Nursery Kitchen Assistant

Childbase Partnership; Peacehaven; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 23 days pro‑rata + bank

Additional 20 paid days via RewardDays

Childcare savings up to 40%

Partner benefits

Wellbeing support

Career development

Employee‑owned with dividend

Job summary

Childbase Partnership is hiring a Kitchen Assistant to prepare wholesome meals for up to 115 children daily at Windermere Day Nursery and other sites. You will work Monday to Friday, 10:00–14:30, 22.5 hours per week, with a pro‑rata salary of £25,096.50 per year and £12.87 per hour.

You’ll contribute to a 5‑star hygiene culture, support safeguarding, and collaborate with the Nursery Cook to ensure consistent, high‑quality meals and real teamwork across our nursery family.

Qualifications

• You are passionate about preparing wholesome, healthy meals and have professional catering experience.
• Knowledge of COSHH, allergens and manual handling for kitchen hygiene.
• Commitment to safeguarding and the well‑being of every child.
• Collaborative approach with the Nursery Cook to promote healthy eating and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Prepare meals for up to 115 children using a set-menu.
• Maintain high hygiene standards and follow COSHH and safety guidelines.
• Support the Nursery Cook and resume food prep in their absence.
• Contribute to safe food handling and accurate portioning and labeling.

Skills

Catering experience

Food hygiene

COSHH

Safeguarding

Time management

Team collaboration

Job description

Join Childbase Partnership and be part of something extraordinary.

Role: Kitchen Assistant | Preparing meals for up to 115 children aged 6 weeks-5 years old.

Location: Windermere Day Nursery | Kettering | NN16 8LX.

Contract: Permanent | 22.5 hours/week | 52 weeks/year.

Working pattern: Monday-Friday between 10:00-14:30.

Salary: £25,096.50 per annum (pro-rata) | £12.87 per hour.

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.
• Family childcare savings: If you have children or grandchildren, there's the potential for you to benefit from generously discounted childcare at Childbase Partnership nurseries, with savings of up to 40% for parents, and 21% for grandparents, depending on your contracted hours.
• 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 us

• We are employee-owned: Every colleague is a partner with a voice, who helps drive our success; when we do well, we each receive an annual tax-free dividend.
• We are number 1: Ranked top of the Nursery World league tables for our Ofsted outcomes.
• We are community driven : Supporting causes close to our hearts, we've raised more than £3.5 million for charity.
• We are environmentally responsible : Building a greener tomorrow our nurseries all hold Green Flag awards and are powered by 100% renewable energy.

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.

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.