Are you passionate about food, friendly service, and working with young children? We're looking for a cheerful and reliable Nursery Lunchtime Assistant to join our vibrant Nursery team! The usual working hours will be 10am - 2pm with some flexibility required. The starting salary is circa 13,175 per annum.
In this hands-on role, you'll support the Nursery Manager and Chef/Supervisor in feeding snacks, lunches, and teas for our little learners.
You'll help set up the dining area, serve meals with care, and ensure all dietary needs are met with precision and kindness. After lunch, you'll assist with the cleaning and help settle children for their afternoon activities.
During School holidays when our main kitchen is closed, lunches prepared in advance by our catering team will need finishing off in the main kitchen prior to service. Full training and support will be provided by our Chef Supervisor.
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who:
Enjoys preparing tasty food and snacks;
Takes pride in maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming kitchen environment;
Loves engaging with children in a nurturing and professional way;
Can follow food safety and safeguarding procedures with confidence.
You'll be part of a supportive team, delivering a friendly, efficient, and hygienic service that makes mealtimes a highlight of the day. Full training provided, including Food Hygiene, Allergy Awareness, and First Aid.
Join us in creating a warm, healthy, and happy lunchtime experience for our Nursery children -- especially during the School holidays!
Responsibilities and Main Tasks - Kitchen and Lunchtime Support
To work with the team to deliver a flexible, high quality education and care to meet the needs of the children and their families.
Prepare meals as directed by the Chef/Supervisor and/or Nursery Manager;
Set up the dining room and/or Nursery kitchen servery for lunch service;
Serve meals from the main servery or within the Nursery;
Set out food for Nursery pupils and liaise with the Maintenance Team for delivery if needed;
Ensure all dietary requirements and allergies are catered for accurately and vigilantly;
Operate the kitchen dishwasher to clean utensils, plates, and serving equipment;
Run oven cleaning cycles weekly;
Dispose of kitchen waste responsibly, following recycling and segregation policies;
Clean kitchen surfaces, serving areas, and dining tables after service;
Place orders with the Procurement Kitchen (PK) as required;
Liaise with the Chef/Supervisor regarding menus, supplies, and stock levels;
Maintain food and fridge temperature records in line with food safety regulations;
Support lunch service within the Nursery using the Nursery kitchen.
Nursery Support (as needed and feasible)
Supervise children during lunch, promoting good manners and healthy eating;
Assist children with self-service or feeding, in line with EYFS principles;
Help settle children after lunch, preparing them for rest or afternoon activities;
Support light cleaning and tidying of Nursery spaces post-lunch;
Engage with children in a caring, professional, and supportive manner;
Follow safeguarding and health & safety procedures at all times;
Contribute to a calm, nurturing environment alongside the Nursery team.
The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. A copy of the School's Child Protection policy may be found on the School's website, which all applicants are expected to read prior to interview.
Closing date for applications:
Friday 14th November 2025
Please note: we reserve the right to appoint prior to the closing date.
Sutton Valence School is an equal opportunities employer.
Could you please provide your email address as we may need to request a formal application form from you? Thank you
Do you have a full, clean, UK driving licence?
Work Location: In person
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