Breaktimes Support Assistant
Oak Grove College, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 1JX6 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
12 October 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
6 October 2026
Job details
Job role
- Other support role
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time: Monday to Friday, 10.30am to 1.30pm.
Contract type
- Fixed term - 6 months with strong likelihood of extension
Pay scale
- NJC Grade 3, Points 3-4 £13.28 - £13.48 per hour
What skills and experience we're looking for
Breaktimes Support Assistants form an important part of our staff team, enhancing the lunchtime experience for our students to ensure that the social development of all is promoted, alongside a positive attitude to a healthy lifestyle.
We are looking for individuals with some of the following skills, knowledge and experience:
- Ability to supervise students during playtime, both indoor and outdoor
- Ability to engage with students and promote their social development and self esteem
- Ability to supervise students 1:1 at breaktime and lunchtime
- Ability to work in a classroom to release staff for their breaks
- Experience in supporting students giving careful attention to safety and well-being and actively encouraging play
- Understanding of behaviour issues and strategies to manage them
- Capacity to work flexibly across range of student settings
- Effective team working
- Fluency in English
- Ability to work with staff to support with Manual Handling issues
A programme of support and training will be offered. Attendance on some training days would be required. Prior experience with students with complex learning needs is preferred but not essential as a programme of support and training will be offered.
What the school offers its staff
Oak Grove College is a community generic special school providing special education for 286 students with learning difficulties from Year 7 to Year 14. We are part of the Thrive Federation of Schools which also includes Palatine Primary School, Herons Dale School and Cornfield School.
We are immensely proud of our college and our community. We are committed to providing the very best for young people while they are with us, helping them to develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and aspiration to succeed throughout their lives. We have a staff team of about 180 people and we believe in looking after everyone well. We know that our staff team make the college what it is today and are the key to a successful future.
Staff are well supported by the leadership team and are offered opportunities to progress. We know that each and every one of our staff have a pivotal role to play and we believe in supporting everyone to achieve their potential. We have been awarded the Gold School Mental Health award and our staff wellbeing and mental health is paramount to the success of Oak Grove College. Oak Grove College is a rewarding place to work and staff report high levels of job satisfaction.
We know that our staff work hard to do their very best each day for our students and we believe in looking after them well in return. We pay for an extensive health and welfare support service for all our staff which includes physiotherapy, counselling, mindfulness support, menopause support, chronic illness support, weight management and much, much more.
Oak Grove College has convenient road and rail links with good public transport available. It is a 15 minute walk from Durrington-on-Sea train station, there is a bus stop just by the entrance, a large car park for those travelling by car and good pedestrian access for those on foot. West Sussex County Council staff can also obtain 15% staff discount on Southern Rail daily, weekly, monthly and annual tickets and are entitled to a range of other travel discounts and incentives too.
As part of our growth and commitment to providing exceptional educational experiences for all our students, we are excited to announce plans to open a new satellite site less than 2 miles from our existing campus. Candidates joining our team should be ready to embrace the unique opportunities the new location will offer and be prepared to work at both sites. This is a fantastic chance to be part of an innovative chapter in our school’s development allowing us to continue to make a positive impact on student’s lives across our community.
New employees joining Oak Grove College are guaranteed a warm welcome from the community. Our motto is that ‘Everyone matters, every day counts’ and we strongly believe that this should include our entire college community. We look forward to getting to know you better and helping you to play your part in providing the very best to our young people.
Further information about the job
Purpose of the Role
To ensure there is a secure and welcoming facility to support, motivate and supervise students in eating their meal and undertaking play activities.
Responsible for the health, safety, conduct and wellbeing of all students.
Ensure the smooth running of the meal arrangements by anticipating and dealing with
problems and promoting constructive play ideas with students.
To lead play with students.
Key Duties:
- Check noticeboards and morning email daily for notices.
- Be proactive in promoting and engaging in positive interactions with students during breaktime and lunchtime supervision period which supports the development of social interaction, both with groups of students and 1-1.
- Responsible for covering classroom duties to allow Teaching Assistants to take their allocated breaks.
- Supervise students during break and lunchtimes, both indoor and outdoor, giving careful attention to safety and well-being and actively encouraging their play.
- Cover Teaching Assistants lunches.
- Serve out and, if necessary, cut up and prepare lunch for students so the students can swallow the food.
- Support and supervise students as they eat.
- Tidy up tables and chairs at the end of the meal.
- Ensure appropriate movement of students around the college site.
- Undertake various additional tasks e.g. cleaning students after soiling, helping students change if they get wet or muddy, taking them to a First aider if they have a minor accident.
- Prepare activities for play, getting equipment ready, supervising the activity, encouraging participation, interact with the students and put equipment away at the end of break and lunchtime.
- Supervise students during wet play, get out and play games and activities with students, putting activities and games away at the end of break.
- Ensure students go to the Assembly point (Courtyard) and follow the fire emergency plan if the fire alarm is activated.
- Manage behaviours positively upholding the college rules and using distraction and de-escalation.
- Use strategies so that college can start their afternoon in a positive mood.
- Ensure that communication with college students is at their level and that appropriate resources are used to promote effective communication.
- Ensure that any equipment used with students is safe and suitable.
- Act as a role model for students, communicating effectively, dressing appropriately and being respectful towards students at all times.
- Be assertive and consistent in upholding the college rules especially in relation to health and safety.
- After discussion with class staff, follow college policies in relation to managing behaviour and promoting good standards in college. This will involve following specific plans, strategies and systems for individual students e.g. using symbol assisted communication.
- Follow procedures on students S.O.S forms.
- Handover students to class staff, letting them know about how the break time has been, discussing any issues with them, ensuring the student is in the right place and ready for the next session.
- Exercise judgement in reporting both verbally and in written form any concerns about behaviour or possible safety or security risks.
- Deep clean tables and chairs when required/instructed by member of SLT.
- Take part in any training required suitable for the post.
- Any other reasonable task as directed by the Head Teacher.
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 job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Oak Grove College
- Organisation type
- Special school, ages 11 to 19
- Size
- 274 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Website
- Oak Grove College website
- Email address
- recruitment@oakgrovecollege.org.uk
- Phone number
- 01903 708870
Oak Grove College is a generic special school providing education for students with complex special educational needs and disabilities from 11 to 19 years old.
School location
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