Kitchen Assistant

N Family Club; Greater London; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nursery group in Beckenham is seeking a Kitchen Assistant who is passionate about food and working with children. You'll support the chef by preparing nutritious meals while ensuring food safety standards. This role offers a competitive salary of £26,437 annually, a performance bonus, and extensive benefits including paid training and family-friendly policies. Join a vibrant team dedicated to innovative early years education.

Benefits

Performance bonus up to £750 annually

Industry-leading holiday allowance – Up to 35 days

Annual development fund of £100

Childcare discount of 40%

Loyalty rewards for long service

Social and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a commercial kitchen or a nursery kitchen is required.
• Experience in catering for a diverse range of dietary needs is a plus.
• A Food Preparation and Hygiene NVQ Level 2 or above is essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist with cooking nutritious meals for children and staff.
• Ensure meals meet nutritional needs and follow food safety guidelines.
• Support the Chef with kitchen paperwork and maintenance.

Skills

Previous experience in a commercial kitchen or a nursery kitchen

Experience in catering for a diverse range of dietary needs

Food Preparation and Hygiene NVQ Level 2 or above

Passion for food creativity

Ability to work quickly during busy service

Positive outlook

Customer service

Education

Food Preparation and Hygiene NVQ

Job description

Kitchen Assistant

Department: Nursery Operations

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Beckenham, London

Reporting To: Kristina Towndrow

Compensation: £26,437 / year

Description

We’re more than just a nursery group. We’re the UK’s most innovative early-years education provider.

At N Family Club, we dreamed of reimagining early years education. Becoming a place that fosters creativity, embraces a curriculum-led approach, and prepares children for the modern world. We’re proudly making our dream a reality – and we want you to be a part of it!

As a Kitchen Assistant at N Family, you’ll be cooking up a storm every day – supporting our Chef to prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for children, as well as a lunch and a smoothie for our hard-working nursery team. We’re looking for a friendly, forward-thinking Kitchen Assistant who can support our Chef to create a menu that keeps everyone happy and healthy. With your dedication and passion, you’ll make your mark and help us become the most loved early years education group in the UK.

Your key responsibilities

• Assist with cooking fresh, tasty, and nutritious meals for the children and team every day.
• Make sure each meal meets the nutritional needs of different age groups and follows all food safety and choking guidelines.
• Support the Chef to cater to different dietary needs for all ages.
• Support with preparing daily lunches and smoothies for the nursery team, catering to a variety of diets and preferences.
• Support the Chef to keep on top of kitchen paperwork and checks, including cleaning schedules and daily safety logs.
• Order supplies, manage stock, and make sure the kitchen runs smoothly.
• Maintain the kitchen to a 5-star Food Hygiene standard.
• Build friendly, professional relationships with parents so they feel confident about the food their children eat.

Our Kitchen Assistant should have...

• Previous experience in a commercial kitchen or a nursery kitchen.
• Experience in catering for a diverse range of dietary needs.
• A Food Preparation and Hygiene NVQ Level 2 or above (you’ll need to complete a Level 3 during induction if not already held).
• A passion for food creativity and a love for working with children and families.
• A genuine interest in cooking with long-term culinary career goals.
• A willingness to adopt conscious practices within food and cooking, including recycling and creating as little food waste as possible.
• The ability to work quickly and effectively during busy service times.
• A positive, glass-half-full outlook.
• Bags of drive and motivation with a ‘make it happen’ attitude!
• A love for customer service.

The N Advantage package

• Competitive salary – £26,437 per annum
• Performance bonus – Up to £750 annually.
• Industry-leading holiday allowance – Up to 35 days, including a personal ‘Me’ day and Christmas closure.
• Development fund – £100 annual learning fund, plus paid N Academy training (level 3, EY Degrees, Forest School & more).
• Family-friendly – Enhanced parental/fostering/neonatal leave after 2 years.
• Childcare – 40% discount, plus 6 emergency days annually.

And that’s not all!

• Loyalty rewards – 5-year bonus: around-the-world trip + 2 bonus weeks off. 10-year bonus: “Out of this world” experience + 2 more weeks off!
• Referral scheme – Earn up to £1000 per successful hire.
• Amazing discounts – Save on groceries, shopping, fitness, and more.
• Travel support – Season ticket loans and cycle-to-work scheme.
• Socials & Wellbeing – Annual parties, team events, gym discounts, and online fitness.
• And much, much more!

Why N Beckenham?

Join our team at this 108-place nursery set within a grand Victorian villa in the heart of Beckenham, South East London.

Getting here is a breeze! There’s plenty of on-site parking, and the nursery is just a short walk from Elmers End station.

Why N Family Club?

At N Family Club, we’re reimagining early years education – and we want you to be a part of it. We’re a certified Great Place to Work and one of the UK’s most innovative early years groups. With top salaries, unmatched benefits, and real career progression, we put our people first.

Join us today to spark big ideas in young minds and shape a career you’ll love.

What's next?

If you think you got what it takes, click apply and fill in our super quick (1 min) application form!

If you want to read more about N, our benefits and work culture, visit our Careers website or our Glassdoor Page.