Pilgrim Primary Academy, Reach South Academy Trust,  is seeking to appoint two Mealtime Assistants to join the School 

Post:                           Mealtime Assistants

Location:                   Pilgrim Primary Academy, Oxford Street, Plymouth, PL1 5BQ                                      

 Salary Range:            Grade A, £24,413, pro-rata, per annum

                                           (Actual Salary £4,403) per annum

 Hours/Contract:        Part-time, 7.5 hours per week, Permanent, Term time, 39 weeks a year 

The Role: We are looking for two caring Mealtime Assistants (MTA’s) to undertake the responsibility of supervising and ensuring the safety of the children during our lunchtime provision. These roles will help embed a recently introduced improved lunchtime structure for our pupils. You will be required to work for one hour and thirty minutes each day, Monday to Friday over the lunchtime period (times to be confirmed on appointment). 

The main duties of the role are to supervise the children in the dining areas, encourage them to use good table manners and to ensure they clear away their plates.  You will need an awareness of safety at all times, being required to wipe up any spills on tables or floors and to monitor children’s safe movement around the school environment. Outside on the playground you will be relied upon to model and supervise safe and engaging play, co-ordinating or initiating games for the pupils.   You will support the general well-being of pupils during lunchtime,modelling and supporting all social interactions.

The Person: Experience of working with children is not essential, just the passion to help improve the experiences of our children within the school environment, a positive ‘can-do’ attitude (whilst being prepared to work inside and outside - in all weathers!).

School Background: Pilgrim is a friendly, caring and welcoming place, with children's learning, happiness and well-being at the heart of all we do.  We understand that children will only get the best education when there are strong and respectful relationships between both pupils, staff, parents and the wider community.  We are very proud of the positive relationships that exist at Pilgrim. 

Our aim is to develop confident young people who have high aspirations, a clear sense of themselves as learners and citizens, and who can contribute positively to their futures and those of others.

Trust Background:  Reach South is a young and developing Trust which operates across the South West of England with the aim of delivering all through 3-19 education.  We operate 16 academies in Plymouth, Bournemouth, Dorset and Wiltshire.  We are building this Trust on a clear set of values, behaviours and curriculum principles. At the heart of those values and principles is a belief in our young people and a determination to support them to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to become the successful citizens for today and all of their tomorrows. Our vision is to enable individual academies to flourish with curriculum autonomy, within a consistent framework of a metacognition focused pedagogy.  We are committed to collaboration with other schools, MATs, colleges, Local Authorities, employers and Government to bring the widest benefit to young people and our staff. 

Our core business is delivering exceptional education for children and young people with a mission to help all pupils aspire to achieve beyond the expectations that others put on them.  We do this through the development of a talented and committed workforce. In order to deliver exceptional opportunities for learning, we need highly motivated staff across all parts of the organisation.  

Those we recruit are able to demonstrate that they share our values, are highly motivated to work with colleagues within and beyond their school to continuously develop their skills and pursue professional excellence, and are committed to providing the highest standards of teaching for all children. If that is you then we would be delighted to receive your application. 

Next Steps: So if you think this role may be for you and want to be a member of our caring team, please get in touch by calling Michelle Murray, Office Manager, on 01752 225319 or email at michelle.murray@pilgrimprimary.org.  

Closing date:  9^th January 2026

Interview Date: 22^nd January 2026

To apply:  Please visit our website, register and apply online at  www.reachsouth.org/careers  

Opportunities and Benefits:   

We offer a competitive salary plus LGPS pension, great career progression and development opportunities with many other benefits.  

 We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Each post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.  

Reach South Academy Trust has an Equal Opportunities Policy for selection and recruitment. Applicants are requested to complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring section of the application before submitting.