Staff Lunches

[Guest]

Hi, Just need some advice and thought this was the best place to come.

How long do you give your staff for lunch and do they sit with the children. we are a pack away setting in a village hall, so the only space available for staff to eat lunch is the kitchen or outside unless they sit with the children.

All staff are told to take 20 mins.... but what do other settings do? I have been told staff are not suppose to sit with the children as this isnt classed as a break.. any thoughts?

[hali]

mine used to sit in the kitchen for 20 mins

[Guest]

We sit in the kitchen...or outside when it is nice....

[Cait]

We sit in the room with the children, but only one of us (me) attends to their needs unless it's necessary for aditional help with something

[Guest]

Hi, we have a staff room and get an hour for lunch. This does mean that to fit everyone in and keep ratios all good, lunches run between ten (yes ten ) and 3 each day depending on the shift you are on!

 

Nikki

[redjayne]

mine have half an hour, but we are a full daycare nursery, and they have a separate staffroom. If the staff sit with the children then am sure it can't be classified as a break, they need to be away, and have to have a minimum of 20 minutes for every 6 hours worked as that is the law.

[Cait]

Their total working day is maximum 6 hours, so we've never been too sure quite how we stand, and all staff agreed that they want to do it this way rather than sit by themself somewhere.

[Guest]

Yes they need to be away from the children if they want to be, so you can't insist on them being in that room. However if they wish to sit with the children there is no reason they can't, it's their 20 minutes to do what they wish with, although I think you are entitled to specify that they can't leave the premises if you wish to.

[Inge]

we had lunch with the children and staff had opportunity to take 20 mins away from the setting time depending on staff ratios, so could be early or late in day.. but as we were only open 6 hours it was not a necessity.

 

staff were happy with the arrangement which is the biggest thing..

 

still happens now although they are now open longer 9-6 pm.. but staff are happy and they get paid for the time...

 

Inge

[Guest]

Hi, we are packaway and staff sit and eat with children - they like to socialise with them and indeed, why wouldn't they!!

 

Usually one person nips off (but to do work related bits rather than rest, by their choice not by anything they've been told to do).

 

To be honest, I think when you are working with young children you are never really off duty, because if you heard a cry you would soon run to find out what had happened.

 

As a teacher I can't remember when I have ever taken a proper break during school hours. Our staff never do over 6 hours so in theory they don't need a break to comply with the law.