Hospitality Roles Overview

Overview

Unit: Café Skills Showcase (Lesson 1 of 12)
Duration: 45 minutes
Class Size: 15 students (age 16–25)
Subject: Hospitality Skills
National Curriculum Link:

Study Programme for 16-19 year olds – Hospitality and Catering (Pearson BTEC National / equivalent) objectives
Employability and Life Skills Development – focusing on career awareness and work-related skills within the hospitality sector
Inclusion principles from the EHCP Code of Practice and SEN provision—ensuring accessibility and engagement

Learning Objectives (WALT)

WALT: Understand the different roles in the hospitality sector.

Success Criteria

Identify at least three key hospitality roles.
Describe the main responsibilities associated with each role using simple descriptions or visuals.
Demonstrate collaboration through group discussion and active participation in role-matching games.

Curriculum Alignment

Careers Education (National Curriculum, England):
- Develop practical knowledge of job roles linked to hospitality and catering (careers, employability skills).
- Encourage reflection on skills needed for employment (personal development and social skills).
Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE):
- Building confidence and communication through group work and discussions.
Functional Skills English:
- Reading role descriptions (dyslexia-friendly formats) and verbalising responsibilities to support literacy development.
SEN Support:
- Visual learning aids, multi-sensory activities, and multiple communication options support neurodivergent learners.

Resources

Visual flashcards with pictures and brief role descriptions (e.g., chef, front-of-house, barista, cleaner, manager).
Laminated Role Cards for matching game.
Whiteboard, markers, sticky notes.
Observation checklist for formative assessment.
Dyslexia-friendly printed role descriptions in clear fonts (e.g., OpenDyslexic or Comic Sans).
Timer or stopwatch for pacing.

Lesson Structure

1. Starter - Warm-Up Brainstorm (8 minutes)

Activity: Class brainstorm on "What is hospitality?"
Process: Using a whiteboard, the teacher writes student answers about hospitality and its importance.
Differentiation:
- For learners who prefer writing, allow sticky notes to write their ideas to post on the board.
- Use images/icons to support understanding.
Purpose: Activate prior knowledge, build confidence, and set context.

2. Introduction to Key Roles (12 minutes)

Teacher Input:
- Show flashcards with images and simple descriptions of 6 key hospitality roles: Chef, Front-of-House staff, Barista, Cleaner, Manager, Event Coordinator.
- Explain briefly the main task for each, using clear, jargon-free language.
- Use real-world examples from local cafés or learners’ previous experiences.
Visual Supports: Large, clear flashcards with bold text and pictures.
Differentiation:
- Offer audio recordings of role descriptions for learners preferring auditory input.
- Pause after each role for questions or summaries (peer explanation encouraged).

3. Group Discussion: Careers in Hospitality (10 minutes)

Activity: In small groups of 3, students discuss which roles they find interesting and why, linking to personal skills and interests.
Prompt Questions:
- Which role do you think suits your skills?
- What kind of tasks would you enjoy or find challenging?
Teacher Role: Circulate and support groups, providing sentence starters or visuals if needed.
Differentiation:
- Option to draw or write instead of speaking.
- Use a talking stick or object for turn-taking, supporting social communication.

4. Role-Matching Game (10 minutes)

Task: Role Cards with job titles and separate cards with responsibilities. Students work in pairs or triads to match roles and descriptions.
Extension: Advanced learners asked to add extra responsibilities or suggest key skills needed for each role.
Assessment: Teacher observes and uses checklist to record:
- Participation & collaboration
- Correct matching of roles and responsibilities
- Ability to explain choices
Differentiation:
- Provide hints or partial matches for learners needing support.
- Visual cues on cards (colours or icons related to the role) to assist matching.

5. Plenary & Reflection (5 minutes)

Whole Class Recap:
- Each student names one role and describes one responsibility (or passes to a peer if preferred).
- Use thumbs up/down or emojis (visual) to express confidence levels about understanding.
Reflection Question: “How could knowing these roles help you in your café skills journey?”
Differentiation:
- Allow written or drawn answers on mini whiteboards or notebooks for those who find speaking difficult.

Differentiation Strategies

Visual and auditory materials to cater to different learning styles.
Multiple ways to communicate ideas (talk, write, draw, role-play).
Chunked information with frequent check-ins.
Clear instructions and use of positive reinforcement.
Use of timers to keep focus but with flexibility for processing time.

Assessment

Formative: Continuous observation using checklist aligned with success criteria.
Evidence of:
- Ability to identify roles (verbal or written).
- Description of responsibilities.
- Engagement and contribution to group tasks.
Informal feedback given to learners individually to build confidence and address misunderstandings.

Extension Activities (For Advanced Learners)

Research and present on a less common hospitality role (e.g., sommelier, event planner).
Create a short poster or digital slide about “A day in the life” of one hospitality role.
Role-play a short scripted scenario demonstrating a task from one role.

SEN & Dyslexia-Friendly Support

Use of dyslexia-friendly fonts and coloured backgrounds for texts.
Multi-sensory input: visual cards, spoken descriptions, real objects (e.g., coffee cup for barista).
Break activities into short, manageable steps with clear instructions.
Quiet space available for learners needing sensory breaks.
Use of symbols and photos to support vocabulary understanding.

Teacher’s Notes

Prioritise a positive, encouraging atmosphere; praise effort and creativity.
Use real hospitality anecdotes or invite a guest worker to briefly introduce roles in a future lesson.
Keep alternative participation options open to build confidence gradually.
Prepare materials in advance and arrange seating to facilitate group work and peer support.

By the end of this engaging, sensory-friendly session, learners will have a clear foundation on hospitality roles, feel included in discussion, and ready to build further café skills in subsequent lessons.