Kitchen Assistant

Happy Days Nurseries; West of England; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 21,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension & Life Assurance

20 days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays

Additional day for personal occasion

Funded DBS Update Service

Funded Blue Light Card Membership

Digital GP 24/7 with counselling

SPARK App health & wellbeing

Long Service recognition

Job summary

Happy Days Nurseries in the United Kingdom is seeking a Kitchen Assistant to join our team for 25 hours per week, Monday to Friday, year-round. You’ll support our Chef with daily meal preparation for all children, adapting to dietary needs and ensuring compliance with health regulations.

You’ll be part of a caring culture that values wellbeing, training, and work-life balance, with benefits including pension, 20 days leave plus bank holidays, and DBS/Blue Light Card support.

Qualifications

• Experience cooking healthy meals for children.
• Knowledge of healthy eating programmes for children.
• Willingness to support nursery team to achieve best outcomes.
• Full training provided including Food Hygiene certificate if needed.
• Ability to work 25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Responsibilities

• Prepare meals according to weekly menus for all children.
• Provide alternatives for dietary needs as required.
• Assist Chef in delivering food to nursery rooms safely.
• Maintain kitchen cleanliness and hygiene, including washing up after service.
• Assist in the 'Let’s Cook' programme with children and liaise with staff.
• Cover the Chef during periods of absence and manage cooking duties when needed.

Skills

Healthy eating for children

Team support

Communication

Job description

Our Kitchen Assistant will work 25 hours per week, Monday to Friday (all year round), alongside our Chef.

What we offer:

We offer a range of meaningful benefits designed to support your wellbeing, professional growth, and work-life balance. Our benefitsaren’tjustperks, they’repart of a culture that puts people first and we continue to build our range of benefits designed to support health,wellbeingand satisfaction of our workforce. Some of these include:

• Up to £12.71 per hour, depending on qualifications
• Pension & Life Assurance*
• In addition to20 days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays and more!**
• Anadditionalday each year to celebrate something personal to you*
• Funded DBS Update Service
• Funded Blue Light Card Membership
• Access to digital GP 24/7with on-demand counselling services
• Extensive Health and Wellbeing services through the SPARK APP
• Recognition and celebration for Long Service

About the role:

As a Kitchen Assistant, you’ll:

• Ensure all meals are prepared in accordance with the weekly menus, catering for all children
• Where appropriate, provide alternatives to children with any special dietary needs
• Ensure that all food preparation complies with health regulations and guidelines though working practices and record keeping
• Be responsible for assisting the Chef in safely delivering the food to each individual nursery room
• Ensure effective communication regarding allergies and special dietary requirements
• Ensure that the kitchen and all equipment is kept clean and tidy, including washing up after each service
• Assist in the participation and preparation of our “Let’s Cook” programme with the children and develop good working relationships with the wider staff team
• Cover the Chef during periods of absence and be responsible for taking on the duties of cooking for the nursery and ensuring the smooth running of the day

About you:

Our Kitchen Assistant will have:

• A knowledge and understanding of healthy eating programmes for children and cooking healthy meals
• A passion for offering children a varied and nutritious diet and want to make a difference through your role.
• A strong ‘can do’ attitude and willingness to support the nursery team to achieve the best outcomes for our children, by providing meals which support a healthy diet.
• Preferably have experience in working as a Kitchen Assistant and / or have cooking experience in a nursery or school environment however this is not essential
• An awareness of dietary requirements, although this isn’t essential as full training will be provided along with a free Food Hygiene certificate if the successful candidate does not already have one.

*Subject to eligibility criteria

**up to anadditionalfour gifted days off during Christmas closedownor if the setting is open 52-weeks of the year, an additional four days to your annual leave entitlement, pro rata

Safeguarding commitment:

Happy Days Nurseries are committed to the safety and wellbeing of the children in our care. All successful candidates will undergo the required vetting process.