Teachers are entitled to a daily break of a reasonable length either between school sessions or between the hours of 12 noon and 2pm.

This provision is found in paragraph 52.3 of the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document.

Teaching is a very challenging and intensive activity and this provision was introduced to ensure that there was an opportunity to take a break during the working day.

A break of reasonable length is the current lunch break at the school.

Members should not undertake any supervision of pupils during the lunch break, unless they have entered into a second contract outside the STPCD provisions to do so. NASUWT recommends that members do not enter into such contracts.

Whilst NASUWT does not recommend that members carry out voluntary, extracurricular activities during the lunch break, this advice does not preclude these continuing. (See Voluntary Activities Outside School (England).)