Kitchen Assistant

Happy Days Nurseries Limited; Yate; On-site; GBP 11,000 - 18,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension & Life Assurance

Annual leave

Bank Holidays

Extra leave day

DBS Update Service

Blue Light Card

Digital GP access

SPARK app wellbeing

Long service recognition

Job summary

Happy Days Nurseries Limited is looking for a Kitchen Assistant to join our team. This part-time role is 20 hours per week, Monday to Friday, year-round, alongside our Chef.

You will prepare meals for children according to weekly menus and support dietary needs while ensuring health and safety standards are followed. We offer a comprehensive benefits package including pension, 20 days annual leave plus bank holidays, DBS update service, Blue Light Card, and access to digital GP with on-demand

Qualifications

• Knowledge of healthy eating programmes for children.
• Passion for offering children a varied and nutritious diet.
• Willing to train for a Food Hygiene certificate if needed.
• Experience as Kitchen Assistant preferred but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Prepare meals according to weekly menus for all children.
• Provide alternatives for children with dietary needs.
• Ensure food preparation complies with health regulations and guidelines.
• Assist the Chef in delivering the food to nursery rooms safely.
• Communicate allergies and dietary requirements clearly.
• Keep the kitchen and equipment clean and tidy.
• Support the Lets Cook programme with children and collaborate with staff.
• Cover the Chef during absences and manage daily cooking.

Skills

Healthy eating

Culinary basics

Job description

Our Kitchen Assistant will work 20hours 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.