The children at Naturally Learning Nursery in Truro are developing their cooking skills thanks to their new in-house chef.

Lee Russell trained at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant in Cornwall before moving to the nursery in Truro as head chef, where he prepares and serves the children’s daily nutritious meals and snacks using locally sourced produce.

Since being in post, Lee, 28, has run weekly interactive cooking sessions with the children, focusing on the value of simple, honest food. “It’s been fantastic working with the children and introducing them to new types of foods,” he said. “I’ve been running regular practical sessions using ingredients that they haven’t necessarily used before. Once they’ve prepared the dishes themselves, the children are far more likely to try and enjoy them, even if they’re unfamiliar.”

Interactive cooking workshops within the nursery have so far included baking bread and making beetroot pasta. "The kids love it,” added Lee. “It’s useful for them to experience the skill of cooking hands-on, and the different textures, colours and aromas found in the process. It’s quite messy but they love hearing about what’s involved in growing and preparing the foods.”

Naturally Learning in Truro specialises in offering high quality childcare with a difference and was recently recognised as Outstanding by OFSTED early years inspectors. “Having Lee in the kitchen has been a real education for us all,” said nursery manager, Sarah Hood. “The kitchen is just off the explorer room so the little ones often peer into the room and ask what he’s up to. His passion for food is infectious."