Catering Assistant
Maiden Erlegh School in Reading, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 5SL21 days remaining to apply
Start date details
1st September 2025
Closing date
4 July 2025 at 11:59pm
Date listed
12 June 2025
Job details
Job role
- Catering, cleaning and site management
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £24,790.00 - £25,183.00 Annually (FTE) 20 hours per week. Term Time Only plus 2 days. Actual Salary is £ 11,307.35
Catering Assistant job summary
Maiden Erlegh Trust operates an in-house catering function, delivering high quality and nutritious food to students within our schools. Working under the direction of the Trust Catering Manager and the school chef, the catering assistant would support in the delivery of the menu in Maiden Erlegh Reading. By providing excellent care and services to students, the successful candidate will support to grow the catering operations and will support the Trust to implement its sustainability objectives relating to catering operations.
We are looking for staff who are willing to be flexible to support the needs of students, and other stakeholders, and to meet the operational needs of the school. This will provide excellent opportunities for staff to develop new skills and gain experience in a variety of areas.
The successful candidate will be:
- Friendly and professional in their interactions with the catering team, students and staff.
- Able to operate the till system efficiently to enable students to pass through service quickly, maximising the time that they can spend outside or engaged in other lunchtime activities.
- Confident working in a busy kitchen and possess prior experience of working in a similar setting.
- Reliable. Able to work independently and as part of a team.
- Able to work to the highest standards of food safety and follow HSE requirements.
- Capable of moderate physical activity (lifting pans, standing).
- Willing to undertake training to support their own professional development and the operational needs of a growing school.
We are looking for someone who has:
- Customer service experience.
- Previous catering experience, preferably within a School, high volume restaurants or contract catering environment.
- A current Food hygiene qualification, or a willingness to undertake training.
- Experience of the Food standards and H&S requirements of a school catering setting, including catering for special dietary requirements and allergies.
- The ability to develop positive and caring relationships with children.
- A high level of professionalism, with respect for others, and a positive attitude.
- The school will be a part of the successful Maiden Erlegh Trust who currently operate eight other schools in Berkshire and South Oxfordshire. The Trust has a reputation for driving high standards and excellence in all its schools, with a strong track record of outcomes and improving OFSTED grading.
About the school:
Maiden Erlegh School in Reading is an ambitious, over-subscribed 11-16 secondary school in an urban context which is as committed to the welfare of students and staff as it is to our high-quality education. Staff wellbeing is a key focus of the school. Staff voice is very important to us in determining both our change management plans and our ongoing wellbeing objectives. Our school benefits from excellent, modern facilities and teaching spaces and we are very proud of our vibrant, diverse and engaging students who work hard and have high aspirations. To learn more about our school, visit our website www.maidenerleghschoolreading.co.uk
About the Trust:
Maiden Erlegh Trust is committed to developing a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative community of highly effective schools that deliver excellent education opportunities for the children and young people of the communities we serve. Through our work we will ensure that our children are equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to deal with the demands of an ever-changing world. The Trust currently comprises 9 schools in the local area, with a variety of settings including primary, secondary, special and a PRU. As a Trust, we encourage professional development at all levels through the use of cross Trust networks to share best practice and ideas. We also actively encourage the promotion of staff to different roles within the Trust and to different settings in line with their career aspirations. Click Work @ Maiden Erlegh Trust to find out more information about why you should work for Maiden Erlegh Trust and to read testimonials from existing staff.
Benefits:
Further information about some of the staff benefits that Maiden Erlegh Trust offers its employees, can be found on our website HERE
Staff Wellbeing is very important to us. As a member of Maiden Erlegh Trust staff these are just some of the examples of how we show our appreciation to staff.
- We operate a system of ‘ME days’ allowing staff to request on additional day off per year to attend special events such as children’s sports days & graduations, family and friends' weddings.
- CPD is available for all staff at all levels.
- Free flu vaccinations are offered to all staff.
- Free eye tests are provided for eligible staff.
- Breakfast and lunch provided for staff regularly, including on many INSET days and as a thank you throughout the year.
If you believe that this is an environment where you can thrive, develop and substantially contribute to an exciting future for our students, then you are encouraged to explore further by contacting recruitment@maidenerleghtrust.org for a more detailed discussion, if required.
Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible as we reserve the right to close the advert and interview at any time.
We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and successful references.
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 are not accepted.
About Maiden Erlegh School in Reading
- School type
- Free School, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 888 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Maiden Erlegh School in Reading website
Maiden Erlegh School in Reading is an ambitious, over-subscribed 11-16 secondary school in an urban context which is as committed to the welfare of students and staff as it is our high quality education. Our school benefits from excellent, modern facilities and teaching spaces and we are very proud of our vibrant, diverse and engaging students who work hard and have high aspirations.
We have a highly effective team of tenacious, optimistic and talented staff , supported by an experienced leadership team.
Professional development is a strength here, thanks to our Teaching School. We offer a flexible CPD programme which staff can tailor to their own needs which includes coaching and training for new entrants to the profession and to support career returners. We are very happy to discuss flexible working arrangements including part-time working and job-sharing.
The school is a part of the Maiden Erlegh Trust which offers a range of career opportunities in our vibrant and successful schools. We have a proven track record of supporting ambitious staff to middle and senior leadership posts and our can offer Specialist Leader of Education and school improvement opportunities to the right candidates
School location
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