Classroom assistant hours.

matphil

Hi.
Does anyone know how many hours a classroom assistant would be employed for. If the school opens from 9am - 3pm would you be employed for 25 hours or 30 hours a week.
Thanks.

System

it depends on the requirements of the school my friend has different hours each year because it depends on how many kids need extra support each year.

LittleVoice

It would be unlikely to be 30 as you are not likely to be paid for preparation time but only classroom contact time - and I'm sure they would want you to take a lunch break.

matphil

Thanks both. That's why I'm not sure about the hours. I have just checked on my local job site and there is a job advertised for 30 hours from 9pm to 3pm. I though they might be 25 hours because of the dinner hour.

Caroline73_2

If you work for six hours you are entitled to a paid break of 20mins. Chances are you will be working from 9am- 3pm with just a 20 min break, and not a lunch hour.

babyblooz

it may be that they want you to help a child with their actual lunch, maybe you could have your lunch with them, that happened to me at one school I worked in!

starsinmycrown

I used to do this, it doesn't "mean" anything per se in terms of times. A lot of CSAs start at 8.15am, some start 8.45, some start as late as 9.30am. It may well be irregular hours. if youre working with a statemented child it'll be as per their hours, as a poster suggests, you may be required to work through lunch, or you may be expected to stay behind or come in early for preparation. It's best to check to make sure if you have other commitments like taking your own children to school.

LittleVoice

Caroline73 wrote: »

If you work for six hours you are entitled to a paid break of 20mins. Chances are you will be working from 9am- 3pm with just a 20 min break, and not a lunch hour.

Correction: If you are required to work for more than six hours, you are entitled to an unpaid break of 20 mins.

The job is as a classroom assistant and I would expect the children to have more than 20 minutes between morning and afternoon sessions. However if "classroom assistant" means "personal dining room supervisor" as well then that would equate to the 30 hours mentioned. As in above paragraph, this would not be against the working time regulations about breaks.

jem16

LittleVoice wrote: »

The job is as a classroom assistant and I would expect the children to have more than 20 minutes between morning and afternoon sessions.

Classroom assistants in my school work the normal school hours. The 1 hour lunch break would see them have 30 minutes for their actual lunch and 30 minutes playground supervision. They also generally have a 15 minute tea break halfway through the morning.

I couldn't tell you what their official hours are though.

affordmylife

the school that i work at the ta's start at 8.50am (although many are there before that) and finish at 3.05pm. i think they are paid for about 27.5 hours and get a 3/4 hr lunch break.

i work there as a supply ta and work 9am to 3pm with a 3/4 hr lunch break (unpaid) so i am paid for 5.25 hrs a day. i do this in order to take my own children to and from school but this is an arrangement i have with the school as a supply member of staff this would not apply to people applying for a contracted position.