Description Salary: Grade C £24,413 - £25,185 (£15,607 - £16,466 actual pay) Hours of work: 27.5 hours per week – 8.30am to 2.00pm daily, term time only inset days Contract type: Permanent A bit about us: Downland School is a co-educational maintained community special school for pupils aged between 10 and 16 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Our pupils have varying aptitudes and abilities; we are extremely proud of all their achievements and progress. Our pupils have a range of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) including: Autism (ASC); attachment disorders and Social, Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties. We seek to ensure that, by the time they leave us, our pupils emerge as self-confident individuals able to manage their own learning; equipped with the skills and competencies to successfully take the next steps in their lives. We are a friendly, happy and caring school, providing a positive, inclusive and enriching educational experience for our young people. We view each of our pupils as unique and shape our provision to meet their individual needs and accelerate their progress in a variety of areas e.g. personal, social, academic and well-being. Our commitment to supporting the ‘whole’ child and their development is underpinned by our strong pastoral systems and our committed and trained staff. At Downland we promote inclusion and equality and celebrate diversity. Our mission statement is ‘Aspire, Achieve and Thrive’. We are now looking for a Kitchen Assistant to join our busy team. Your role will primarily include: To assist in food preparation, cooking and serving of meals as directed, with regard to procedures and policies e.g. adherence to food hygiene regulations. Cleaning & sanitising of area after tasks & meals. Plate up salads and store in fridge ready for serving. Help prepare for meals by helping to lay up hall tables for service & clean down as directed. Carry out daily washing up, cleaning of equipment, kitchen & storage areas, as directed, including removal of rubbish. Carry out additional tasks in the event of staff shortages or absence. Prepare food & beverages as directed. Find out more and apply: To apply, you should complete your application form addressing the requirements of the post, as outlined in the Job Description and the Person Specification provided. We are particularly interested in how you would undertake this role at Downland School and about your relevant skills, qualities and experience to date. Further information about this position is available from the school web site https://www.downlandschool.org.uk/AboutUs/Vacancies/ To apply online please download the application form and click the ‘apply now’ button below to upload your completed application form and covering letter online. Please note: CV's will not be considered. We welcome visits to the school. Please contact the main office on 01380 724193 if you would like to arrange a visit in advance of applying. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by e-mail by Wednesday 10 th December 2025. If you do not hear from us by this date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion. Closing date (and time): 9.00am Monday 8 th December 2025 Interview date: TBC Commencement date: As soon as possible Downland School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Please note that this appointment is subject to enhanced DBS, medical and reference checks before appointment is confirmed. Privacy Notice Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form