pupil to staff ratio in primary schools at lunchtime

[I.Don No]

I am trying to find out any guidelines there may be for pupil to staff ratios in a primary school at lunchtimes in the playground and have had no luck so far. I have tried the LEA website and direct.gov.uk but cannot find out any specific information on this topic.

I do not want to approach the head teacher till I have a little more information.

I would be grateful if anyone who works in the primary education sector could point me in the right direction.

TIA

[buildersmate]

Presumably you didn't find this, then? (Got it by simple websearch using the search terms 'pupil staff ratio lunchtime')
Looks like one to thirteen to me.
http://www.usethekey....breaks-and-lunchtimes

[EDDIE51]

Changed since my day then. We had 1 teacher and a 'lunch supervisor' for around 200 pupils. mine you we had 55 in a class with just 1 teacher as well.

[sherrardk]

Don't know what the official guidelines are for break and lunchtime but it will be a lot less than one to thirteen as the staff will be on break too.

[EDDIE51]

can't be anywhere near 1 to 13 , the school up the road from me has 250 pupils , they would need 20 or so staff on breaks time duty alone. there are no where near that many even during lessons.

[sophie_1003]

1:13 is for early years only; will try and find out for you tomorrow what it is for other Key Stages.

[sophie_1003]

Just had a quick Google and it seems there aren't any national requirements; support staff unions will have agreed with local authorities what the ratio should be. Which local authority is it, if you don't mind saying?

[erin-x]

I'm not sure of the answer but my current work have informed me that students on placements aren't included in the ratio. I was surprised because another student and I supervised the whole infant playground last year.

[I.Don No]

thanks for the replies.

buildersmate.......no I didn't find this but when I researched there, in order to access the articles you have to have a DfE number for the school, which is no good for me as I am enquiring as a lay person and not a staff member

sophie 1003...I have now contacted the relevant lea and am awaiting a reply.

thanks for all your help ABers

[sophie_1003]

That again depends on the school in my experience erin, and the level of student, when doing a childcare college qualification I definitely wasn't in most places (was in some but don't think I should have been!) but when doing my degree I was always included in ratios.

[sophie_1003]

And hope you get the information you're looking for I.Don No!