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Teaching Vacancies; Saffron Walden; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Debden C of E Primary Academy is seeking a Kitchen Assistant to help reheat Apetito meals, serve pupils, and maintain kitchen hygiene. The role focuses on safe handling, temperature controls, and assisting with stock rotation while supporting a positive dining experience for children.

The post offers training where needed and a welcoming school community, with opportunities for development within a busy lunchtime service.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in school catering or fast-paced kitchen.
• Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate preferred, but training provided.
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure and communicate with pupils.

Responsibilities

• Reheating Apetito school meals safely, ensuring timing and temperature controls.
• Serving meals to pupils while managing allergy and dietary requirements.
• Washing up serving trays and utensils and keeping kitchens and dining areas clean.
• Logging daily food safety checks, including oven and core food temperatures.
• Assisting with basic daily item preparation and stock rotation.

Skills

Pressure under</

Education

Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate

Tools

Apetito system

Job description

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are a thriving village school seeking to appoint a Kitchen Assistant who has a passion for providing high-quality meals. At Debden C of E Primary Academy, we provide our pupils with healthy, delicious, and nutritious lunches that fuel their learning. To achieve this, we use the Apetito frozen meal system, which ensures high quality, balanced school meals every day. A job share will be considered for the right candidates.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking for a rewarding role within a school community. Because we use the Apetito system, there is no complex cooking from scratch. Your main focus will be on the safe reheating of meals, preparing the service, dishing up food for the children, and maintaining excellent kitchen hygiene.

Key responsibilities:

• Reheating Apetito school meals safely, ensuring strict timing and temperature controls.
• Serving meals to pupils, while carefully managing allergy and dietary requirements.
• Washing up serving trays and utensils and ensuring the kitchen and dining hall areas are clean and sanitized.
• Logging daily food safety checks, including oven and core food temperatures.
• Helping prepare basic daily items and ensuring proper stock rotation.

What we are looking for:

• Previous experience in school catering or a fast-paced kitchen is preferred, along with a Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate, but not essential as full training will be given.
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure during the busy lunchtime rush, with excellent communication skills to interact positively with children.
• A warm, approachable personality and a commitment to maintaining a safe environment for pupils.

What the school offers its staff

What we offer:

• Comprehensive training on the Apetito system, Apetito uniform and continued professional development.
• The opportunity to work in a successful and supportive environment.
• A caring and friendly staff body.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands, or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.