Mealtime Assistant

Victoria Road Primary, Plymouth, Devon, PL5 1RH

9 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  asap

• Closing date

  21 October 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  12 October 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other support role
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Fixed term
• Full time equivalent salary: £3,827.00 Annually (Actual)

Mealtime Assistant job summary

Are you friendly, caring and enthusiastic about supporting children? Do you enjoy working as part of a team and making a positive difference to children's school experience?

We are seeking a dedicated Mealtime Assistant to join our welcoming team at Victoria Road Primary School , part of the Learning Academies Trust. This is a wonderful opportunity to play an important role in ensuring our pupils enjoy a safe, happy and positive lunchtime experience.

About the Role

As a Mealtime Assistant, you will help create a positive lunchtime environment by:

Supervising pupils in the dining hall and playground

Promoting positive behaviour and safe play

Encouraging good manners, healthy eating and hygiene practices

Supporting children to engage positively with their peers

Assisting with minor first aid incidents and reporting concerns appropriately

Helping maintain a clean, safe and welcoming environment during lunchtime

Supporting the school's safeguarding and wellbeing responsibilities.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working with children, has a caring and calm approach, and can build positive relationships with pupils whilst maintaining high expectations.

What We're Looking For

We would love to hear from candidates who:

Have experience working with children, either professionally or through voluntary work

Have a caring, calm and friendly manner

Understand the importance of safeguarding and confidentiality

Are reliable, punctual and flexible

Can support positive behaviour and inclusion

Enjoy working collaboratively as part of a team

A First Aid qualification and previous school experience would be advantageous but are not essential.

About the School

Located in the heart of the St Budeaux community, Victoria Road Primary School is a warm, inclusive and nurturing school where every child is encouraged to become the very best version of themselves. Our school is built upon the values of Belong, Enjoy, Aim High and Respect, ensuring that every child feels valued, safe and supported in their learning journey.

Our dedicated staff work closely with families and the wider community to create an environment where children thrive academically, socially and emotionally. We celebrate individuality, promote kindness and respect, and strive to ensure every child enjoys their time at school.

About the Trust

The Learning Academies Trust is a family of 18 schools across Plymouth and surrounding areas, dedicated to delivering outstanding education to all our children, whatever their starting point or background. Our Trust’s mission is:

Together we will… work with our children, families, and communities to provide exceptional learning opportunities for all our children

As part of the trust, we will support you to learn and develop, providing outstanding CPD and opportunities for collaboration between schools within the trust sharing resources, expertise and knowledge.

Further information about the position, the trust and the benefits we offer can be found in the attached recruitment pack.

To request a tour of the school or to discuss the role in anyway please contact the school on the number below.

If you believe you can demonstrate the dedication, skills and passion required, we look forward to receiving your application. If there are no vacancies currently, but you would like to register your interest for future vacancies, please join our talent pool and we will be in touch as soon as we have a suitable position.

Please note, the closing date is for guidance only. Successful applicants will be invited to interview at the earliest available opportunity. Learning Academies Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy early if a suitable candidate is found.

With 18 individual primary schools, the Learning Academies Trust is the largest primary school trust in Plymouth and the first education employer in Plymouth to achieve the Livewell Southwest Wellbeing at Work Bronze Award. The Trust is committed to supporting the wellbeing of all staff and is proud to work closely with official bodies to ensure we have a holistic approach to staff wellbeing.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we expect all staff to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; pre-employment checks will be carried out; references will be sought for all shortlisted candidates and all shortlisted candidates will be requested to complete a questionnaire about any convictions or adult cautions that are unspent. Guidance will be given to those shortlisted. Appointment is subject to an Enhanced DBS.

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 Victoria Road Primary

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 2 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• Size: 172 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 2 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Victoria Road Primary website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/victoria-road-primary

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