Housekeeper & Assistant Cook

Caring Kindergartens Ltd; Daventry; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 21,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

60% childcare discount

Staff wellbeing support

Team environment

Job summary

Caring Kindergartens Ltd in Daventry is seeking a Part-time Housekeeper & Assistant Cook to join our caring nursery team. You’ll keep the nursery clean, support meal times and cover cooking duties when needed, while contributing to a safe, welcoming environment for children.

We value reliability, teamwork and a hands-on approach. No two days are the same, but you’ll be key to keeping our rooms tidy, meals prepared, and children well looked after in a busy but supportive setting.

Qualifications

• Experience in housekeeping and basic catering is beneficial.
• Ability to follow safety and hygiene procedures.
• Comfortable supervising children when required.

Responsibilities

• Keep nursery clean, tidy and welcoming.
• Assist Nursery Cook with food preparation and serving.
• Cover cooking duties during the Cook's absence.
• Support Early Years team to ensure children's safety and wellbeing.
• Follow safeguarding and hygiene policies.

Job description

Love making a difference? Help us make our nursery shine!

Part‑Time Housekeeper & Assistant Cook

Caring Kindergartens | Little moments. Lasting impact.

A clean, welcoming nursery, happy little tummies and a team that works together — could you be just the person we're looking for?

At Caring Kindergartens, we know that creating a wonderful nursery experience takes more than what's happening in the classroom. Behind every happy day are people who help make our nurseries clean, comfortable, organised and ready for children to learn, play and grow.

We're looking for a reliable, caring and enthusiastic Part‑Time Housekeeper & Assistant Cook to join our team at Caring Kindergartens.

This is a varied, hands‑on role for someone who enjoys keeping things organised, takes pride in their work and is happy to roll up their sleeves and get involved. Your main responsibilities will be housekeeping throughout the nursery, with the opportunity to support the kitchen and cover cooking duties during the Nursery Cook's absence. At times, you'll also help supervise children, working alongside our Early Years team to ensure they remain safe, happy and well cared for.

No two days will be exactly the same, but every day you'll be helping to make a difference.

Why join Caring Kindergartens?

At CK, children are at the heart of everything we do, and we believe every member of our team plays an important part in giving them the best possible start in life.

We work together as one big team, supporting one another and recognising that every role matters. Whether you're preparing a welcoming environment, helping provide nutritious meals or supporting our practitioners, your contribution helps make our nursery a special place to be.

As part of our team, you'll benefit from a supportive working environment, opportunities to learn and develop, and the chance to make a genuine difference to children's everyday experiences.

What will you be doing?

This is a flexible, practical role where you'll help keep the nursery running smoothly throughout the day.

Keeping our nursery clean, safe and welcoming

• Carrying out general housekeeping and cleaning duties throughout the nursery, including rooms, shared spaces, bathrooms and other areas as required.
• Helping ensure the nursery remains clean, tidy, hygienic and ready for children, staff and families.
• Maintaining high standards of cleanliness in line with our policies and procedures.
• Replenishing supplies, keeping areas organised and reporting any maintenance, hygiene or safety concerns.
• Supporting the team with general duties to help the nursery operate effectively.

Supporting the kitchen and mealtimes

• Assisting the Nursery Cook with food preparation, serving meals and keeping the kitchen clean and organised.
• Providing cover for the Nursery Cook during periods of absence, including preparing and serving meals in accordance with the nursery's menus, food hygiene requirements and procedures.
• Supporting the safe storage, handling and preparation of food, including following relevant allergy and dietary requirements.
• Helping ensure mealtimes are positive, calm and enjoyable experiences for our children.

Supporting our children and team

• Assisting with the supervision of children when required, working alongside the Early Years team and following nursery procedures.
• Helping create a warm, welcoming environment where children feel safe, comfortable and cared for.
• Supporting colleagues with appropriate tasks during busy periods and contributing to the smooth running of the nursery.
• Following safeguarding, health and safety, confidentiality and hygiene procedures at all times.

What are we looking for?

We're looking for someone who is:

• Reliable, organised and takes pride in doing a job well.
• Happy to get involved in a variety of practical tasks and able to manage priorities throughout the day.
• A team player who is willing to support colleagues and help wherever needed.
• Friendly, approachable and comfortable working in a busy nursery environment.
• Aware of the importance of cleanliness, hygiene and food safety.
• Caring and patient, with a positive attitude towards young children.
• Able to follow instructions, policies and procedures carefully.
• Committed to safeguarding and helping maintain a safe environment for everyone.

Previous housekeeping, cleaning, catering or kitchen experience would be beneficial. Experience preparing meals and knowledge of food hygiene would also be an advantage, particularly when providing cover for the Nursery Cook.

You don't necessarily need previous nursery experience, but you must be comfortable working around young children and understand the importance of their safety and wellbeing.

You'll also need to meet our safer recruitment requirements, including satisfactory references and the appropriate DBS checks. Any responsibility for supervising children will be undertaken in accordance with applicable safeguarding requirements and nursery procedures.

Benefits

Why choose Caring Kindergartens?

At Caring Kindergartens, we believe that when our people feel valued, supported and inspired, they can do their very best work for our children.

We're proud to be one big team, where everyone's contribution matters, achievements are celebrated and people are encouraged to grow. We want you to feel that CK is somewhere you belong, where your voice is heard and where you can build a career you're proud of.

Here's what you can look forward to when you join us:

• A team that celebrates you – We recognise achievements, celebrate successes and value the contribution every individual makes. We want you to feel welcomed, included and appreciated as part of our team.
• Exclusive discounts and everyday savings – Enjoy access to a wide range of discounts across high street brands, travel, utilities, days out and more, helping you make your money go further.
• A helping hand with childcare costs – If your child attends a Caring Kindergartens nursery, you can benefit from a generous 60% discount on nursery fees, helping to make balancing work and family life a little easier.
• Christmas with the people who matter – We understand how important time with family and friends can be, particularly over the festive season, so we guarantee time off over the Christmas and New Year period.
• Support to help you succeed – From the training and resources you need to do your job confidently to regular check-ins and opportunities to share your thoughts, we want you to feel supported, listened to and comfortable asking questions.
• A career that can grow with you – Whether you're starting your Early Years journey or looking to take your next step, we'll work with you to explore your ambitions and development opportunities across our nurseries.
• Our NURTURE programme – We want to help you reach your potential. Our NURTURE programme supports your development and helps prepare you for future opportunities and progression within Early Years.
• Your wellbeing matters – Your health and wellbeing are important to us. You'll have access to ongoing internal support and our Employee Assistance Programme, providing additional support when you need it.
• Everything you need in one place – Our employee app makes it easier to manage your work life, with access to rotas, annual leave, policies and documents, alongside an internal social platform where colleagues share ideas, activities and team challenges.
• Inclusion from day one – We believe everyone deserves to feel welcomed, respected and included from the moment they join CK. Our Day One Inclusion approach reflects our commitment to treating every member of the team fairly and making sure everyone has the opportunity to contribute and belong.

At Caring Kindergartens, you're more than the role you do. You're part of a team that cares about children, supports one another and believes in helping people grow.

Come and be part of something special.