Kitchen Assistant
Location: Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Salary: £12.71 per hour
Additional Benefits: Pension, Funded Blue Light Card Membership & More
Contract: Part-time, All Year Round
Hours: 30 hours per week, Monday to Friday
About Happy Days
Happy Days is growing, and we're looking for a dedicated Kitchen Assistant to join our nursery team in Cirencester.
As a Kitchen Assistant, you'll play an important role in supporting our Chef to provide nutritious, balanced meals for the children in our care.
This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to children's health and wellbeing by supporting healthy eating, creating positive mealtime experiences and ensuring children receive meals that meet their individual dietary needs.
The Role
As a Kitchen Assistant, you'll work alongside our Chef to support the smooth running of the nursery kitchen and ensure children receive high-quality, nutritious meals every day.
You'll help prepare and serve meals, cater for individual dietary requirements and maintain high standards of food hygiene, cleanliness and safety. You'll also support our "Let's Cook" programme, helping children explore food and develop healthy eating habits.
Key Responsibilities
• Support the preparation and serving of nutritious meals in line with weekly menus.
• Help cater for individual dietary requirements and communicate allergies effectively.
• Follow food hygiene regulations and health and safety guidelines.
• Maintain accurate food hygiene and dietary records.
• Safely deliver meals to individual nursery rooms.
• Keep the kitchen and equipment clean, tidy and hygienic.
• Support our "Let's Cook" programme and encourage healthy eating.
• Build positive working relationships with the Chef and wider nursery team.
• Provide cover for the Chef during periods of absence, including preparing and cooking nursery meals.
• Maintain a safe, hygienic kitchen environment where children's wellbeing comes first.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for a reliable, enthusiastic and team-focused individual who enjoys working with food and is passionate about children's health and wellbeing.
You'll ideally have:
• An understanding of healthy eating and nutritious meals for children.
• A genuine passion for food and making a difference to children's lives.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to maintain a clean, safe kitchen.
• An awareness of food hygiene, health and safety and dietary requirements.
• Ideally, experience as a Kitchen Assistant or in a cooking role
• A flexible, supportive approach
Full training will be provided, including a funded Food Hygiene certificate if you don't already hold one.
What We Offer
We're proud to provide a supportive working environment where our people feel valued and can develop their skills while maintaining a positive work-life balance.
Flexible Working
• Part-time hours, Monday to Friday, all year round.
• A consistent working pattern and supportive team environment.
Learning & Development
• Funded Food Hygiene certificate, where required.
• Opportunities to develop your kitchen skills and knowledge of healthy eating.
• Support from our Chef and wider nursery team.
• Opportunities to contribute to children's learning through our "Let's Cook" programme.
• Recognition and celebration for long service.
Health and Wellbeing
• Generous annual leave from day one
• Extra days off for Christmas and personal day
• Life Assurance
• Extensive Health and Wellbeing Support
Check out our full range of Benefits here: Working For Happy Days Nurseries - Happy Days Nursery
Ready to Apply?
If you're passionate about food, enjoy working as part of a team and want to make a positive difference to children's health and wellbeing, we'd love to hear from you.
Join Happy Days and help create positive mealtime experiences where children can enjoy nutritious food and develop healthy habits for life.
Inclusion & Safeguarding
Happy Days is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.
Happy Days Nurseries is committed to safeguarding the safety and wellbeing of the children in our care. All successful candidates will undergo the required pre-employment and vetting checks, including verification of the right to work in the UK.
*Subject to eligibility criteria.
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