Catering Assistant

Blackburn with Darwen Council; Eden; On-site; GBP 8,200 - 10,000; Part time

Job summary

Blackburn with Darwen Council is advertising a Catering Assistant position at Eden School. The role is part time and term time only (15 hours per week) with a salary of NJC SCP 3 (£9,133.95 per annum) for 39 weeks per year. Start date is ASAP.

The responsibilities include serving food, cashless till operation, maintaining high food hygiene standards, setting up dining areas, stocking fridges, and assisting with cleaning and equipment readiness to support a quality school catering service.

Qualifications

• Experience with cash handling and till operations.
• Understanding of basic food hygiene standards.
• Ability to provide friendly customer service in a school catering environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve food in a friendly, efficient manner and operate the cashless till.
• Promote a professional image while supporting the school catering service.
• Set up dining areas for breaks and dinner service.
• Stock display fridges and service areas with drinks and prepared items.
• Ensure catering equipment is ready for service and assist with cleaning tasks.

Skills

Cash handling

Food hygiene

Customer service

Catering equipment

Dish cleaning

Till operation

Tools

Cashless till system

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job Title: Catering Assistant
Grade/Salary: NJC SCP 3 £9,133.95Contract Type: Permanent
Contract Terms: 15.00 hours, Part time, Term time
Closing Date: Sunday 18th October 2026
Required From: ASAP

Eden School seek to appoint a Catering Assistant on a part time and term time only contract (39 weeks per year, 15 hours per week) to start as soon as possible. The actual salary for this position is £9,133.95 per annum.

What does this job do?

• Assisting in the provision of a high quality catering service to meet the school’s needs
• Carrying out duties as directed by the Catering Manager meeting the required standards at all times
• Maintaining high standards of food hygiene in the kitchen and surrounding areas

What are the job requirements?

• Serving food in an efficient and friendly manner and operate the cashless catering till
• Assisting in the provision a high quality catering service, promoting a professional image whilst being responsive to the needs of a growing school
• Carry out duties as directed by the Catering Manager meeting the required standards at all times
• Setting up the dining area ready for breaks and dinner service
• Stocking display fridges and secondary service areas with drinks, pre-packed and prepared food items
• Ensuring all catering equipment is ready at serving areas ready for service
• Assisting with all cleaning tasks (including dining tables and dining hall floor) as directed by the Catering Manager
• Operate the catering till system, handling cash and credit transactions

About us:

Eden is a small special school for young people aged 8-16 with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs (SEMH), which currently has up to 60 pupils on roll. We pride ourselves in delivering our SHINE values of success, health, inspire, nurture and empower, as we strive to attain the best outcomes possible for our pupils.
We are a rapidly improving school with high ambitions and expectations for all of our pupils and passionately believe that every pupil has the capacity to become a successful learner in school and prepared for their future working lives. Our pupils thrive in a culture defined by mutual respect and good behaviour.
All our students access the National Curriculum, studying GCSEs and vocational qualifications. We provide a knowledge-based academic curriculum alongside vocational qualifications and an enrichment programme. Our therapeutic provision provides targeted support for the SEMH needs of our pupils.

About the Education Partnership Trust (EPT):

EPT was established in 2012 as a multi-academy trust and is an approved academy sponsor. Our vision is to create outstanding schools which transform learning, lives and communities. We benefit from our diverse and unique range of schools which include secondary mainstream, alternative provision and special and have a proven track record of sustained improvement. Our schools are united by a drive to improve opportunities and outcomes for children and young people within a collaborative learning culture.
Our staff are our most valued asset so we continually invest in our colleagues and we believe that all teaching and support staff posts within our schools are key in terms of supporting pupil achievement and improving their life chances. As such we are keen to recruit dedicated and ambitious professionals who will add value to our schools and trust by helping our young people to succeed.

“If you’re good at what you do, you can work anywhere. If you’re the best at what you do, we want you to work for Education Partnership Trust.”

Our extensive range of rewards and benefits include:

• Healthcare cash back plan provided free by the trust includes optical, dental, physio, diagnostics, health assessment, NHS prescription charges, hospital cover, discounted gym memberships plus lots more.
• Employee Assistance Programme including, counselling, CBT, and wellbeing initiatives.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Access to government pension schemes.
• Free parking.
• Training, mentoring and progression opportunities including our Emerging Leaders programmes.
• Trust wide intranet to share knowledge and resources.

Please be advised, as part of due diligence checks, online searches will be carried out on shortlisted candidates.

Safeguarding Information

The Education Partnership Trust is committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Education Partnership Trust is also committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination and developing community cohesion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Any offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory check supplied by the Disclosure and Barring Service. The check will include any cautions, reprimands, or final warnings as well as convictions.