3 February 2020
Bus and playground duty
The department’s duty of care responsibilities to its students mean that members are frequently required to undertake playground and bus supervision – but what is and isn’t allowed?
- You can be required to perform bus supervision for up to 30 minutes after the conclusion of the school day, but this should be for school buses only.
- Specialist teachers who service more than two schools cannot be allocated bus and playground duty.
- Teachers should be at school prior to the first bell but cannot be rostered on for student supervision prior to this bell, as rostered duty time does not normally commence until then.
- Schools should not establish expectation of a before-school playground duty, as this does not form part of a teacher’s rostered duty time and the provisions relating to bus and playground duties do not extend to this period.
- A bus and playground duty roster should be developed in each school, in consultation with the staff and the local consultative committee.
- These duties should not interfere with your break entitlements. A 10-minute rest/pause must be provided each day and cannot be averaged across a week. You should have a 45-minute uninterrupted meal break per day – this can be modified, through consultative arrangements, to a minimum 30-minute uninterrupted meal break per day, provided that you access 225 minutes of uninterrupted meal breaks per week.
More information can be found in:
- QTU advice brochure: "Meal breaks and bus and playground supervision" www.qtu.asn.au/bradmealbreaks
- QTU guide: "Timetabling issues for teachers in Queensland state schools" www.qtu.asn.au/qtuguide-timetabling
Authorised by Kate Ruttiman, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers' Union
21 Graham Street, Milton, QLD, Australia, 4064