Cover Supervisor

Hamilton School; Reading; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 23,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension Scheme

Annual Leave

ME Day

Professional Development

Hybrid Working

Perkbox

Wellbeing and Health

Employee Assistance Programme

Mental Health First Aid support

Recognition and Community

Employee Referral Scheme

Job summary

Hamilton School in Reading, part of Maiden Erlegh Trust, seeks a Cover Supervisor to ensure continuity of teaching during staff absence. You will supervise classes, support students with varying needs, and help maintain a calm, productive learning environment across the school day.

The ideal candidate has an NVQ Level 3 or equivalent, strong communication skills, and a commitment to safeguarding. This role includes collaboration with teams across the Trust and schools.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 qualification or equivalent.
• Experience supporting students with SEMH needs preferred.
• Knowledge of health and safety in relation to buildings maintenance.
• Good communication and strong interpersonal skills with students.

Responsibilities

• Supervise classes to ensure continuity of learning during teacher absence.
• Adapt support to meet differing student needs, including SEMH.
• Maintain a safe, calm classroom environment and apply behaviour systems.
• Support students to regulate behaviour and emotions, promoting respectful interactions.
• Record and communicate information about student engagement, progress and attendance.
• Build professional relationships with students and collaborate with staff, parents and external partners.
• Undertake exam invigilations when required and ensure compliance with rules.
• Ensure students have appropriate resources and provide feedback to teaching colleagues.

Skills

Behaviour management

Classroom supervision

Communication

Student engagement

Safeguarding

Education

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

Job description

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The Cover Supervisor is responsible for maintaining continuity of teaching and learning during teacher absence through structured, well-managed classroom supervision. The role enables students to access and engage with work set by teaching colleagues while maintaining a calm, predictable and supportive learning environment.

Working within a Trust school, with occasional cross-Trust support in accordance with operational requirements, you will support students with differing needs, maintain behaviour expectations and contribute to student engagement, wellbeing and safety. The role also contributes to the effective day-to-day operation of the school through supervision, targeted student support and other allocated responsibilities.

As a Disability Confident employer, we want to ensure everyone can perform at their best when applying to work with us. If you need any support with your application or adjustments during the selection process, please contact our People Team by emailing [e-mail] or calling 0118 929 6020.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure continuity of learning during teacher absence by supervising classes, communicating work set by teaching colleagues clearly and supporting students to access, participate in and remain engaged with learning.
• Adapt communication and support to meet differing student needs, including supporting students with additional or SEMH needs and re-engaging those who may struggle to focus or access learning.
• Maintain a safe, calm and purposeful classroom environment by applying school behaviour systems consistently and using relational, de-escalation, positive, restorative and trauma-informed approaches where appropriate.
• Support students to regulate their behaviour and emotions, promote respectful interactions and positive choices, and respond appropriately to signs of distress or dysregulation.
• Record and communicate relevant information about student engagement, progress, behaviour, wellbeing and attendance, reporting concerns through appropriate school procedures.
• Build positive professional relationships with students and work collaboratively with colleagues, leaders, parents and carers and external partners to support the effective operation of the school and cover supervision service.
• Support inclusion or behaviour teams during unallocated lessons and contribute to the supervision and safety of students during duties, after-school activities, off-site activities and other allocated periods across the school day.
• Undertake exam invigilation when required, maintaining compliance with the rules and procedures of external examination boards and internal regulations.
• Ensure students have appropriate resources for work set, collect and return completed work and provide relevant feedback to teaching colleagues on engagement, progress and barriers to learning.
• Manage and monitor the departmental budget effectively and comply with safeguarding, health and safety, risk assessment, behaviour and data protection requirements while maintaining professional conduct and confidentiality.

Further details of responsibilities and requirements can be found in the Job Description and Person Specification.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

• NVQ Level 3 qualification or equivalent.
• An understanding of how students with SEMH needs learn, how learning activities are delivered in a classroom environment and the ability to adapt support to meet emotional and behavioural needs and maintain engagement with learning.
• Knowledge of health and safety in relation to buildings maintenance.
• Good communication and strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive and trusting relationships with students and communicate expectations clearly and appropriately to young people.
• Excellent time management and effective organisational skills, with the ability to respond flexibly to changing situations.
• A resilient, patient and empathetic approach, with the ability to remain calm under pressure and maintain a firm but friendly approach when working with young people.
• A positive attitude towards working with young people, including those with additional needs, together with self-confidence, a strong sense of responsibility and a good sense of humour.
• The ability to maintain confidentiality at all times and a flexible approach to working, with commitment to ongoing service and personal development through self-evaluation and learning from others.
• A commitment to safeguarding, equality and promoting the welfare of children and young people, including awareness of local safeguarding policies and procedures, the requirement to report concerns, procedures relating to student registration and students missing from class, and suitability to work with children.

ABOUT MAIDEN ERLEGH TRUST

Maiden Erlegh Trust is a growing community of schools across Berkshire and Oxfordshire, working together to deliver the best possible education for every child and young person. With around 800 staff and 5000 students across nine schools, including primary, secondary, special, and alternative provision, we are proud of the diversity that shapes our expertise.

We Aim High, Be Inclusive, and Work Together. These values drive our focus on high-quality education for all, through collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

Through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, colleagues access high-quality professional learning at every stage of their career, supported by mentoring, leadership opportunities, and our annual MET Staff Conference—a day that unites our whole team in sharing best practice and learning.

Joining our Trust means being part of a community that invests in people and values expertise; it is about playing a direct role in shaping the lives and outcomes of young people.

About Hamilton School

Hamilton School in Reading is a place of opportunity, belonging, and growth for young people aged 11-16. As a special school within Maiden Erlegh Trust, it provides a highly supportive environment for students who benefit from smaller classes, strong relationships, and personalised approaches that help them learn, develop confidence, and succeed in life.

Every day at Hamilton is different. Staff work closely as a team to spark curiosity, celebrate progress, and help students build the skills they need for the future. The school moved into its purpose-built home on Bulmershe Road in 2022, a modern, welcoming space designed around the needs of its learners.

Hamilton supports students with social, emotional and mental health needs and is recognised for its expertise, teamwork, and impact, including a nomination for a Pride of Reading Award from parents.

The Hamilton team are united by their commitment and compassion, and colleagues describe the staff team as exceptional in how they support one another and their students.

As part of our Trust’s Special and Alternative Provision Hub, colleagues also connect across schools to share practice, develop professionally, and access strong wellbeing support.

Joining our Trust means being part of a community that invests in people and values expertise - it is about playing a direct role in shaping the lives and outcomes of young people.

BENEFITS

• Pension Scheme: Generous employer contributions, with auto-enrolment into either the Teachers Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme, both Career Average Earning Schemes.
• Annual Leave: We offer a generous holiday entitlement, which increases with length of service.
• ME Day: Colleagues may request one additional day’s leave each year to attend a special personal event, such as a child’s sports day or graduation, or a family celebration.
• Professional Development: We offer a comprehensive programme of professional learning through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, including opportunities to both attend and deliver CPD. Colleagues also take part in our annual Conference, a full day of workshops, networking and learning for all staff. Colleagues can also access a range of professional development opportunities using Apprenticeship Levy funding, and benefit from professional development networks.
• Hybrid Working: For eligible roles, we support a flexible approach to working arrangements, balancing remote and office-based work where appropriate.
• Perkbox: Colleagues have access to Perkbox, which offers a wide range of discounts and wellness resources and receive 25 Perk points each month which can be exchanged for goods and services.
• Wellbeing and Health: Free flu vaccinations are offered to all staff, and free eye tests are provided to those who are eligible.
• Employee Assistance Programme: Incorporating discount vouchers, access to 24/7 support and more.
• Mental Health First Aid support.
• Recognition and Community: We regularly celebrate staff achievements, milestones and contributions across our schools, reinforcing a strong sense of belonging within the #TeamMET community.
• Employee Referral Scheme.