Lunch Cover Assistant

Happy Days Nurseries; Yeovil; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 21,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension & Life Assurance

Blue Light Card Membership

20 days annual leave + Bank Holidays +

DBS update service

Job summary

Happy Days Nurseries in Yeovil is seeking a Lunch Cover Assistant to join our team. This part-time role covers lunchtime, 11am–2pm, 15 hours per week, year-round, across our nurseries within a one-hour radius.

You will support children with development and daily routines, assist staff during lunch and learning activities, and follow safeguarding and dietary policies to ensure a safe environment.

Qualifications

• Experience with child development and learning and are committed to children’s growth.
• Communicate confidently, professionally and work collaboratively.
• Work in an inclusive environment that is supportive and respectful.
• Reflective and committed to professional growth.
• Able to commute to multiple nursery sites within a one-hour radius.
• Paediatric First Aid certification.
• Experience supporting children with additional needs.
• Familiarity with digital learning journals or nursery software.

Responsibilities

• Support lunchtime activities and routines for children.
• Assist staff with lunch, nap times and learning activities.
• Maintain a safe, enriching environment that supports development.
• Follow policies to keep children safe, including allergies and dietary needs.
• Collaborate with staff to keep the day consistent and positive.

Skills

Child development

Communication

Team collaboration

Inclusive environment

Professional growth

Education

Paediatric First Aid certification

Experience supporting children with additional needs

Nursery software familiarity

Tools

Nursery software

Job description

We’re looking for a Lunch Cover Assistant committed to supporting children’s growth and learning, to join our Happy Days Nursery in Yeovil!

Our Lunch Cover Assistant will work 15 hours per week, Monday to Friday (all year round) over our busy lunch time, between 11am to 2pm.

About the role:

As a Lunch Cover Assistant, you will:

• Play a vital role in helping us inspire the future for our children, offering the very best care and education using our unique curriculum “Where Children Shine”.
• Be responsible for providing a safe, supportive and enriching environment that fosters children’s development and well-being, particularly over the busy lunchtime period.
• Be an integral part of our children’s daily routines and you will support the staff team with lunch times, sleep times and supporting learning activities.
• Juggle many different tasks as part of the role, working closely with the staff team to ensure that our children’s day is kept consistent, through a confident, positive and honest approach.
• Support children during their mealtime and following all policies and procedures to keep our children safe and keep to all allergies and special dietary requirements
• Have a good understanding of how to best safeguard our children and families.

About you:

We're looking for Early Years Practitioners who:

• Have experience with child development and learning and are committed to children’s emotional and intellectual growth
• Communicate confidently, professionally and work collaboratively
• Work in a way that is inclusive and creates a supportive, respectful environment
• Are reflective and committed to professional growth
• Can easily commute to multiple nursery sites within a one-hour radius

And a few nice to haves:

• Paediatric First Aid certification.
• Experience supporting children with additional needs.
• Familiarity with digital learning journals or nursery software.

Rewarding careers:

We’re committed to nurturing talent and supporting career progression into nursery management roles. Through tailored development plans, mentoring from experienced leaders, and access to accredited training programmes, we empower our team members to grow their leadership skills and take the next step in their careers.

We welcome applicants from under-represented groups including men and offer a competitive range of benefits that aren’t just perks—they are part of a culture that puts people first. They support us build a workplace where you’re empowered to thrive every day and where you’ll feel valued.

We’rebuilding a workplace where our colleagues thrive

We offer a range of meaningful benefits designed to support your wellbeing, professional growth, and work-life balance. Our benefitsaren’tjustperks—they’repart of a culture that puts people first and we continue to build our range of benefits designed to support health,wellbeingand the odd treat here and there…these include:

• from £12.71 per hour
• Pension & Life Assurance*
• Funded Blue Light Card Membership
• In addition to20 days Annual Leave (plus Bank Holidays) ,up to anadditionalfour gifted days off during Christmas closedown
• Anadditionalday each year to celebrate something personal to you*
• Funded DBS Update Service
• Access to digital GP 24/7
• On demand counselling services
• Extensive Health and Wellbeing services through the SPARK APP
• Recognition and celebration for Long Service

*Subject to eligibility criteria

Safeguarding commitment:

Happy Days Nurseries are committed to the safety and wellbeing of the children in our care. All successful candidates will undergo the required vetting process.