Kitchen Assistant

Edsential Community Interest Company; Farndon; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 19,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

DBS check covered

Uniform provided

Local government pension

Cycle to Work

Job summary

Edsential Community Interest Company is seeking a Kitchen Assistant to support the Catering Supervisor at Farndon Primary School. This part-time, term-time role involves preparing and serving meals, maintaining dining areas, and upholding food safety standards.

The position is 10 hours per week with a 11:30–13:30 shift, paying £12.71 per hour, plus DBS checks covered by the employer. Farndon is served by Edsential's school catering team in CH3 6QP area.

Qualifications

• Customer service experience
• Understanding of food safety basics and safeguarding
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Ability to work in a busy customer-facing environment under pressure
• Willingness to follow directions and prioritise tasks
• Flexible to work across Edsential units

Responsibilities

• Assist with food preparation, cooking and serving meals, portion control, allergens and intolerances
• Prepare dining areas and service counter
• Clean dining, kitchen and staff facilities
• Operate tills where appropriate and follow IT procedures
• Follow safe systems of work and maintain hygiene standards
• Work in a physically demanding environment

Skills

Customer service

Health and safety

Communication

Organisational skills

Flexible to work

Take direction

Prioritisation

Tools

Tills

Job description

Kitchen Assistant

Company: Edsential Community Interest Company

Salary: £12.71 to £12.71 an hour

Hours: Part-time

Location: CH3 6QP

Job type: Permanent

Posting date: 24 Sept 2026

Closing date: 22 Oct 2026

Summary

Hours: 10 hours per week

Shift Hours: Approx 11:30 - 13:30

Hourly Rate: £12.71

Full Address: Farndon Primary School, Churton Road, Farndon, CH3 6QP

School Term Time Contract (plus two cleaning days) - Salary paid equally over 12 months

Do you have a passion for customer service and an understanding of basic health and safety requirements? If so, this role is for you!

If successful, you will be supporting the Catering Supervisor at Farndon Primary School. You'll be representing both Edsential and our customer's school to ensure that all pupils have the best quality food standards and customer experience.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following duties:

• Assist with food preparation, cooking and serving meals, portion control, special diets, allergens and intolerances (where required)
• Preparation of the dining areas and service counter
• Cleaning of dining, kitchen and staff facilities
• Operate tills (where appropriate), adhere to existing IT working practices and procedures and undertake relevant training and development activities
• Follow safe systems of work, maintain appropriate levels of hygiene and safeguarding in accordance with Edsential's policies, The Code of Practice and Food Safety Legislation to maintain a safe environment
• Comfortable working in a manually intensive environment

What benefits do you get in return?

• Paid training and development opportunities
• Enhanced DBS Check - Cost covered by employer on acceptance of role
• Access to benefits including retail and leisure discounts, Cycle to Work Scheme and Tech Scheme (throughout the year)
• Support to prioritise your health and wellbeing with dedicated 24/7 wellbeing programmes and a wellbeing team
• Uniform and safety shoes provided on day 1
• Secure Future retirement income through the local government pension scheme
• A friendly and supportive team
• Opportunities for promotion

What do we require from you?

• Previous experience of working in a school kitchen would be advantageous but not essential as full training will be provided
• Ability to build relationships and promote a positive work environment
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Ability to work well in a busy customer-facing role under pressure
• Ability to take direction
• Ability to prioritise
• Flexible to work within other Edsential units as required

We take pride in training and inducting our employees, so everyone has the skills they require to successfully carry out their role. In return, we want your commitment to work hard and to make a big difference!

Edsential regard safeguarding with the highest priority, therefore successful applicants will be subject to relevant pre-employment checks and enhanced DBS.

Please note for all catering and cleaning vacancies the jobs will be closed once a suitable applicant has been interviewed.