Start: February 2026
About the Role
As a Kitchen Assistant, you will support the School Cook in the day-to-day running of the kitchen, helping to prepare and serve meals to a high standard in a clean, safe and welcoming environment. This is a hands-on role that plays an important part in ensuring pupils and staff receive nutritious meals while maintaining excellent standards of hygiene and food safety.
Key Responsibilities
1. Support the School Cook with food preparation as directed
2. Prepare, serve and present meals to a good standard
3. Ensure the kitchen, servery and dining areas are kept clean and hygienic at all times
4. Clean kitchen equipment, surfaces and fabrics, including washing and sanitising tables and chairs
5. Prepare service and dining areas for mealtimes
6. Rotate food stock and monitor supplies to reduce waste
7. Inform the School Cook of food and kitchen requirements ahead of stock running low
8. Record and report any equipment faults or maintenance issues
9. Support with additional hours when required, including during staff absence or busy periods such as events and functions
Qualifications (Desirable)
10. Food Hygiene certificate
11. NVQ in Food Preparation and Catering
This role would suit someone reliable, organised and committed to maintaining high standards of cleanliness, food safety and teamwork within a school kitchen environment.
About Us
Bestwood Village School is a brand-new school in Bestwood Village, Nottingham and has capacity for 30 pupils. This is an exciting opportunity for anybody who wants to be a part of the successful development of a brand-new setting and make a difference to the education of our pupils.
For over 19 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. We are a leading provider of education for neurodivergent young people and young adults. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.
We are really proud to say that in 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.
Why join Options Autism?
We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
Benefits
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:
12. Life Assurance
13. Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
14. “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
15. A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
16. 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
17. Cycle to Work Schemes
18. Electric Car Purchase Scheme
19. Critical illness cover
20. Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.