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- Tasks: Plan and cook nutritious meals for primary-aged children while ensuring a positive dining experience.
- Company: Join Blue Arrow, a supportive employer dedicated to creating great work opportunities.
- Benefits: Enjoy term-time hours, a friendly environment, and the chance to inspire healthy eating habits.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on children's health and wellbeing while working in a fun, creative kitchen.
- Qualifications: Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate and understanding of dietary needs required; school experience is a plus.
- Other info: Be part of a community that values creativity, sustainability, and positive relationships with children.
The predicted salary is between 20000 - 28000 £ per year.
Purpose of the Job To plan, prepare, and cook nutritious, balanced meals that support the health, wellbeing, and learning of primary-aged children in a safe and caring environment. The Cook will ensure high standards of hygiene, food safety, and service; including plating presentation and contribute to creating a positive lunchtime experience for all pupils. Responsibilities: * Oversee the daily running of the school kitchen and food preparation areas. * Ensure compliance with food hygiene, health and safety, and school nutritional standards. * Manage stock, food ordering, and budget effectively. * Promote a positive dining experience that encourages healthy eating habits. * Supervise and support kitchen staff (if applicable). * Be an active and cheerful presence in the school community. Tasks and Duties: * Plan and prepare a variety of child-friendly, healthy meals that can be adapted to meet dietary requirements including allergies and intolerances. * Cook meals from scratch using fresh ingredients, ensuring portion control and nutritional balance. * Keep accurate records of menus, food and equipment temperatures, stock levels, and allergen information. * Clean and maintain kitchen and equipment to required standards, following daily and weekly cleaning schedules. * Ensure food is served efficiently and safely, working with lunchtime staff as needed. * Liaise with suppliers and order food and cleaning materials within budget. * Assist with the development and display of menus and themed food days to promote food awareness and enjoyment. * Attend relevant training courses and meetings as required by the school or local authority. Creativity and Innovation: * Introduce new, appealing meals and themed days to engage children and promote a love for healthy food. * Find solutions to accommodate pupils\’ individual dietary needs in fun, inclusive ways. * Suggest and implement ideas to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and support sustainability (e.g., using local produce). * Encourage pupil involvement in food education (e.g., grow-your-own ingredients, taste testing, cooking clubs). Contacts and Relationships: * Pupils: Build positive, friendly relationships with children; promote confidence and good behaviour during lunch. * Staff: Work collaboratively with teaching, support, and lunchtime staff to ensure smooth operation of lunch service. * Parents/Carers: Occasionally liaise with parents regarding dietary needs or food preferences. * Suppliers: Maintain professional relationships with food providers and delivery services. * Local Authority / Environmental Health: Ensure compliance with food safety standards and assist during inspections. Decision Making: * Decide on appropriate meal quantities and stock levels based on pupil numbers and menus. * Make daily operational decisions around food preparation, presentation, and service delivery. * Report any equipment faults or food safety concerns to the Office Manager or Headteacher promptly. Resources Managed: * Kitchen equipment, food stock, cleaning products, and supplies. * Responsibility for adhering to the kitchen budget (with oversight from the Office Manager). * Management of kitchen assistant staff, supported by members of SLT. Working Conditions: * Work is primarily in a kitchen environment with exposure to heat, steam, cleaning materials, and food allergens. * Requires standing for long periods and lifting/moving equipment or supplies. * Role is term-time only + 2 days, with working hours typically during school mornings and early afternoons. General: * Knowledge of food hygiene and health & safety standards. * A positive, friendly manner and enjoyment of working with children * Ability to plan and manage menus, orders, and time effectively * Basic IT or admin skills for recording data (or willingness to learn) Required skills/experience: * Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate * Good understanding of special dietary needs and allergens Desirable: * Experience working in a school or child-focused environment Blue Arrow is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to helping find great work opportunities for great people. TPBN1_UKTJ
School Cook/ Chef employer: All The Top Bananas
Contact Detail:
All The Top Bananas Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land School Cook/ Chef
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific dietary needs of primary-aged children. Understanding common allergies and dietary restrictions will not only help you in your role but also show us that you're proactive and knowledgeable about the children's health.
✨Tip Number 2
Get creative with meal planning! Think about how you can introduce fun, themed food days or engaging cooking activities that promote healthy eating habits among children. This will demonstrate your ability to innovate and connect with the school community.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your understanding of food hygiene and safety standards. Be prepared to discuss how you would maintain high standards in the kitchen and ensure compliance with regulations, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Highlight any previous experience working in a school or child-focused environment. If you have examples of how you've positively impacted children's dining experiences, be ready to share those stories with us during the interview.
We think you need these skills to ace School Cook/ Chef
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in cooking, especially in a school or child-focused environment. Emphasise any qualifications like the Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate and your understanding of dietary needs.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for working with children and your commitment to providing nutritious meals. Mention specific examples of how you've promoted healthy eating habits in previous roles.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In your application, focus on skills such as menu planning, food safety compliance, and teamwork. Discuss your ability to manage stock and budgets effectively, as these are key responsibilities of the role.
Showcase Creativity: Demonstrate your creativity by mentioning any innovative meal ideas or themed food days you've implemented in the past. This will show your potential employer that you can engage children and promote a love for healthy food.
How to prepare for a job interview at All The Top Bananas
✨Show Your Passion for Healthy Cooking
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for preparing nutritious meals for children. Share any personal experiences or creative ideas you have for engaging kids with healthy food, as this will demonstrate your commitment to their wellbeing.
✨Highlight Your Food Hygiene Knowledge
Since a Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate is required, be prepared to discuss your understanding of food safety standards. Mention specific practices you follow to ensure hygiene in the kitchen and how you would handle food allergies and intolerances.
✨Demonstrate Teamwork Skills
Talk about your experience working collaboratively with others, especially in a school or child-focused environment. Emphasise your ability to build positive relationships with staff and pupils, which is crucial for creating a cheerful dining atmosphere.
✨Prepare for Practical Questions
Expect questions about menu planning and how you would adapt meals for dietary needs. Be ready to share examples of meals you've created in the past and how you manage stock and budgets effectively to ensure a smooth kitchen operation.
