Early Years Kitchen Assistant

Bright Horizons Early Education & Preschool; Inverness; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 23,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare discount

Enhanced parental leave

Annual leave and holiday purchasing

Pension

Wellbeing benefits

Career development access

Careers coach

Job summary

Bright Horizons The Park Day Nursery and Preschool is hiring an Early Years Kitchen Assistant. You will assist the Chef in preparing and cooking meals for children, ensuring nutrition, portion control and minimal waste in a clean, safe kitchen.

On days when the Chef is unavailable, you will oversee kitchen operations and communicate dietary requirements to staff, while maintaining high standards of food safety and hygiene in a busy nursery setting.

Qualifications

• Previous cooking experience in domestic or commercial setting.
• Passion for nutrition and healthy eating for children.
• Ability to manage diverse dietary requirements and communicate them clearly to teams.
• Food Safety (CIEH Level 2 or higher) to be completed on day one.
• Solid COSHH knowledge and safe kitchen practices.
• Excellent communication with colleagues, children and parents.
• Ability to work well under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Support Chef with preparation and cooking of age-appropriate meals.
• Minimise wastage and keep the kitchen clean and safe.
• In Chef's absence, run the kitchen and ensure dietary needs are met and communicated.

Skills

Nutrition passion

Communication skills

Ability to work under pressure

Food safety awareness

Education

Food Safety CIEH L2 or above

Tools

COSHH knowledge

Job description

Nursery – Bright Horizons The Park Day Nursery and Preschool

Salary – £14.15 per hour (dependent on qualification/s and experience)

Hours - Monday to Thursday - 11:00am to 2:00pm (12 hours a week approx.)

Location – WD18 7HR

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 The Park Day Nursery and Preschool.

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 confirmed.

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.