Catering Assistant | Worsthorne Primary School | Burnley

Lancashire County Council; Burnley; On-site; GBP 4,300 - 4,400; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Family-friendly hours

Supportive team environment

Active and practical role

Impact on children's wellbeing

Job summary

Lancashire County Council’s School Catering Service is seeking a Catering Assistant at Worsthorne Primary School in Burnley. You will help prepare and serve healthy meals and ensure a safe, positive lunchtime experience for pupils. This busy, hands-on role rewards reliability and teamwork.

You’ll work Monday to Friday during term time, 6.25 hours per week, with permanent, variable hours. DBS disclosure may be required.

Qualifications

• Previous catering and food-preparation experience is essential.
• Reliable and able to work as part of a team.
• Ability to remain calm and work efficiently during busy periods.
• Good customer service and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Set up the dining area and move/arrange furniture.
• Assist with preparation and cooking of food.
• Serve meals and drinks to pupils.
• Clear the dining area and put furniture away after service.
• Clean equipment, kitchen areas and dining areas.
• Help the team serve meals safely and efficiently.

Skills

Teamwork

Customer service

Initiative

Reliability

Job description

Description

Good school meals depend on a reliable team. As a Catering Assistant at Worsthorne Primary School, you will help prepare and serve healthy, balanced meals and ensure pupils have a safe and positive lunchtime experience.

Lancashire County Council’s School Catering Service provides more than 60,000 meals each day across over 500 schools. You will play an important part in helping this service run smoothly.

About The Role

This is a busy, active and hands‑on role and you will need to work efficiently during the lunchtime service.

You will work closely with your colleagues, but you will also need to use your initiative and take responsibility for completing your tasks.

In return, you'll enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that the work you do has a real impact, helping children receive nutritious meals and supporting their development.

A Typical Shift Will Involve

• Setting up the dining area, including moving and arranging furniture.
• Assisting with the preparation and cooking of food.
• Serving meals and drinks to pupils.
• Clearing the dining area and putting furniture away after service.
• Cleaning equipment, kitchen areas and dining areas.
• Helping the team serve meals safely and efficiently.

We Are Looking For Someone Who

• Is reliable, dependable and ready to contribute.
• Works well as part of a team.
• Can remain calm and work efficiently during busy periods.
• Can use their own initiative when needed.
• Has good customer service and communication skills.
• Has previous catering and food‑preparation experience, which is essential for this role

What We Offer

• Family‑friendly working hours – Monday to Friday, term time only
• A supportive team environment where everyone plays their part.
• An active and practical role with no two days quite the same
• A rewarding role supporting the health and wellbeing of local children.
• Lancashire County Council also offers a range of benefits, which can be found on our website here.

The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a ‘disclosure’. Further information can be found on the ‘Our Recruitment Process’ tab.

We reserve the right to close a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.

Job Description And Person Specification

The Government has confirmed that local government across Lancashire will be reorganised, with the current 15 councils being replaced by four new unitary councils covering North, South, East and West Lancashire from April 2028. If you are successful in your application, you will initially join Lancashire County Council. However, as part of the planned transition, your employment will transfer to one of the new unitary councils from April 2028, subject to the implementation of the reorganisation and relevant employment legislation.

Throughout this period, our focus remains on delivering excellent services to our communities. By joining us now, you'll play an important role in shaping the future of local government and helping to build a strong new organisation that will serve residents for years to come.

Salary and Working Hours

Salary £13.45 per hour | Part time | 6.25 hours per week | Term Time only | Permanent, Variable hours | Worsthorne Primary School

Location: Burnley