[250909A] Mealtime Assistant
Drake Primary Academy, Plymouth, Devon, PL2 2EN15 days remaining to apply
Job start date
3 November 2025
Closing date
25 September 2025 at 12:59am
Date listed
10 September 2025
Job details
Job role
- Other support roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £24,413.00 Annually (FTE) NJC Grade A Pt 2
[250909A] Mealtime Assistant job summary
Post: [250909A] Mealtime Assistant
Locations: Drake Primary Academy, Johnston Terrace Ope, Keyham, Plymouth, PL2 2EN
FTE Salary Range: NJC Grade A
Contract Type: Permanent (39 weeks per year)
Contract Hours: The hours are 11:45 am to 1 pm (Monday to Friday, term time only, plus 1 week)
About the role
We are looking for a caring Mealtime Assistants (MTA) who can interact with the children and undertake the responsibility of supervising and ensuring the safety of the children at all times. You will be required to work for one hour and fifteen minutes a day, Monday to Friday.
The main duties of the role are, to assist with the well-being of pupils during lunchtime. To supervise the children in the dining areas encourage them to use good table manners, ensure they clear away their plates and wipe up any spills. Outside on the playground, to play safety and co-ordinate or initiate games for the pupils and deal with minor first aid incidents.
About the successful candidate
- Experience of working with children is not essential, just the passion to help the children have a positive lunchtime whilst being prepared to work inside and outside in all weathers.
- Experience of working as part of team providing high quality childcare services
- Knowledge of child protection issues and policies and relevant Safeguarding procedures
- Already holding a first aid qualification would be advantageous
About the School
Drake Primary Academy finds itself at an exciting time as we continue to develop our curriculum to achieve the best possible outcomes for children. We have dedicated staff and our children love learning. We are a forward-thinking school that has an exciting value led curriculum.
We pride ourselves on being a warm and friendly school that welcomes visitors and actively encourages a partnership with parents. The school received a GOOD from its September 2021 OFSTED inspection. Ofsted noted that 'staff go the extra mile to help pupils- whenever they need it.'
We strive to provide a high quality creative and engaging education within a caring and happy environment where our children thrive. We believe that education is a lifelong process and that whatever children learn here with us will from the building blocks for the rest of their lives.
We Offer:
The support of our Head Mealtime assistant and wider staff
Working within a friendly whole school team where the children’s needs are placed at the heart of all we do
A hardworking but caring environment where the children thrive.
Providing you with the opportunity to work alongside other members of the school, our partner school Morice Town Primary and the wider trust staff.
Access to Reach South Multi Academy Trust’s high quality continuous professional development programme.
Access to a range of Trust benefits
Drake Primary is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and it expects all staff to share this commitment. This appointment is subject to enhanced DBS employment checks and suitability check.
About the Trust
Reach South is a young and developing Trust which operates across the South West of England with the aim of delivering all through 3-19 education. We operate 16 academies in Plymouth, Bournemouth, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. We are building this Trust on a clear set of values, behaviours and curriculum principles. At the heart of those values and principles is a belief in our young people and a determination to support them to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to become the successful citizens for today and all of their tomorrows.
Our core values are aspiration, resilience, excellence, integrity and service and our aspiration is for every young person to fulfil their potential. Social mobility and social justice are important to us at Reach South. We equip our leaders to make sure their schools are at the centre of their communities, and provide pathways to success for each pupil.
Those we recruit are able to demonstrate that they share our values, are highly motivated to work with colleagues, within and beyond their school, to continuously develop their skills and pursue professional excellence.
Next Steps
If you think this role may be for you and want to be involved at this exciting time in our development and have any questions about the position, please get in touch by calling the Recruitment team on 07759 365064 or emailing us at recruitment@reachsouth.org.
Closing date: for applications is midnight, 24th September 2025
Interview Date: Interviews are provisionally booked for the week commencing 6th October 2025
To apply for this opportunity, please complete our online application form by clicking ‘apply now’ on the advert.
We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date. Therefore, an early application is strongly advised.
Opportunities and Benefits
We offer a competitive salary plus LGPS pension, great career progression and development opportunities, access to our Employee Assistance Programme with many other benefits.
We’re proud of how we support our staff in order that you have high levels of job satisfaction, are aware of the difference you are making for the children and families you work with and can see your contribution towards our community. There are regular opportunities for professional development and training, and a wider community of staff to network with within Reach South Multi Academy Trust. You will have the chance to visit other local schools, work alongside a range of outside professionals and take part in a variety of e-learning and face-to-face training.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Each post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Reach South Academy Trust has an Equal Opportunities Policy for selection and recruitment. Applicants are requested to complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring section of the application form before submitting.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Drake Primary Academy
- School type
- Academy, ages 4 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary
- School size
- 171 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Drake Primary Academy website
School location
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