Lunchtime Supervisory Assistant (OPAL Play Team)

Knebworth Primary and Nursery School, Knebworth, Hertfordshire, SG3 6AA

16 days remaining to apply

• Closing date

  2 September 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  17 August 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other support role
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £27,796.00 - £25,185.00 Annually (FTE) The position is term time only, 5 days a week, 11:45am until 1.15pm to cover the lunchtime period.

Lunchtime Supervisory Assistant (OPAL Play Team) job summary

About the role
We are looking for a warm, energetic, and compassionate individual to join our Play Team and help transform lunchtimes into exciting opportunities for creativity, adventure, friendship, and discovery.

At Knebworth School, we recognise the powerful role that play has in supporting children's happiness, wellbeing, confidence, and development. As part of our Play Team, you will help create an inclusive outdoor environment where children feel safe, valued, and inspired to explore, imagine, and learn through play.

Working alongside colleagues, you will encourage meaningful child-led play experiences, support positive relationships, and help every child find enjoyment during their lunchtime break.

The successful candidate will be willing to undertake First Aid and OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) training and will share our commitment to providing high-quality play opportunities for all children.

The position is term time only, 5 days a week, 11:45am until 1.15pm to cover the lunchtime period.

The main roles and responsibilities will include:

• Work as part of the Play Team to cover all lunchtime tasks daily. This will include sessions outside, and in the dining hall.

• Work with the play leader to ensure all children have access to exciting age-appropriate play opportunities every lunch time.

• Facilitate play opportunities and act as an ambassador for play.

• Ensure that all our children have a safe site for play.

• Assess play areas for risks daily and communicate/implement any changes required.

• Assist with putting out and packing away of play equipment/kit.

• Assess and deliver first aid to pupils (when trained).

• Assist children at lunch, e.g. with queuing, getting seated, opening packets, spillages, disputes, clearing plates encourage good eating, hygiene and social skills.

• Clear and clean the hall during service (e.g. spillages, assisting with waste food, trays and cutlery).

• Offer pastoral care, support and advice for children during lunchtime.

• Contribute ideas and suggestions to improve the team practices and performance.

• Promote and safeguard the safety and welfare of children in accordance with school child protection and behaviour management policies.

• Support and uphold the school’s values system and school rules and reward pupils with verbal praise for positive attitudes and behaviours.

• Attend periodic team meetings and/or training for professional development.

• To complete school-based induction and any subsequent training required

The successful candidate will:

• Bring enthusiasm, kindness, and positivity to every day.

• Enjoy engaging with children (all ages in the primary school range 4 to 11 years) and supporting their development.

• Value the importance of play in children's lives.

• Help create a safe, stimulating, and inclusive environment.

• Be keen to learn and develop through training and professional development opportunities.

• Have strong teamwork skills; enjoy being part of a team, be supportive, flexible and reliable.

Please note - this post involves being outdoors in all weathers, and standing/walking for the duration of the lunch period. Candidates should therefore consider the physical demands of the role prior to applying.

To help us meet our high standards and aspirations of a fully diverse and inclusive workplace, we strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply and to join us.

If you are ready to inspire play, encourage imagination, and help children flourish, we would be delighted to welcome you to our team.

For more information about the role or to see a lunchtime in action then please email head@knebworth.herts.sch.uk

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.

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.

About Knebworth Primary and Nursery School

• Organisation type: Local authority maintained school, ages 3 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• Size: 390 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 3 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Knebworth Primary and Nursery School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/knebworth-primary-and-nursery-school

Knebworth School is a magical place to learn and grow with the children at the centre of everything we do with inclusion and belonging close to our hearts.  We are known for our exceptional teaching and learning with a curriculum that is both inspiring and ambitious and one which prepares our children for life in a modern sustainable Britain.  We are proud to call ourselves a No Outsiders school, where all members of our school community are celebrated, feel valued and are represented.

Our school lies in the heart of a close village community and has done so for over 100 years since the school opened in 1912.  The school is set within the heart of the village, with the high street and local shops easily accessible.  Knebworth train station (Kings Cross line) is approximately 10 minutes’ walk from the school. 

Unique to our school is our strong team of passionate, caring staff.  We are in essence a big family but we have the warmth and feeling of a small school.  Everyone knows and respects one another.  

We have Deep Roots within the community and as such our children develop deep roots.  We passionately believe in developing the whole child and giving them the secure foundations essential for them to be respectful, responsible and resilient young adults who can thrive in an ever-changing world.  We have High Aspirations for all our children.  We want them to be the best, to stand out, to dream big and to lead successful, fulfilling lives. 

At Knebworth, we have three school values - Respect, Responsibility and Resilience and these can be applied to both learning and social behaviours.  Our school values apply not only to our children but to our staff, parents and the wider community.  By having a connection with the school either by working here or sending your children here we do expect all adults to embody and live our school values.

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