Lunchtime Assistant

Part-Time Lunchtime Assistant

20 hours per week | Monday–Friday, 11:00–15:00
Castlethorpe Nursery

We are looking for a Part-Time Lunchtime Assistant to join our friendly team at Castlethorpe. 

About Castlethorpe Nursery

Castlethorpe nursery is a lovely converted chapel situated in a quiet village a few miles north of Milton Keynes. It was the first Acorn nursery to open and was established in 1989. 

We offer full and part-time care for up to 36 children from the age of four months to four years, and are open from 7.30am to 6.15pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. 

Acorn places a strong emphasis on outdoor learning and the children enjoy play outside in all weathers, the nursery has an enclosed garden which the children have free flow access too. Pre-school children develop their outdoor learning at regular Forest School sessions, which take place at nearby Salcey Forest with Acorn’s fully qualified Forest School Leaders. 

We offer a range of activities during the week, including interactive story sessions and forest school.  There are lovely places to visit around the village, such as the church, Castlethorpe mounds, sports grounds and parks, which the children visit regularly. The nursery has a close relationship with the adjoining school, where our Oak children visit the school library each week

It’s not just the children who have all the fun at Acorn. We organise events on a regular basis to help parents meet each other, share experiences and talk to us. Some events are an opportunity to discuss children’s progress and development with the staff.

About the Role

As a Lunchtime Assistant, you will play an important role in supporting children during the middle of their day, helping to create a calm, safe and enjoyable mealtime experience.

Working hours:

• 20 hours per week
• Monday to Friday
• Approximately 11:00–15:00 each day
• All year round

What We’re Looking For

We welcome applications from candidates who are:

• Passionate, motivated and enthusiastic
• Interested in outdoor learning and creative play
• Keen to progress their personal career development
• Friendly, reliable and able to work as part of a team

Safer Recruitment

Successful applicants will be required to:

• Provide Right to Work in the UK documentation
• Supply two satisfactory references
• Complete an enhanced DBS check prior to commencing employment

As a thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to making Acorn a safe, nurturing and fun place for our children to be, we offer:

• Payscales that are competitive, transparent and reviewed annually
• 65% Childcare discount Pro-rata according to contracted hours
• Generous family leave
• Christmas closure
• 25 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays (and the option to buy more)
• 4 dedicated training days and individual development plans
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Cyclescheme
• Techscheme
• Length of Service awards
• Summer and Christmas parties
• Pay advances for when times are tough
• Employee assistance wellbeing programme