Nursery Kitchen Assistant

Childbase Partnership Limited; St Albans; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

Join a leading childcare provider as a Kitchen Assistant in St Albans. This part-time role involves preparing healthy meals for children, maintaining hygiene standards, and collaborating with the Nursery Cook. Enjoy competitive pay, generous leave, and exclusive rewards.

Benefits

75% discount for parents

40% discount for grandparents

23 days annual leave rising to 28

Paid bank holidays

Partnership Reward Days

Tax-free Partnership dividends

Mental Health First Aiders

Two free meals a day

Professional development support

Qualifications

• Experience in a professional kitchen environment.
• Knowledge of COSHH, allergens, and environmental health legislation.

Responsibilities

• Prepare a range of meals from a set-menu using fresh ingredients.
• Maintain a clean and hygienic kitchen.
• Manage the kitchen in the absence of the Nursery Cook.

Skills

Attention to Detail

Teamwork

Healthy Food Preparation

Job description

Join Childbase Partnership and be part of something extraordinary.

At Childbase Partnership we have been delivering childcare excellence since 1989. Our mission is to give children the best possible start in life and instil a lifelong passion for learning. Across all 44-day nurseries, Head Office, and our Training Academy of Excellence, our dedicated colleagues work together to create a lasting, positive impact in our local communities.

We are determined to be excellent and constantly strive for the best outcomes, not only for the children in our care but for every colleague too .

What makes us special?

• We are 100% employee-owned– which means we are all partners, we all have a meaningful voice, and we own our future (this includes sharing profits too, tax-free).
• Sector leading initiative: “Partnership Reward Days”– going the extra mile to promote a healthy work/life balance for you with up to an extra 20 days paid leave a year, meaning up to a phenomenal 50 days leave, with the option to sell a proportion if you would prefer; the choice is yours!
• ‘Number 1’- we have earned the top spot in the prestigious Nursery World league tables for our Ofsted outcomes, all thanks to our extraordinary colleagues.
• Record-breaking Green Flag achievements, and climate-positive status- we save more CO2 than we create (take that, climate change!).
• Planting in excess of 2,000 trees in the Eden Restoration project- because the planet needs a hug too.
• Over £3.5 million raised for charity– we’re basically fundraising superheroes (without the capes).

At Childbase Partnership, our ethos is simple; we all belong, we all matter, and we all contribute so we all benefit.Our core values foster happiness, confidence, and growth, with a ‘careers not jobs’ approach, shaping the future of our extraordinary company together.

Own your future and join us as the Kitchen Assistant at our 67 place Grasshoppers Day Nursery in St Albans.

This role is part-time (30 hours a week) and working hours are 11.00-17.00, DAY-DAY, 52 weeks of the year.

Join us and benefit from:

• A competitive salary: £24,102 per annum (pro-rata) / £12.36 per hour.
• From day 1:75% discount for parents and 40% discount for grandparents at any Childbase nursery.
• Generous leave entitlement: Starting with 23 days annual leave rising to 28 days (pro-rata), plus paid bank holidays and up to 20 additional paid days off through our Partnership Reward Days initiative.
• Exclusive rewards: Tax-free Partnership dividends, qualification reward payments, long-service bonuses, retail discounts, family fun days with free tickets to UK attractions and cycle-to-work scheme.
• Well-being support: Mental Health First Aiders, two free meals a day in the nursery, subsidised medical care, flu jabs, eye care vouchers, occupational health support, and a free will-writing service.
• Growth opportunities: Team inset training days, professional development support, online courses, and apprenticeships through our Training Academy of Excellence.

Your knowledge, skills and character qualities make you the perfect Kitchen Assistant. You are:

• Passionate about providing wholesome, healthy food for children under five; your experience of working in a professional kitchen environment enablesyou to contribute towards the preparation of a range of meals from a set-menu, using fresh ingredients.
• Naturally diligent with excellent attention to detail; your knowledge of COSHH, allergens and environmental health legislation ensures you contribute towards maintaining a clean and hygienic kitchen and all children’s dietary requirements are met.
• An advocate for partnership working; you thrive as part of a team environment and you enjoy building meaningful and respectful relationships with colleagues, children and parents to promote healthy eating choices.

The Kitchen Assistant works in partnership with the Nursery Cook to effectively maintain a 5-star food hygiene rating and resumes responsibility managing the kitchen in the absence of the Nursery Cook.

Are you ready to contribute to something quite extraordinary?

To apply, you must currently reside in the UK and hold suitable Right To Work in the UK. We are sorry, VISA sponsorship is not available at present. Before commencing in your new role, you will be required to provide Right To Work documentation and any relevant qualifications. An enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references must also be obtained for you. Rest assured our Recruitment Team are on hand to support and guide you through every step of the process.

• Location (a radius of up to 50 miles will apply) St Albans, United Kingdom