Early Years Educator Lunch cover

Storal; Gravesend; On-site; GBP 16,531 - 19,286; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced holidays

Paid sick pay

Wellness day off (yearly)

PayCaptain access

Childcare Discount + Funding

Fertility & menopause support

Job summary

Windmill Nursery School in Gravesend is seeking a Lunch Time assistant to support safe, happy lunchtime experiences for children aged 2–5. The role aligns with the nursery's playful, learning‑through‑play approach and requires caring, proactive supervision during school mealtimes.

Hours are part‑time (11am–3pm, Monday–Friday). Up to £13.70 per hour with potential for experience and qualifications to influence pay. The environment focuses on safeguarding, development and family partnerships.

Qualifications

• Early Years qualification Level 2/3 desired
• Experience with EYFS framework advantageous
• Able to work term-time hours and school schedule

Responsibilities

• Supervise children during lunchtime and ensure seating safety
• Support positive behaviour at the table
• Promote healthy eating habits and oral health
• Encourage independent eating and try new foods
• Maintain hygiene routines and hand washing
• Create a calm, friendly lunchtime environment
• Assist children with meals and transitions to activities
• Monitor conduct and ensure a safe, respectful atmosphere
• Communicate with parents as needed about eating or behaviour
• Help tidy dining area and prepare for next activity

Skills

Lunchtime supervision

Behaviour management

Oral health promotion

Communication with parents

Education

Early Years qualification Level 2/3

Job description

Remarkable future starts here

Nursery: Windmill Nursery School, 22-23 Overcliffe, Gravesend, Kent, DA11 0EH

Hours: Part‑Time, School hours, 11am to 3pm Monday‑Friday. Salary: Up to £13.70 per hour (depending on experience and qualifications)

Can you educate tomorrow's leaders?

Windmill’s Purpose

To give children healthy foundations in fantastic settings, helping them build the confidence and resilience that will set them up for success later in life.

How you’ll spend your time here

As a Lunch Time assistant you will be a key part of keeping our children safe, loved and inspired to learn. Key activities include:

• Supervise children during lunchtime, ensuring they are seated safely
• Support and encourage positive behaviour at the table
• Promote healthy eating habits and good oral health
• Encourage children to eat independently and try different foods
• Ensure children follow hygiene routines, including washing hands
• Create a calm, friendly, and enjoyable lunchtime environment
• Assist children who need help with eating or managing their meals
• Monitor behaviour and ensure a safe, respectful atmosphere
• Communicate with parents when needed, providing feedback on eating or behaviour
• Help tidy up after lunch and ensure the dining area is clean
• Support children in transitioning to their next activity after lunchtime

We’d love to talk to you if you have the following

• An Early Years qualification at Level 2/3 (not essential but desirable)
• Experience of working with all age groups within Early Years settings
• Knowledge of the EYFS framework would be advantageous

The Team & Environment

You’ll be joining the Windmill Nursery team, who have an incredibly important job of supporting children’s development. You’ll be a key part of every child’s journey, keeping our children safe, loved and inspired through play‑based learning. Our nurseries are warm and nurturing environments that not only support children to be ready for school but also equip them with all the life skills they need to flourish and succeed.

Benefits for You

• For you – We get the basics right: enhanced holidays, paid sick pay, extra wellness day off (yearly) and you can access your pay before payday with PayCaptain
• Family matters – Balance starts at home: Childcare Discount + Funding, compassionate leave & enhanced maternity leave
• Health & wellness – Nourishing body & mind: Partnerships with Vitality & Peppy; fertility & menopause support, gym discount, free movie tickets
• Development – Investing in your future with micro‑learning, financial stability tools & the Storal Support Fund
• Our community – Growing together: Termly inset days, team member app and Storal Awards

Not everything fits in a job advert – Click apply today, don’t worry if your CV isn’t perfect just send us what you have and we’ll work out the rest later.

Storal sets the highest of standards when it comes to safeguarding, the welfare of children and creating a work environment that encourages feedback, discussion, resilience. We take our role in the safety of children, our families and our team extremely seriously. As governed by the EYFS, we have a designated safeguarding lead in each setting and all staff (and volunteers) complete thorough compliance checks prior to employment including employment references & DBS.