Nursery Kitchen Assistant

Childbase Partnership; Oxford; On-site; GBP 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A childcare organization in Oxford is seeking a Kitchen Assistant responsible for preparing meals for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years. This role involves maintaining high hygiene standards, collaborating with the Nursery Cook, and ensuring each child's dietary needs are met. Ideal candidates will have professional catering experience and a passion for child welfare. The position offers a permanent contract with competitive salary and generous leave benefits.

Benefits

23 days paid annual leave

75% childcare discount

Wellbeing support

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Passionate about preparing wholesome, healthy meals.
• Collaborative mindset for working with colleagues.
• Advocate for safeguarding children's dietary needs.

Responsibilities

• Prepare meals for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years.
• Manage food preparation and cooking tasks.
• Promote healthy eating alongside the Nursery Cook.

Skills

Professional catering experience

Knowledge of COSHH

Understanding of allergens

Manual handling experience

Ability to maintain hygiene standards

Job description

Overview

Role: Kitchen Assistant | Preparing meals for up to 131 children aged 6 weeks-5 years old.

Location: Julia Durbin Day Nursery | Headington | OX3 7JU. Contract: Permanent | 30 hours/week | 52 weeks/year. Working pattern: Monday-Friday 12:00-18:00. Salary: £24,102 per annum (pro-rata) | £12.36 per hour.

About us

We’ve been delivering childcare excellence since 1989. Within our 43-day nurseries, Head Office, and Training Academy, EduBase, our ethos is simple: we all belong, we all matter, and we all contribute. We believe in ‘careers, not jobs’, supporting one another to grow and succeed.

Why join us

• Generous annual leave: 23 days paid leave per annum (pro-rata), rising to 28 days with length of service, plus paid bank holidays.
• Work-life balance: Up to a further 20 paid days off each year through our Partnership Reward Days incentive; take your leave or sell the days you accrue, tax-free.
• Childcare discount: 75% discount (or 40% grandparent discount) on your fees at any Childbase nursery, from day one.
• Exclusive partner benefits: Long-service rewards, qualification bonuses and retail discounts.
• Wellbeing support: Free meals, mental health and occupational health support, flu jabs, eye care vouchers and a free will-writing service.
• Career development: Team inset days, access to online training and apprenticeships through our academy.

About you

• You are passionate about preparing wholesome, healthy meals: You have professional catering experience which will enable you to contribute towards the preparation of a range of meals from a set-menu, using fresh ingredients.
• You are diligent: Your knowledge of COSHH, allergens and manual handling alongside your experience working in a professional kitchen environment will ensure you effectively contribute towards maintaining 5-star hygiene standards within the kitchen.
• You are an advocate for safeguarding: You will ensure the well-being and dietary needs of every child are met.
• You are collaborative: In partnership with the Nursery Cook, you will promote healthy eating, build respectful relationships with colleagues, children and parents and resume full responsibility for all food preparation and cooking tasks in the absence of the cook.

Requirements

• We are an inclusive employer and we welcome applicants of all ages and backgrounds. We’re committed to FREDIE (fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, and engagement) and will consider any reasonable adjustments required. If you meet the essential criteria for this role, your application will be automatically shortlisted for review by our Recruitment Team who will determine if an interview is the next step.
• Applicants must currently reside within a commutable distance of the nursery and hold suitable Right to Work in the UK; VISA sponsorship is not available. Safer recruitment checks apply, which include an Enhanced DBS check.

Other information

We are an inclusive employer and we welcome applicants of all ages and backgrounds. We’re committed to FREDIE (fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, and engagement) and will consider any reasonable adjustments required. If you meet the essential criteria for this role, your application will be automatically shortlisted for review by our Recruitment Team who will determine if an interview is the next step.