... and as a Meal Time Assistant in between...!
“I start the working day at breakfast club. We welcome the parents and children into the school, where we have the main hall set up. We play games, do colouring activities and we relay any relevant messages from parents to teachers and help prepare the children for the school day ahead.
I return late morning to set up the hall in preparation for my role as Mealtime Assistant. When the children are in the hall for lunch I encourage them to choose something from the salad bar. I also help the younger children to learn their table skills.
Once the children go outside I help ensure the children are playing safely and happily. I comfort them when they have any bumps or falls.
At 3 o’clock I return to school to set up the hall for Afterschool Club. I collect the children from their classroom’s and note any messages for parents. On returning to the hall the children have the choice of activities, games and construction to play with. We also ask the children if they have anything they would like to play with or any ideas for activities. We also prepare food for the children and they can come and choose what they would like, or help them to make themselves a wrap or a sandwich. I interact with the children may it be an activity, playing a game, building with bricks or imaginative play. Once all the children have finished their snacks we go outside to play. I supervise the children on the fitness zone or join in with a game of hockey, football or tennis.
As the children are being collected we pass on any messages and information from the teachers. Towards the end of the session we return inside with the remaining children to tidy away some toys and then continue to play until all the children are collected.
I have had the pleasure of working in this current role for the last 5 years and have worked in childcare for over 30 years and I can honestly say I love it! It is so rewarding in many ways. It’s great to be one of the team providing wrap around care for the children. I get to work with wonderful colleagues, interact with great parents and look after lovely children.”