Kitchen Assistant

Job Title: Kitchen Assistant

Location: Rayleigh, Essex, United Kingdom, Essex, SS6 7JQ
Line Manager: Nursery Manager
Contract Type: Part-time, 30 hours per week
Contract Length: Permanent
Salary: £12.21-£12.25 + benefits
Benefits: Birthday Off, 6 Fully Paid Sick Days, Cashback Healthcare Plan, Retail Discounts, Recognition & Reward Scheme, 50% Childcare Discount, 24/7 Virtual GP Access, 24/7 Counselling Support, Discounted Gym Membership, Personal Financial Advisor Access, Pension Discovery, Learning Platform Access

Join the Kindred Family – A Place to Cook, Care, and Make a Difference

Join Kindred as a Kitchen Assistant and be part of a friendly, family-like team where your role truly matters. You’ll help create nutritious, delicious meals that support children’s wellbeing while enjoying structured hours, a supportive environment, and competitive pay.

We value your skills and offer flexibility, stability, and the chance to work in a warm, inclusive setting where you’re appreciated every day. If you’re passionate about food and love working in a caring environment, Kindred is the place for you.

About Kindred

Kindred is a family of inspiring nurseries and preschools with a distinct home-from-home environment. By creating days filled with unique moments and opportunities, we enrich children’s development during their early years.

Our Mission: Creating inspiring worlds full of awe and wonder for little ones to grow and thrive in.

Our Values:

• Always Learning – Continuously seeking opportunities to develop yourself and others
• Inspirational – Creating magic in every action
• Family Feel – Making everyone feel part of our incredible family

What You’ll Be Doing

As a Kitchen Assistant, you will:

Kitchen Support

• Work with the team to maintain a safe, clean, and tidy kitchen environment
• Complete daily cleaning checks and record them on the appropriate checklists
• Step up to cover all aspects of the nursery chef’s role in their absence

Kitchen Responsibilities

• Keep the kitchen clean and organised in line with Safer Food Better Business and COSHH guidelines
• Assist the chef to ensure all children’s dietary needs are met
• Support meal and snack preparation safely according to food policies
• Maintain allergy and dietary records
• Assist the chef in safely serving meals to children
• Cover lunch breaks for practitioners working in the rooms
• Act as a positive role model and advocate healthy eating for children
• Perform laundry duties as required
• Monitor kitchen and cleaning supplies and order replacements when needed
• Use appropriate signage to indicate wet floors or other cleaning hazards
• Follow the Health and Safety manual

Other Responsibilities

• Create a homely environment for children
• Use a friendly approach with parents, carers, staff, and children
• Participate in staff meetings and nursery events
• Complete all training outlined by the Nursery Manager
• Understand and follow company Policies and Procedures
• Follow safeguarding policies and understand that safeguarding is a shared responsibility

What You’ll Need

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organisational ability and attention to detail
• Outstanding customer service
• Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate (or willingness to complete on induction)
• Previous experience as a Kitchen Assistant is desirable but not essential

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All employees are required to act in a manner that safeguards the health, safety, and well-being of children at all times. Familiarisation with, and adherence to, safeguarding and health and safety policies is mandatory, as is participation in statutory training.

Employees must seek guidance without delay when clarification is required. Managers are responsible for ensuring their teams understand their individual responsibilities regarding Health, Safety, and Safeguarding.

Ready to Start Your Kindred Journey?

To apply for the Kitchen Assistant position, please click the “Apply” button and submit your CV along with a short cover letter explaining your interest in supporting children through nutritious meals.

We aim to respond to all applicants within 2–5 working days. Thank you for considering a career with Kindred!

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