NURSERY school children in Newton Abbot and Kingsteignton have been learning to cook.

Children at the Old Station Nursery group’s two Teignbridge nurseries have been taking part in newly launched cookery classes.

The weekly classes now give the youngsters a chance to experience the skills, smells and tastes of home cooking.

In the classes, children wear aprons and chef’s hats as they measure, weigh, and mix ingredients using specially designed children’s cooking and baking tools.

So far, yoghurt flatbreads, raspberry banana oat cookies and pizzas have been on the menu.

The new Mobile Mini Kitchens, featuring a ‘cool touch’ oven and child-friendly equipment with easy-grip handles, offer a safe and controlled environment for cooking, with both staff and children enjoying the fun challenge they provide.

Nursery bosses say the aim is to ‘instill a lifelong pleasure in making and enjoying delicious foods to support well-being and overall health’.

Emma Pittam, Early Years Director, said: ‘We are so delighted to roll this enhancement out to all our nursery settings.

‘Learning to cook at a young age is thoroughly enjoyed by the children and is an excellent, engaging way to build basic math skills through activities such as counting eggs or measuring water, along with exploring scientific concepts, such as chemical reactions when the baking powder makes the cake rise.

‘By exploring their senses, an adventurous palate and confidence grow, and a host of homemade goodies are proudly taken home for everyone to enjoy.’

Children can take recipe cards home, allowing them to practice skills and build confidence while having fun. Parents can stay updated on their child’s learning experience through daily updates on the nursery parent app, which includes explanations for each photo, and by following the Facebook page.