Early Years Kitchen Assistant

Bright Horizons; Crawley; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare discount 40%

Enhanced parental leave

20 days annual leave plus holidays

Pension

Wellbeing benefits including virtualGP

Job summary

Bright Horizons Crawley Day Nursery and Preschool is hiring an Early Years Kitchen Assistant. The role covers lunches, part-time hours (20-25 per week) and supports the kitchen operation under the Chef. You will ensure meals meet dietary requirements and maintain a clean, safe kitchen.

The ideal candidate has prior cooking experience, a passion for nutrition, and qualifications in Food Safety and COSHH, with strong communication skills to liaise with staff, children, and parents.

Qualifications

• Previous cooking experience in a domestic or commercial setting.
• Passion for nutrition and healthy eating.
• Ability to manage dietary requirements, including allergies.
• Food Safety Level 2 or above (to be passed on day 1).
• Sound COSHH knowledge.
• Excellent communication with colleagues, children and parents.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Support the Chef with preparation and cooking of age-appropriate meals for all children.
• In the Chef's absence, run the kitchen and ensure dietary needs are catered for and clearly communicated to teams.
• Maintain a clean and safe kitchen environment and minimise waste.

Skills

Cooking experience

Nutrition passion

Dietary requirements knowledge

Food Safety

COSHH

Communication

Under pressure

Education

Food Safety Level 2 or above

Job description

Nursery – Bright Horizons Crawley Day Nursery and Preschool

Salary – Starting from £26,662.20 per annum (Full-time equivalent – Pro-rata’d) (dependent on qualification/s and experience)

Location – Crawley

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 Crawley Day Nursery and Preschool. This role is working P/T, 20-25 hours a week, covering lunches, Mon-Fri (an example shift could be 9:30am-2:30pm)

Our Benefits

• 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

*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

_Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre‑employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confi_rmed.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants.

Proud to be a Great Place to Work for 20 years.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants.

Proud to be a Great Place to Work for 20 years.