Location: London Borough of Barnet
Hours: Part-Time Term-Time Only
Working Pattern: Lunchtime cover Monday to Friday
Pay: Competitive with opportunities for regular hours
Schools across Barnet are seeking reliable patient and approachable Midday Meal Supervisors (MDM) to ensure children have safe structured and positive lunchtimes.
Though the role is part-time it has a significant impact on pupils daily experiences. Lunchtime is a key part of the school day offering children the chance to socialise develop independence and practise social skills. As an MDM your calm fair and supportive approach will help children navigate this lively period safely.
Barnet schools are known for high standards of pastoral care and strong community values. Lunchtime supervision is seen as an extension of the schools ethos supporting:
Positive behaviour
Safety and wellbeing
Social development
Inclusion for children with additional needs
You may work in:
Large primary or secondary school dining halls
Outdoor playgrounds and recreational spaces
Wet-weather indoor activity areas
Schools with diverse pupil populations
MDMs are integral to ensuring lunchtime is calm enjoyable and safe for all pupils.
Key responsibilities include:
Supervising pupils in the dining hall while they eat
Helping younger children with trays cutlery or food
Encouraging polite behaviour and social interaction
Monitoring children with allergies or dietary restrictions
Supervising playground activities games and free play
Supporting children who are upset anxious or struggling socially
Managing low-level behavioural issues calmly and fairly
Communicating any concerns to senior staff or teaching staff
Ensuring adherence to school safeguarding and health & safety policies
You will act as a consistent positive presence helping children feel safe and supported throughout lunchtime.
Formal teaching or childcare qualifications are not required. The most important qualities are reliability patience and a calm approach.
Ideal candidates are:
Observant and proactive
Friendly yet firm
Confident supervising groups of children
Patient and empathetic
Reliable and punctual
Many successful MDMs come from backgrounds such as:
Parenting or caring experience
Nursery or early years work
Youth work or community support
Customer service roles requiring responsibility
Retirees seeking meaningful part-time work
Training and guidance are provided to ensure you feel supported and confident.
Lunchtime is a period when children:
Socialise and build friendships
Navigate unstructured time
Experience independence
Face potential conflict or accidents
A strong MDM ensures:
Safety for all pupils
Prevention of accidents or conflicts
Encouragement of positive behaviour
Emotional support for pupils who need reassurance
Smooth transition back to classroom learning
Even though the role is part-time your impact is long-lasting.
Typically 12 hours per day
Monday to Friday
Term-time only
This role offers excellent work-life balance ideal for combining with other commitments.
All MDM roles in Barnet require:
Enhanced DBS clearance
Safeguarding training
Adherence to school policies
Schools take safeguarding seriously and expect lunchtime staff to uphold the same standards.
A valued role in a school community
Strong relationships with pupils and staff
Sense of responsibility and purpose
Experience in an educational setting
The satisfaction of positively impacting childrens day
Your calm approachable approach can transform lunchtime into a safe and enjoyable experience for every pupil.
If you are looking for a meaningful part-time role where your presence directly supports childrens safety social skills and wellbeing consider becoming a Midday Meal Supervisor in Barnet.
Your contribution can make lunchtime one of the best parts of a childs day every day.
Write a short description of your company, a boilerplate of the business, service or product that you offer. Include your business idea and the target audience. This text is primarily supposed to be descriptive, not selling.