At a Glance
- Tasks: Help prepare nutritious meals and maintain a clean kitchen for our little ones.
- Company: Join Spring Nurseries, a family-focused nursery dedicated to nurturing children's growth.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, childcare discounts, and access to mental health support.
- Other info: Great career progression opportunities and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your culinary skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in catering and a passion for healthy eating are essential.
The predicted salary is between 26510 - 26510 £ per year.
Location: Sandwich, Kent
Salary: £26,510 per annum (pro rata)
Contract/Hours: Part Time – 36 hours per week
Benefits:
- Time off to recharge – 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
- 24/7 Confidential Helpline – speak to trained counsellors any time, 365 days a year, for emotional, wellbeing or mental health support.
- Enhanced Well-being – 8 sessions In-Person, Phone, or Online Counselling or CBT
- Treat yourself – Staff discounts portal and blue light card with 15,000+ retailers
- Childcare Discount – 60% off childcare within our nurseries and out of school clubs
- Up to 3 days dependency leave – to care for dependents in an emergency.
- Paid maternity, adoption, and paternity leave
- Gain professional qualifications – with excellent training/development opportunities.
- Salary Finance – access to financial advice and the ability to manage savings or loans directly from your salary.
- Secure your future – Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover.
Why Spring Nurseries:
Imagine a place where laughter echoes, imaginations run wild, and every day is a new adventure. That's Spring Nursery! We're not just a nursery; we are a family dedicated to creating a joyful and nurturing environment where children thrive. As part of Action for Children, we're on a mission to provide outstanding early education that's accessible to all. At Spring, we are committed to supporting your career growth!
A bit about the role:
We're looking for a Nursery Kitchen Assistant to join the team at Spring. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who would like to take the next step in their career into a larger or commercial kitchen who's ready to take on a rewarding role helping to prepare nutritious, tasty meals for young children every day. As our Kitchen Assistant, you'll help plan meals, prepare and serve healthy snacks, lunch and tea for children attending our Nursery. You'll help manage stock levels, place food orders, and always maintain excellent hygiene and safety standards.
A bit about the nursery:
Saint Barts is a large, welcoming nursery with a friendly and supportive staff team. Although the setting is spacious, the rooms offer a real home-from-home feel, creating calm nurturing spaces for the children. The nursery provides a varied and engaging curriculum, including regular enrichment sessions and outdoor learning opportunities, giving children a rich and enjoyable early years’ experience.
What you’ll be doing:
- Assist with the chef planning healthy meals that are nutritious, varied and tasty, considering the children's dietary and cultural requirements.
- Assist in the preparation and cooking.
- Check food orders and make sure they are in on time.
- Ensure that the food is served to all Nursery rooms in a timely manner and appropriate dietary requirements are catered for.
- Keep waste to a minimum, ensuring our impact on the environment is as minimal as it can be, and costs are kept low.
- Ensure that kitchen equipment is maintained regularly and maintain a tidy, clean and hygienic area at the end of each day.
- Always follow latest legislation in relation to food and food hygiene and take part in all necessary and required training as needed.
What we need from you:
- Hold or be willing to work towards a recognised food hygiene certificate.
- Previous experience within a catering environment.
- Previous experience of stock management.
- Knowledge of healthy eating and providing a balanced menu.
- Excellent organisational skills.
- Experience in a similar role working in a catering environment.
Contact: RecruitmentService@actionforchildren.org.uk quoting reference 13184.
Interview details: Interviews will take place in person week commencing the 22nd of June 2026.
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion: At Spring we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within the organisation. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups. Male staff are often under-represented within this sector, and we would like to encourage more male applicants for our roles. We are committed to safer recruitment practices to protect our service users; therefore, all applicants are expected to have an understanding of and commitment to safeguarding best-practice.
Don't meet every single requirement? If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with the job description, we'd love you to apply anyway. You might just be the perfect person for this role, or another role within the Action for Children family.
Application Process: We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. There are 5 sections for you to complete—Personal Details, CV, Supporting Statement & Information, Equality & Diversity, Submission & Declaration – please refer to the JD and Person Specification when applying. We also want to know what unique qualities you can bring to help us reach our vision for children and families.
Talent Pool: We're sure you've got what it takes to join our ambitious team. If you're unsuccessful this time around, we'd like to hold your details in case similar jobs come up that you might be better suited for. But feel free to let us know if you'd rather, we didn't do that.
Kitchen Assistant employer: Spring Nurseries by Action for Children
At Spring Nurseries, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a nurturing work environment where laughter and creativity flourish. Our commitment to employee well-being is evident through generous benefits such as 25 days of annual leave, extensive training opportunities for professional growth, and a supportive team culture that values diversity and inclusion. Located in Sandwich, Kent, our nursery not only provides a fulfilling role as a Kitchen Assistant but also fosters a sense of community and purpose in shaping the lives of young children.
Contact Details:
Spring Nurseries by Action for Children Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Kitchen Assistant
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the nursery! Before your interview, take a moment to research Spring Nurseries. Familiarise yourself with their values and mission. This will help you connect with the team and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their family.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for common interview questions related to kitchen roles, like how you handle food hygiene or manage stock. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or family to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your passion for healthy eating! Since you'll be preparing meals for children, share your ideas on nutritious meal planning during the interview. This will demonstrate your commitment to their well-being and your creativity in the kitchen.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, send a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity. It’s a nice touch that can set you apart from other candidates and keep you fresh in their minds.
We think you need these skills to ace Kitchen Assistant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for working with children and in a kitchen shine through. We want to see that you’re excited about preparing nutritious meals and creating a positive environment for the little ones!
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in catering or kitchen roles. We love seeing how your skills match what we’re looking for, so don’t be shy about showcasing your stock management and food hygiene knowledge!
Craft a Compelling Supporting Statement:This is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for our Nursery Kitchen Assistant role. Share specific examples of your past experiences and how they relate to the job description. We want to know what unique qualities you bring to the table!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently, so don’t miss out on this opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Spring Nurseries by Action for Children
✨Know Your Stuff About Nutrition
Make sure you brush up on healthy eating and nutrition for children. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to planning nutritious meals that cater to dietary requirements. Showing your knowledge will impress the interviewers!
✨Show Off Your Organisational Skills
As a Kitchen Assistant, you'll need to manage stock levels and ensure timely food orders. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully organised tasks or managed inventory. This will demonstrate your ability to keep things running smoothly.
✨Emphasise Hygiene and Safety Standards
Familiarise yourself with food hygiene regulations and be prepared to talk about how you maintain cleanliness in the kitchen. Mention any relevant certifications you have or are willing to obtain, as this shows your commitment to safety.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Teamwork
Working in a nursery kitchen means collaborating with chefs and other staff. Think of examples where you've worked well in a team, especially in a catering environment. Highlighting your teamwork skills will show you're a great fit for their supportive culture.
