Kitchen Assistant

Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery, Southsea, Hampshire, PO5 1HG

21 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  3 December 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  12 November 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Catering, cleaning and site management
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Term time, part time: 20 hours per week, 9.30am to 1.30pm, Monday to Friday
• Contract type: Permanent
• Actual salary: £11,373
• Hourly rate: £12.75 per hour

What skills and experience we're looking for

Gateway Central Services is seeking to appoint a Kitchen Assistant to join our passionate and enthusiastic catering team at Cottage Grove Primary School in producing high quality and healthy meals for breakfast, snack time, lunch and the occasional function.

This role offers 20 hours per week, 9.30am to 1.30pm, Monday to Friday, 39 weeks per year (term time only plus INSET days).

This is an excellent opportunity for a committed and enthusiastic colleague to play an important role in the preparation, cooking and service of meals for our school community. The successful candidate will support the day-to-day running of the kitchen, helping to maintain high standards of food quality, hygiene and customer service while contributing to a positive team environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Prepare, as directed by the Chef Manager or Lead Chef, the required number of food products, following specified menus
• Cook food ensuring all meals are ready on time
• Produce a range of food to ensure different dietary requirements are met
• Serve food following specified portion control guidelines and special dietary requirements
• Receive deliveries, when directed by the Chef Manager or Lead Chef, carrying out quantity, temperature and quality checks
• Complete cleaning duties, following daily and weekly rotas, to ensure health and safety and hygiene standards are maintained
• Ensure health and safety and hygiene procedures are followed

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience of preparing and cooking food in a catering environment
• Has a good understanding of health and safety and hygiene procedures
• Works well as part of a team and can maintain a consistently fast pace during busy service periods
• Is organised, reliable and able to follow specified menus and procedures
• Demonstrates a positive and professional approach when serving pupils, staff and visitors
• Is committed to maintaining high standards of food quality, presentation and service
• Upholds the school's safeguarding responsibilities

This role would suit someone looking to develop their catering skills and make a valuable contribution to the continued success of our catering team.

This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate will be subject to pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

If you are interested in this position, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to interview exceptional applicants before the closing date.

Gateway Central Services is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including checks with past employers and Disclosure and Barring Service.

What the school offers its staff

• A competitive salary
• Entry into our NEST pension scheme
• Free Enhanced DBS
• Opportunities for further education and professional development
• Be part of Gateway Central Services in The Gateway Trust, an organisation dedicated to supporting the local community

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

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 2 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• Size: 462 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 2 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery website
• Email address: jobs@gatewaytrust.org
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/cottage-grove-primary-school-southsea

Arranging a visit to Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email jobs@gatewaytrust.org.

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