Midday Assistant (OPAL)

St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Buckhurst Hill, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, IG9 5RX

8 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  4 September 2025 at 1pm

• Date listed

  22 August 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Pastoral, health and welfare
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £5,098.00 - £5,175.00 Annually (Actual) term time only, salary will be annualised and paid equally over 12 months

Midday Assistant (OPAL) job summary

We are looking to appoint a patient, caring and enthusiastic Play Team member to join our lunchtime team As part of your role you will have to manage the effective running of lunchtimes, providing compassion and kindness to all our pupils while facilitating play.

We are an OPAL school (Outdoor Play and Learning) where the focus is on creating a safe and stimulating play environment by facilitating play opportunities and acting as an ambassador for play. This is a great opportunity for an individual who is reliable, flexible and positive who enjoys interacting with children and who likes working as part of a team.

The successful candidate will need to:

• Be able to communicate and interact effectively with both children and adults

• An enthusiasm for working with children outside

• The stamina and resourcefulness to initiate active games and demonstrate safe play

• The ability to manage risk safely and confidently

• The ability to work within specific routines and systems as directed (e.g. in the lunch hall)

• Able to support pupils to manage their behaviour in a supportive and calm manner.

In return we can offer:

• Friendly experienced team

• Training

• Access to the local government pension scheme

• A wellbeing package including an annual term time wellbeing day and Employee Assistance Programme

• Cycle to work scheme

Epping Forest Schools Partnership Trust (EFSPT) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. The post is subject to a successful DBS check and pre-employment checks will be undertaken before an appointment is confirmed. Online searches are conducted on all shortlisted candidates. EFSPT is committed to equality, and to making fair and equitable treatment an integral part of everything we do.

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 St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Buckhurst Hill

• School type: Academy, Church of England, ages 5 to 11
• Education phase: Primary
• School size: 414 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 5 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Buckhurst Hill website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/st-john-s-church-of-england-voluntary-controlled-primary-school-buckhurst-hill-buckhurst-hill

Welcome to St John's C of E Primary School

St John’s is a traditional school for the 21st Century. At St John’s we pride ourselves on our high standards in all areas of school life. As Head Teacher, I am proud to lead a dedicated and well-qualified team of staff, who are committed not just to high academic standards, but also to developing the whole child. Our vision, ‘Life in all its Fullness’ John 10:10 embodies our belief in enriching the children’s school experience as much as possible.

We take pride in both our excellent academic record and the musical, artistic and sporting achievements of our children. Furthermore, our school values of Achievement, Honesty, Caring, Responsibility, Forgiveness and Resilience develop both character and attitude, ensuring that our children leave St John’s happy, well rounded and prepared for their next step in education.

St John’s School aspires to be a community in which;

There is an atmosphere of confidence, striving for excellence and an enjoyment of learning. adults and children are valued equally. individual needs are recognised and supported.

Our long-term aim is to prepare our pupils to play a full part in a fast-changing, democratic and multi-cultural society and to prepare them for the next phase of their education.

We are part of The Epping Forest Schools Partnership Trust, a Multi-Academy Trust of fifteen Primary Schools and one Special School all based in the Epping Forest District. Along with our SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training), School Improvement Team, Well-being Service and Resourced Provisions based in three of our schools, we are a leading educational organisation in Epping Forest.

EFSPT was formed in 2018 from a consortium of schools that had worked together for over 20 years, and are committed to collaborative working to ensure the best possible outcomes for our children and school communities. The schools maintain their identities but work in a highly collaborative manner supported by a small but very experienced Central Team.

Our Mission is to provide an exceptional education that is inclusive and challenging for all and which provides wider opportunities for the children within the EFSPT to flourish.

EFSPT is committed to Trauma Perceptive Practice; the Essex approach to understanding behaviour and supporting emotional well-being. Being trauma-perceptive means that through our values, policies and practice, we are able to effectively support the children, families and communities in our Trust, creating spaces of belonging and safety that enable everyone to flourish, become resilient and learn.

We are an Equal Opportunities employer and we are committed to safeguarding our schools’ communities. The appointment will therefore be subject to satisfactory references and enhanced DBS checks.

Jonathan Furness Head Teacher

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