10 days remaining to apply

  • Start date details

    September 2026

  • Closing date

    12 July 2026 at 11:59pm

  • Date listed

    2 July 2026

Job details

Job role

  • Catering, cleaning and site management

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Working pattern

Part time

Contract type

Permanent

Full-time equivalent salary

£24,796.00 - £25,185.00 Annually (FTE) Grade B Pt 3-4

[260702] Kitchen Assistant job summary

Job Title: Kitchen Assistant

Location: Courtlands School, Widney Lane, Plymouth, PL6 5JS

FTE Salary: NJC Grade B, Point 3-4; £24,786 - £25,185

Actual Annual Salary: £15,873 - £16,122 (Pro Rata)

Contract: Permanent, Part Time, 42 working weeks per year

Hours: 25 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 8:30am-1:30pm

About the Role

We are looking to appoint a reliable and enthusiastic Kitchen Assistant to support the preparation, cooking and serving of meals for our pupils. Working under the guidance of the Kitchen Manager, you will help ensure the smooth running of our school kitchen and maintain the highest standards of food hygiene and safety.

Key responsibilities include:

Assisting with food preparation, including washing, peeling and chopping ingredients.

Preparing simple meals, sandwiches, wraps, salads and packed lunches.

Serving food to pupils during lunchtime service.

Cleaning kitchen equipment, surfaces and food preparation areas.

Supporting stock rotation, deliveries and replenishment of supplies.

Following food hygiene, health and safety and safeguarding procedures at all times.

Full induction and on-the-job training will be provided.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

  • Enjoys working as part of a team.
  • Has good literacy, numeracy and communication skills.
  • Can work efficiently in a busy kitchen environment.
  • Understands the importance of food hygiene and health and safety procedures.
  • Is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
  • Shares the values and ethos of Reach South Academy Trust.

Previous experience in food preparation, catering or a school environment would be advantageous but is not essential. A Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate is desirable, although training can be provided.

About the School

Courtlands Special School Academy caters for primary-aged children with moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH), autism, speech and language difficulties and other complex needs. Courtlands is a positive, supportive and aspirational environment where learning is tailored to meet the individual needs of every child.

About Reach South Academy Trust

We are a family of schools working in partnership for the benefit of all our pupils and students. We believe our charitable aim, to advance education, is best achieved through collaboration, both within the Trust and beyond.

We operate 21 academies across Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, serving learners aged 3 to 19. Alongside our primary, all-through and technical provision, we are proud to include a strong and integral network of seven special schools and one alternative provision setting.

These settings are a vital part of our community, providing inclusive, high-quality education for pupils with a wide range of needs, including complex learning profiles, autism, and social, emotional and mental health needs, as well as those who benefit from a more personalised approach. Together, we are committed to helping every young person thrive.

Next Steps

If you think this role may be for you and want to be involved at this exciting time in our development and have any questions about the position, please get in touch by calling the Recruitment team on 07759365064 or emailing us at recruitment@reachsouth.org.

Closing date: for applications is 12th July 2026

Interview Date: Interviews are provisionally booked for week commencing 20th July 2026

To apply for this opportunity, please complete our online application form by clicking ‘apply now’ on the advert.

We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date. Therefore, an early application is strongly advised.

Opportunities and Benefits

We offer a competitive salary plus LGPS pension, great career progression and development opportunities, access to our Employee Assistance Programme with many other benefits.

We’re proud of how we support our staff in order that you have high levels of job satisfaction, are aware of the difference you are making for the children and families you work with and can see your contribution towards our community. There are regular opportunities for professional development and training, and a wider community of staff to network with within Reach South Multi Academy Trust. You will have the chance to visit other local schools, work alongside a range of outside professionals and take part in a variety of e-learning and face-to-face training.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Each post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Reach South Academy Trust has an Equal Opportunities Policy for selection and recruitment. Applicants are requested to complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring section of the application form before submitting.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.
Visas cannot be sponsored.
If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

View advert on external website (opens in new tab)

About Courtlands School

School type
Academy, ages 4 to 11
School size
108 pupils enrolled
Age range
4 to 11
Ofsted report
View Ofsted report

Courtlands Special School Academy is a friendly and ambitious academy in Plymouth which caters for primary aged children (4-11) with Moderate Learning Difficulties and Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. Our innovative curriculum is based on meeting individual’s needs rather than schemes of work, and provides a wide range of curriculum and therapeutic input.

We are leaders in our field, having won numerous national awards for our work, and work in a Trauma Informed way to support our children to overcome their difficulties and make great progress in all areas of their development. We constantly strive for the best ways to support our children, and welcome innovation and new, evidence based ways of working.

You will need high levels of emotional resilience, and good coping strategies born out of successful experience of teaching and supporting children with complex needs including Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties such as ADHD and attachment disorders; Communication and Interaction needs such as ASC and Speech and Language Difficulties. This could be in either a special school or mainstream school, with mainstream experience being an advantage.

We can offer you a motivated and skilled staff team and a real opportunity to make a difference to the future of our wonderful children and school. We look after our staff with award winning care for their wellbeing (National Wellbeing in Schools Award 2019). You won’t be taking marking home to do in the evening, and you will be given the freedom to meet the needs of the pupils in your class, along with the resources to do it. You will receive training in a wide range of SEND and real time support and mentoring form a Leadership Team whose door is literally open all the time.

School location

Similar jobs nearby

Cleaner

Eggbuckland Community College

Westcott Close, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5YB

Cleaner

Launceston College

Hurdon Road, Launceston, Cornwall, PL15 9JR

Caretaker

Eggbuckland Community College

Westcott Close, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5YB

Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed

Find more school jobs in Plymouth and Devon, Plymouth and Torbay