Lunchtime Assistant - Wyvern Academy

Wyvern Academy, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 5AL

27 days remaining to apply

Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
4 January 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
8 December 2025

Job details

Job role: Catering, cleaning and site management
Other support roles
Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern: Part time: 12.5hrs per week, Monday – Friday 11:30am-14:00, Term time only
Contract type: Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary: £24,130 – £24,982 per annum
Actual salary: For part-time, term-time working £6,788 – £7,002
Hourly rate: £12.54-£12.98

What skills and experience we're looking for

Lunchtime at Wyvern Academy is no ordinary lunch break –it’s a daily blend of chatter, smiles, and those small magical moments that stay with you long after the bell rings. It’s where confidence grows over shared jokes, friendships bloom over sandwiches, and tiny triumphs feel like big wins. And yes… occasionally something unexpected happens (it keeps life interesting).

If you’re someone who brings calm to chaos, joy to the everyday, and has a soft spot for the moments that make you think,“This is exactly where I’m meant to be,”then you just might be the hero our lunchtimes are waiting for. Here, your kindness, patience, and sense of humour won’t just be appreciated – they’ll help our pupils feel safe, seen, and ready to tackle the rest of their day.

What you’ll be doing:

Getting to know our pupils and helping them feel safe, supported, and welcomed.
Keeping an eye on the dining hall and making sure everyone is happy, calm, and doing well.
Encouraging good manners, good hygiene, and good eating habits (with plenty of gentle guidance).
Setting up and tidying away the hall so it’s clean, organised, and ready for the next round.
Helping keep equipment clean and everything running smoothly behind the scenes.
Making lunchtime a positive, feel-good part of the day.
Working closely with our friendly team to support each pupil with care and creativity.
Adding joy, fun, and a warm smile to the midday routine.

Who we’re looking for:

Someone kind, upbeat, reliable, and great with children and young adults.A friendly face who brings positivity wherever they go.
Patient, empathetic, and full of energy (or at least good at pretending!).
Compassionate, open-minded, and creative – because every pupil is wonderfully different.
Organised and able to juggle tasks with surprising grace.
Calm under pressure, even when the day throws curveballs.
Passionate about supporting young people with complex needs – and armed with excellent patience.

What the school offers its staff

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
We’re a supportive team who’ll have your back during the good, the bad, and the “Did that really just happen?” moments.
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.
A school that celebrates progress, not just results.
A rewarding role where no two days are the same and every day makes a difference!
The opportunity to develop your career in a School and Southern Education Trust, a growing Trust.

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.If you’re looking for a role that challenges, rewards, and fills you with purpose in a world where every day is unique and every moment counts, this could be the role for you!

If you’re looking for a role that challenges, rewards, and fills you with purpose in a world where every day is unique and every moment counts, this could be the role for you!

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Become part of our journey, by completing our Support Staff Application Form and returning it to recruitment@southern.education if you would like to apply. See our Midday Supervisor Assistant Job Description for further details on the role and our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

Closing date: 4th January 2026

Interview date: 14th January 2026

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. The Trust is an equal opportunities employer.

If successfully shortlisted the HR Department will also be conducting an individual online search including social media platforms 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.

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.