Lunch Cover Nursery Practitioner

The Old Station Nursery Group; Flaxton; Remote; GBP 14,000 - 21,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free childcare (first month)

52% discount thereafter

31 days holiday incl. bank holidays

Birthday off + extra day after 3 years

The National College training

Volunteer day

Perkbox discounts

Blue Light Card

Job summary

The Old Station Nursery Group in Flaxton is seeking a Lunch Cover Nursery Practitioner for a part-time role. You’ll support children and colleagues during the busy middle of the day, helping maintain routines while team members take breaks.

You don’t need an Early Years qualification to get started. Bring kindness, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, and you’ll be supported by experienced colleagues and a safeguarding-focused environment.

Qualifications

• No formal qualifications required for the role.
• Experience in childcare is beneficial but not essential.
• Willingness to learn and follow guidance.

Responsibilities

• Support lunchtime cover across rooms, following clear handovers.
• Help children enjoy safe, calm meals and follow dietary needs.
• Encourage independence through daily routines and self-feeding.
• Support personal care, sleep and rest with patience and attention.
• Join in with age-appropriate play and activities.
• Keep rooms and eating areas clean, tidy and welcoming.
• Share information with colleagues to ensure consistent care.
• Follow safeguarding and hygiene procedures and ask for help when needed.

Skills

Kindness

Patience

Reliability

Willingness to learn

Teamwork

Job description

Join Our Team as a Lunch Cover Nursery Practitioner

At The Old Station Nursery, we believe everyone is still growing — little humans and big humans alike. As a Lunch Cover Nursery Practitioner at Flaxton, you’ll support children and colleagues during the busy middle of the nursery day, helping maintain familiar routines while team members take their breaks.

You don’t need an Early Years qualification to get started. Bring your kindness, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn, and you’ll find colleagues ready to help you grow.

Why Join Our Team?

We take care of the people who care for our children and families. Here’s what that means for you:

• Childcare support: Free childcare for your first month, followed by a 52% discount based on your working hours.
• Time to recharge: 31 days of holiday, including national bank holidays, plus your birthday off and an extra day after 3 years of service.
• Space to grow: Access to The National College, with a library of courses and training to develop your practice and leadership.
• Connection to your community: One paid day each year to volunteer and support a cause that matters to you.
• Everyday support: With access to Perkbox, enjoy discounts on shopping, meals out, and everyday essentials, alongside wellbeing tools and online medical services. You’ll also be eligible for a Blue Light Card, helping your money go further with even more discounts.
• Recognition along the way: We celebrate the care and commitment you bring, with Employee of the Month recognition, long-service awards to mark your milestones, and referral bonuses for introducing friends or family to our team.

Pay: £12.71 per hour

Hours: Part-time. Monday - Friday - 10:00am - 2:00pm.

Location

Little Green Rascals Children's Day Nursery Flaxton
Draft Farm
Flaxton
North Yorkshire
YO60 7QP

Where You'll Be Working

Based in a charming farmhouse, our nursery is the perfect setting for our outdoor-focused learning-environment centred around the importance of playing in nature, and we make full use of that each day. At Little Green Rascals Flaxton we provide care for up to 60 children, each one benefiting from our unique approach that encourages exploration, curiosity, and a love for the great outdoors. We have 3 rooms, Wiggly Worms (babies), Cheeky Hens (toddlers) and Little Green Rascals (preschool). We are also incredibly lucky at Flaxton to have access to an amazing Forest School, run by our Forest School Lead. Although we’re tucked away in Flaxton, finding us is easy, as we’re close to the A64 between York and Malton with onsite parking for staff.

What You'll Be Doing

Working alongside experienced colleagues, you’ll provide cover during team breaks, helping children feel settled, supported, and ready for the rest of their day.

One moment you might be encouraging a child to try their lunch or wash their hands. The next, you could be sharing a quiet story, supporting rest time, or joining in with play.

With guidance from your team, you’ll:

• Support rooms across the nursery during lunchtime cover, following clear handovers from colleagues
• Help children enjoy safe, calm, and sociable mealtimes, following their individual dietary and allergy requirements
• Encourage independence through everyday routines, such as handwashing and feeding themselves
• Support personal care, sleep, and rest routines with patience and attention to each child’s needs
• Join in with age-appropriate play and activities, following children’s interests
• Help keep rooms and eating areas clean, tidy, and welcoming
• Share relevant information with colleagues so children receive consistent care
• Follow safeguarding, safety, and hygiene procedures, raising concerns and asking for support whenever needed

Our values are simple: Own it. Be human. Make it happen. In your role, that means being reliable, noticing when someone needs a hand, and working together to keep the nursery day running smoothly.

What We’re Looking For

No qualifications are required for this role. Previous experience working in a childcare setting would be beneficial, but isn’t essential.

You’ll bring:

• A genuine interest in caring for children and supporting their development
• Kindness, patience, and a reassuring approach
• Reliability and the ability to work closely with different colleagues
• A willingness to get involved with mealtimes, personal care, and everyday nursery routines
• Openness to learning, following guidance, and asking questions
• A commitment to keeping children safe and helping them feel included

Whether you’re exploring Early Years for the first time or bringing childcare experience, we’d love to hear what you could bring to our community.

Please note: we are currently unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

The Old Station Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all applicants to share this commitment. All roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks, satisfactory references, verification of your right to work in the UK, and any essential qualifications. If successful, our Onboarding Team will guide you through every step of the onboarding process. We are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be considered to support fairness and accessibility for all candidates. This role involves regulated activity with children.