Catering Assistant
Valence School, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1QN37 days remaining to apply
Start date details
March 2026
Closing date
25 January 2026 at 10:59pm
Date listed
19 December 2025
Job details
Job role
- Catering, cleaning and site management
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time
Contract type
- Fixed term
Full-time equivalent salary
- £12.21 Hourly 25 hours per week : Monday to Friday : 09.30-14.30 : Term Time only : £13,868 actual gross per annum
Catering Assistant job summary
FIXED TERM TO FEBRUARY 2027
We are seeking a reliable and enthusiastic Catering Assistant to join our onsite Catering team on a 12-month fixed term basis from March 2026 to cover a maternity leave. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and takes pride in delivering excellent service. You will work alongside our Catering Manager and team to support with all aspects of food preparation required by the school.
In this role you will:
- contribute to the day-to-day catering function of the school including meal preparation, washing up, cleaning and clearing the dining and kitchen areas
- maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene in kitchen and service areas
- set up and clear dining areas, including washing up and waste disposal
- follow all food safety, health, and safety procedures
Experience in basic food preparation in schools is desirable but not essential as full training will be provided. You will have a “can do” attitude and be willing to take on a variety of tasks. A degree of flexibility is required for busy periods and functions.
If you are motivated, dependable and keen to be part of a dedicated team, we would like to hear from you!
What we offer:
- term time working - 39 working weeks plus 6.4 weeks paid holiday
- generous pension scheme with life cover
- access to retail discounts, health and wellbeing support including staff wellbeing sessions and events
- free on-site parking and refreshments
Valence School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every student and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We value diversity and promote equality for all. For shortlisted candidates references will be taken up before interview and online checks undertaken. The successful applicant will require an enhanced DBS check (this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act).
You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close this vacancy, interview and appoint earlier if we receive sufficient applications for this role.
Further information about the job
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 Valence School
- School type
- Special school, ages 4 to 19
- School size
- 132 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 4 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Valence School website
We are proud to share with you the excellent work we do with children and young people who have physical disabilities and complex medical needs. Our school is unique within the maintained sector in the whole of southern England. We cater for students aged 4 to 19 and have both day and boarding places. We have a large site with high quality teaching, social care and health care facilities. A staff team of over 200 people provides specialist teaching, social care, therapies and nursing care to an exceptionally high standard.
Our overall aim is to enable every child and young person to achieve meaningful independence. Students flourish in a supportive but challenging environment, making good educational progress and achieving a range of accreditation as they get older. There is excellent support to enable students to achieve functional communication, mobility and skills for daily living.
We are a Foundation Special School and are part of the Kent SEN Trust, a cooperative trust of ten schools working together to improve outcomes for all the children and young people attending the schools. In 2008 Valence became a specialist Sports College and this status plays a significant role in raising students’ achievements and their participation in high quality physical education and sport.
The School works proactively with parents and external professionals to provide holistic support for every child and young person. It is also developing high quality outreach support services to local schools and more widely for children and young people in Kent who have physical disabilities who are attending mainstream schools.
The School always places children and young people at the centre of all decisions it takes and it has a relentless focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for every student.
School location
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