the interview is a scenario based task. Anyone has any experience of this and what is this likely to be?

DaisyLou89 · Today 13:48

I have an interview for a lunchtime supervisor. This website has been really helpful with interview questions so think I will be ok with that. The second part of the interview is a scenario based task. Anyone has any experience of this and what is this likely to be?

Thanks

If suggest starting your own thread rather than piggybacking on someone else's. The scenario could literally be anything at all!

It is most likely to be the kind of scenario you may encounter. So, you notice a child is being left out by their peers etc. Or it could be a safeguarding scenario.