Early Years Kitchen Assistant

Bright Horizons; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Bright Horizons is seeking an Early Years Kitchen Assistant at their Chineham Park Day Nursery. This role involves supporting kitchen operations, preparing nutritious meals for children, and ensuring dietary requirements are met. With a strong emphasis on staff wellbeing and professional development, it offers various shift options and significant childcare discounts.

Benefits

40% childcare discount

Enhanced parental leave

20 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Access to professional development programs

Financial wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in a cooking role, in domestic or commercial settings.
• Understanding of dietary requirements, especially food allergies.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage kitchen tasks efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Support the Chef in preparing and cooking food for children.
• Manage kitchen cleanliness and safety in absence of the Chef.
• Ensure all dietary requirements are met and clearly communicated.

Skills

Cooking experience

Passion for nutrition

Communication skills

Knowledge of dietary requirements

Education

Food Safety CIEH L2 or above (or equivalent)

Job description

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Bright Horizons

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Job Reference:

81ff66db07fc

Job Views:

38

Posted:

22.06.2025

Expiry Date:

06.08.2025

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Job Description:

Nursery: Bright Horizons Chineham Park Day Nursery and Preschool

Salary: £12.21 - £12.79 p/h (dependant on qualification/s and experience)

Are you looking to work for an organisation whose culture is driven by our HEART principles – Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork? Where you can be yourself, feel supported, and help to make a difference to the next generation? Somewhere you can say: “I did that.”

We’re looking for an Early Years Kitchen Assistant to join our

Bright Horizons Chineham Park Day Nursery and Preschool, situated in Chineham Business Park Basingstoke, accessible by car, bus and on foot.

The nursery offers free bus transport links, in and out of Chineham Park, a unique layout and breakout spaces such as curiosity experiences, wildlife and animals and large home from home rooms. Also, a focus on wellbeing which includes wellbeing cafes, learning lunches , wellbeing ambassadors and progression opportunities.

• Childcare discount of 40% for first child*
• Enhanced parental leave
• 20 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and paid Christmas closure. Ability to also purchase additional leave*
• Pension
• Financial and wellbeing benefits including 24/7 virtual GP appointments, early access to wages, and more
• Professional development programme access for every stage of your career, including access to a careers coach
• Shift options: 40 hours over 4 or 5 days, 24 hours over 3 days, or 16 hours over 2 days

*Subject to T&Cs

The Role

As an Early Years Kitchen Assistant, you will support the Chef in the preparation and cooking of age-appropriate food for all the children in the nursery, with minimum wastage, and in keeping the kitchen a clean and safe environment. In the absence of the Chef, you will take responsibility for the running of the kitchen, and ensuring all dietary requirements are catered for and clearly communicated to teams.

What we’re looking for

• Previous experience within a cooking role, in a domestic or commercial property
• Passion for nutrition, and inspiring others in healthy eating
• Ability to demonstrate a sound knowledge of managing different dietary requirements, particularly food allergies
• Food Safety CIEH L2 or above (or equivalent) – this must be passed on day 1 in post
• Sound knowledge of COSHH
• Great communication skills, with colleagues, children, and parents
• Ability to work under pressure

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants. Please note, due to our sector all roles are subject to an Enhanced DBS.

If you want to make a difference, with a company who has been voted Great Place to Work every year since 2006, apply today!

We look forward to receiving your application!