School Cook

Brook School Ltd; Chandler's Ford; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff wellbeing support

Training and development

SEND training and safeguarding

Job summary

Brook School in Chandler's Ford is seeking an experienced School Cook to join its founding team and help establish a high-quality catering provision from the start. The role will initially have set hours with potential to grow as the school expands.

You will prepare nutritious meals for learners with diverse dietary, medical and sensory needs, and adapt menus to allergies and cultural requirements. Collaboration with staff, families and professionals is essential to deliver safe, tasty and

Qualifications

• Experience cooking nutritious meals for diverse needs.
• Previous school/education or SEND setting experience is beneficial.
• Ability to adapt menus for allergies and sensory needs.

Responsibilities

• Prepare nutritious, appealing meals for learners with diverse dietary needs.
• Develop menus, manage stock, and place orders within budget.
• Work with staff and families to implement individual dietary plans.
• Support a calm, welcoming dining environment for learners and staff.

Skills

Warm personality

Patience

Adaptability

Creativity

Solution-oriented

Allergen awareness

Education

Food Hygiene and Safety qualification

Job description

SCHOOL COOK

Chandler's Ford

Full-time, permanent position

Closing date: Midnight, Fri 30th Oct, 2026

Join Us as We Build Something Special

School Cook – Brook School

Brook School is a new independent specialist school, and we are looking for an enthusiastic, caring and experienced Cook to join our team and help shape a truly unique and inspiring place to learn and work.

This is an exciting opportunity to become part of the school’s founding team and establish a high-quality catering provision from the beginning. The role will initially be offered on set hours, with the potential for these to increase as the school grows.

We are seeking someone who has experience of preparing nutritious and appealing meals for a diverse range of needs. Previous experience of working within a school, specialist education or SEND setting would be particularly beneficial.

Our learners may have a range of dietary, medical and sensory needs. The successful candidate will need to understand that food can be a significant part of a learner’s daily experience and must be prepared to adapt meals sensitively and creatively.

This may include:

• Catering for allergies, intolerances, cultural requirements and medically prescribed diets
• Adapting the texture, presentation, smell, temperature or separation of foods
• Supporting learners who experience sensory sensitivities around food
• Providing familiar, predictable and visually appealing meal options
• Working closely with school staff and families to understand individual dietary plans
• Introducing new foods gradually and without pressure
• Ensuring that every learner can access a safe and appropriate meal

We are not just looking for someone who can prepare meals.

We are looking for kindness, patience, flexibility and a genuine commitment to meeting the individual needs of every learner.

Our school has a therapeutic and trauma-informed ethos, with relationships, care and nurture at the heart of everything we do. The Cook will be an important member of the wider school team and will help create a calm, welcoming and positive dining experience for learners and staff.

What Makes Us Different?

• A small, nurturing specialist school environment
• A strong focus on each learner’s individual needs
• A therapeutic and trauma-informed approach
• The freedom to develop menus creatively and responsively
• A leadership team that values staff wellbeing
• A culture built on respect, collaboration and support
• The opportunity to develop the school’s catering provision from the beginning

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a Cook who is:

• Warm, patient and approachable
• Adaptable, creative and solution-focused
• Passionate about providing nutritious and enjoyable food
• Confident in adapting meals to meet sensory and dietary needs
• Knowledgeable about food allergies, intolerances and allergen management
• Able to maintain high standards of food hygiene and kitchen cleanliness
• Organised and able to manage menus, stock, ordering and food preparation
• Able to work within an agreed budget and reduce food waste
• Comfortable working independently while also contributing to the wider school team
• Willing to communicate with families and professionals regarding individual needs
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of learners
• Excited to help build a new school community

Applicants should hold, or be willing to complete, an appropriate Food Hygiene and Safety qualification. Knowledge of allergen legislation, nutritional guidance and safer food practices is essential.

What We Offer

• A wide range of staff benefits and wellbeing support
• Ongoing professional development and training
• SEND, safeguarding and allergen awareness training
• A collaborative and supportive working environment
• The opportunity for the role and hours to develop as the school grows
• The chance to make a genuine difference every day
• The opportunity to shape the school’s menus, kitchen routines and catering provision from the beginning

If you want more than just a catering role and would like to help create a school where learners and staff can truly flourish, we would love to hear from you.

Come and be part of the beginning.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications. We therefore encourage interested applicants to submit their application as soon as possible.

Safeguarding Statement

Brook School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every learner. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. Safer recruitment checks will also include references, identity and right-to-work checks, qualification checks and an online search in accordance with current safeguarding guidance.