Midday Supervisory Assistant

Dorset Council; Ringwood; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

Wyvern Academy is seeking a Lunchtime / Midday Supervisory Assistant to support pupils during lunch. The role is 12.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 11:30am–2:00pm, with a start in November 2026.

The salary is £25,614 per annum full-time equivalent; actual pro-rata pay applies for term-time or part-time working, with a separate annual figure of £7,405 for term-time arrangements. Join a caring team to build positive relationships, supervise in the dining hall, promote healthy habits, and

Qualifications

• Kind, enthusiastic and reliable, with a genuine love for working with children and young people.
• Patient, empathetic and calm, even when things don’t go to plan.
• A positive role model and a friendly, reassuring presence.
• Organised and able to multitask in a busy environment.
• Compassionate, open-minded and creative - because every pupil is unique.
• Resilient and able to bounce back on challenging days.
• Passionate about supporting children and young people with complex learning needs.
• Experience is welcome, but your attitude, values and willingness to learn are what matter most.

Responsibilities

• Building positive, trusting relationships with pupils to create a safe and supportive lunchtime environment
• Supervising pupils in the dining hall, ensuring their safety, wellbeing and dignity at all times
• Encouraging good hygiene, polite table manners and healthy eating habits
• Supporting pupils with individual needs to ensure lunchtime is a positive experience for everyone
• Setting up and clearing the dining area, keeping the hall clean, tidy and welcoming
• Cleaning and tidying equipment, including trays, beakers and cutlery
• Maintaining calm and organisation, even during busy or challenging moments
• Working closely with colleagues to ensure every pupil’s needs are met with care and creativity Bringing energy, positivity and joy to lunchtime - because it really matters

Skills

Kindness & enthusiasm

Reliability

Patience

Calm under pressure

Role modelling

Organisation & multitasking

Creativity

Resilience

Support for learners with needs

Willingness to learn

Job description

Lunchtime / Midday Supervisory Assistant – Wyvern Academy

£25,614 per annum (full time equivalent); actual salary for part-time, term-time only working: £7,405 per annum

12.5 hours per week, Monday – Friday, 11:30am – 2:00pm

To start November 2026

Have you ever seen a pupil’s face light up when they finally master something they’ve been struggling with?

Those moments are what make this role so worthwhile. As a midday supervisor at Wyvern Academy, you’ll support pupils during one of the busiest parts of their day. Lunchtimes can be lively, sometimes noisy, and not always predictable. Some pupils may need extra help with communication, social interaction, or managing their emotions.

There Will Be Times That Test Your Patience, Flexibility, And Calm Approach. But Alongside That, There Are Many Small, Meaningful Moments That Make a Real Difference

• A pupil choosing to sit and eat calmly with others.
• A child using kind words or sharing for the first time.
• Helping someone feel safe and settled during a busy lunchtime.
• A quiet “thank you” or a smile that shows you’ve made them feel supported.

These moments may seem small, but they matter hugely to the pupils - and to us.

If you’re looking for a role where you can support young people, be part of a team, make a positive difference every day, this could be the right place for you.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Building positive, trusting relationships with pupils to create a safe and supportive lunchtime environment
• Supervising pupils in the dining hall, ensuring their safety, wellbeing and dignity at all times
• Encouraging good hygiene, polite table manners and healthy eating habits
• Supporting pupils with individual needs to ensure lunchtime is a positive experience for everyone
• Setting up and clearing the dining area, keeping the hall clean, tidy and welcoming
• Cleaning and tidying equipment, including trays, beakers and cutlery
• Maintaining calm and organisation, even during busy or challenging moments

Working closely with colleagues to ensure every pupil’s needs are met with care and creativity Bringing energy, positivity and joy to lunchtime - because it really matters

Who we’re looking for

We’re Looking For Someone Who Is

• Kind, enthusiastic and reliable, with a genuine love for working with children and young people
• Patient, empathetic and calm, even when things don’t go to plan
• A positive role model and a friendly, reassuring presence
• Organised and able to multitask in a busy environment
• Compassionate, open-minded and creative - because every pupil is unique
• Resilient and able to bounce back on challenging days
• Passionate about supporting children and young people with complex learning needs
• Experience is welcome, but your attitude, values and willingness to learn are what matter most.

Further Information

Closing date: 14th June 2026

Interview date: 23rd June 2026

Please note: Applications may be viewed on receipt and interviews arranged sooner than the above date.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, this role involves directly working with children and significant contact with children, and therefore we expect all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Please ensure a full work history is completed in your application form including any gaps of employment. Applicants will be required to complete satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for this post prior to commencement. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The Trust is an equal opportunities employer.

If successfully shortlisted the HR Department will also be conducting an individual online search of your ‘name, education and employment’, to demonstrate due diligence following ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education' guidance. The search will not form part of the actual shortlisting process and any concerns arising from the search will be discussed directly with you.

About Us

At Wyvern Academy, part of the Southern Education Trust, we’re passionate about “making lives better” by creating an environment where every child, regardless of their challenges, can shine. We specialise in supporting children and young people aged 2 to 19 years with learning difficulties, including autism, physical and sensory disabilities and healthcare needs.

We are a place where progress is celebrated - even when it looks different from pupil to pupil - and where relationships, patience and perseverance matter just as much as expertise.

Why join us?

• The chance to make a huge difference in the lives of young people, one small victory at a time.
• Comprehensive support, Induction and training package
• Professional development opportunities because we’re all about helping you grow, both as a person and in your ability to juggle six things at once!
• You will be part of an inclusive and collaborative team that, no matter what the challenge may be, are ready to face it head on and are committed to seeing it through.
• The opportunity to develop your career in a School and Southern Education Trust, a growing Trust.

If you want a role where the progress is real, the impact is deep, and the rewards come from honest human connection, then Wyvern might just be the place where you make your difference.