Kitchen Assistant

N Family Club; Whetstone; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance bonus

Holiday allowance

Development fund

Family-friendly leave

Childcare discount

Loyalty rewards

Referral scheme

Discounts

Travel support

Socials & wellbeing

Job summary

N Family Club in Whetstone, London, invites applications for a Kitchen Assistant to support a nursery kitchen team. You will help prepare nutritious meals for children and staff, while ensuring dietary needs are met and hygiene standards are upheld.

The role includes stock management, daily logs, and close collaboration with parents to discuss food choices. A genuine interest in cooking for families and long-term culinary goals is ideal.

Qualifications

• Experience in a commercial or nursery kitchen.
• Experience catering for diverse dietary needs.
• NVQ Level 2+ in Food Preparation and Hygiene (Level 3 during induction if needed).
• Passion for food creativity and working with children and families.
• Interest in pursuing a long-term culinary career.
• Commitment to conscious food practices (recycling, minimizing waste).
• Ability to work quickly during busy service times.
• Positive, glass-half-full attitude.
• Driven with a 'make it happen' mindset.
• Love for customer service.

Responsibilities

• Assist with preparing fresh, nutritious meals daily for children and staff.
• Ensure meals meet age-appropriate nutrition and food-safety guidelines.
• Support the Chef to cater for various dietary needs.
• Prepare daily lunches and smoothies for nursery staff.
• Maintain kitchen paperwork, cleaning schedules, and daily logs.
• Order supplies and manage stock for smooth operation.
• Maintain a 5-star Food Hygiene standard.
• Build positive relationships with parents about food choices.

Skills

Kitchen experience

Dietary catering

Food prep NVQ Level 2+

Food creativity

Customer service

Food waste reduction

Fast service

Positive attitude

Motivation

Long-term culinary career

Education

Food Preparation and Hygiene NVQ Level 2

Job description

Description

We’re more than just a nursery group. We’re the UK’s most innovative early-years education provider. At N Family Club, we dreamed of reimagining early years education. Becoming a place that fosters creativity, embraces a curriculum-led approach, and prepares children for the modern world. We’re proudly making our dream a reality – and we want you to be a part of it!

Department

Nursery Operations

Location

Whetstone, London

Compensation

£26,437 / year

Your key responsibilities

• Assist with cooking fresh, tasty, and nutritious meals for the children and team every day.
• Make sure each meal meets the nutritional needs of different age groups and follows all food safety and choking guidelines.
• Support the Chef to cater to different dietary needs for all ages.
• Support with preparing daily lunches and smoothies for the nursery team, catering to a variety of diets and preferences.
• Support the Chef to keep on top of kitchen paperwork and checks, including cleaning schedules and daily safety logs.
• Order supplies, manage stock, and make sure the kitchen runs smoothly.
• Maintain the kitchen to a 5-star Food Hygiene standard.
• Build friendly, professional relationships with parents so they feel confident about the food their children eat.

Our Kitchen Assistant should have...

• Previous experience in a commercial kitchen or a nursery kitchen.
• Experience in catering for a diverse range of dietary needs.
• A Food Preparation and Hygiene NVQ Level 2 or above (you’ll need to complete a Level 3 during induction if not already held).
• A passion for food creativity and a love for working with children and families.
• A genuine interest in cooking with long-term culinary career goals.
• A willingness to adopt conscious practices within food and cooking, including recycling and creating as little food waste as possible.
• The ability to work quickly and effectively during busy service times.
• A positive, glass-half-full outlook.
• Bags of drive and motivation with a ‘make it happen’ attitude!
• A love for customer service.

The N Advantage package

• Competitive salary – £26,437 per annum
• Performance bonus – Up to £750 annually.
• Industry-leading holiday allowance – Up to 35 days, including a personal ‘Me’ day and Christmas closure.
• Development fund – £100 annual learning fund, plus paid N Academy training (level 3, EY Degrees, Forest School & more).
• Family-friendly – Enhanced parental/fostering/neonatal leave after 2 years.
• Childcare – 40% discount, plus 6 emergency days annually.

And that’s not all!

• Loyalty rewards – 5-year bonus: around-the-world trip + 2 bonus weeks off. 10-year bonus: “Out of this world” experience + 2 more weeks off!
• Referral scheme – Earn up to £1000 per successful hire.
• Amazing discounts – Save on groceries, shopping, fitness, and more.
• Travel support – Season ticket loans and cycle-to-work scheme.
• Socials & Wellbeing – Annual parties, team events, gym discounts, and online fitness.
• And much, much more!

Why N Whetstone?

Join our amazing team at this bright 110-place nursery in the heart of Whetstone, North London. Getting here is a breeze! Just a short walk from Totteridge & Whetstone Underground, with local buses 34, 125, 251, 688 stopping right nearby.

Why N Family Club?

At N Family Club, we’re reimagining early years education – and we want you to be a part of it. We’re a certified Great Place to Work and one of the UK’s most innovative early years groups. With top salaries, unmatched benefits, and real career progression, we put our people first.