Lunch Time Assistant

Grandir UK Limited; Colchester; On-site; GBP 13,000 - 14,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days annual leave incl. bank hols

Flexible working options

£500 refer a friend bonus

Company pension scheme

Statutory Sick Pay from day 1

Life assurance 18-65

Great Place to Work

Job summary

Grandir UK Limited’s Pippins Montessori Day Nursery and Forest School in Colchester is seeking a Lunch-Time Assistant to support and inspire young children. You will help care for children aged 3 months to 5 years and contribute to a nurturing, discovery-rich environment.

The role offers flexible working and a salary of £13,218.40–£13,624.40 per year, with generous benefits and a focus on career progression within a supportive team.

Qualifications

• Caring and enthusiastic Nursery Practitioner for children aged 3 months to 5 years.
• Support and mentor students and un-qualified staff to ensure delivery of high-quality childcare practice and maintain friendly, professional relationships with parents and carers.
• Promote high standards of quality within the nursery environment, resources and experiences for children.

Responsibilities

• Promote high standards of quality within the nursery environment, resources and experiences for children.
• Assume key carer responsibilities for designated children.
• Ensure all children receive rich and stimulating experiences appropriate to their age and development.
• Prepare and support children’s activities.
• In the absence of the Team/Room Leader, maintain effective day-to-day management of the environment.
• Ensure practice meets the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
• Support and mentor students and un-qualified staff to ensure delivery of high-quality childcare and maintain relationships with parents and carers.

Skills

Caring

Enthusiastic

Team support

Job description

Whites Farm, Station Rd, Colchester CO6 2QF, UK

Job Description

Posted Friday, 16 October 2026 at 05:00

Lunch-Time Assistant at Pippins Montessori Day Nursery and Forest School in Colchester

Part of Grandir UK

Salary £13,218.40 to £13,624.40 (depending on experience and qualifications with regular pay reviews)

Join a supportive, child focused nursery offering strong benefits, flexible working and genuine career progression.

Our Pippins Montessori in Colchester, is looking for a caring and enthusiastic Nursery Practitioner to join our team. You will play a key role in caring for, supporting and inspiring our children, encouraging curiosity and helping them thrive every day.

Core Benefits

• 33 days annual leave including bank holidays, with 3 days used during the Christmas shutdown period
• Christmas and New Year shutdown
• Flexible working options available
• £500 refer a friend bonus
• Company pension scheme with employer contributions
• Statutory Sick Pay from day 1
• Life assurance for employees aged 18 to 65
• Certified Great Place to Work, voted for by our current colleagues

About Our Nursery

Set on a working farm in White Colne, our Montessori nursery and Forest School offers a unique, nature-inspired environment for children aged 3 months to 5 years, supporting independence and a love of discovery.

Ofsted

Rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, we provide high-quality early years education in carefully designed spaces, including a cosy under-2s room and Montessori classroom. Our small, homely setting is loved by families.

Outdoor Learning

Outdoor learning is central to our approach, with two accessible outdoor areas and a dedicated Forest School in nearby meadow and woodland, offering hands-on experiences in all weathers.

Location

Located in the village of White Colne near Colchester, we are easily accessible, with nearby train stations at Marks Tey and Chappel & Wakes Colne.

What will you be doing

• Promotehigh standards of qualitywithin the nursery in respect of the environment, resources and experiences offered to children
• Assumekey carerresponsibilities for designated children
• Ensure that all children attending the nursery receiverich and stimulating experiencesappropriate to their age and stage of development
• Prepare andsupportchildren’s activities
• In the absence of the Team/Room Leader maintaineffective day-to-day managementof the environment
• Contribute to ensuring that practice and provision in the nursery meets the requirements of theEarly Years Foundation Stage
• Support and mentor students and un-qualified staff to ensure deliveryofhigh-quality childcare practice and maintain friendly, professional relationships with parents and carers

Enhanced Family and Wellbeing Benefits

• Maternity and adoption leave paid at 100 percent for the first 12 weeks
• Paternity leave paid at 100 percent for 4 weeks
• Parental bereavement leave up to 4 weeks paid
• Compassionate leave up to 2 weeks paid
• Miscarriage leave up to 2 weeks paid
• Wellbeing Day, an extra day off just for you
• The Grand Event, up to an additional week of annual leave to attend a significant life event after 2 years’ service

Even More Benefits

• Employee benefits portal with hundreds of retail discounts including ASOS, gym memberships, cinema, M and S and major supermarkets
• 24 hour remote GP appointments
• Medical cashback for dental treatment, physiotherapy and alternative therapies
• Recognition, rewards and team celebrations throughout the year, with May dedicated to celebrating our teams
• Tailored in house training and genuine progression opportunities
• Sustainability focus with Carbon Literacy trained teams and Eco Schools accreditation

Grandir UK is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. An enhanced DBS check is required for this role.

We are an equal opportunity employer and recruit based on merit. To support our recruitment process, we may use AI-assisted tools for tasks such as application screening and reference checks. These tools help us manage applications efficiently, and all hiring decisions are made by our team.

Whites Farm, Station Rd, Colchester CO6 2QF, UK