Kitchen Assistant

Kitchen Assistant

Acorn Early Years – Wolverton Mill Nursery
🕙 Hours: 10:00am – 6:00pm - 37.5

Acorn Early Years is looking for a reliable and enthusiastic Kitchen Assistant to join our welcoming team at Wolverton Mill Nursery. This is a vital role supporting the preparation of nutritious, age‑appropriate meals and maintaining a clean, safe and positive kitchen environment for our children.

Acorn Wolverton Mill provides high quality, affordable childcare and early years education for the local community.  The building is purpose built with four spacious play areas indoors, with direct access to four play areas which allows the children to free-flow continuously. We have active CCTV in place throughout the nursery to help maintain a safe and secure environment for your child. 

Wolverton Mill offers full and part time care for up to 84 children from the ages of 4 months to 4 years, and we are open from 7:30am – 6pm Monday to Friday all year round.

About the Role

Working closely with the Nursery Cook and Nursery Manager, you will support the preparation and serving of healthy meals and snacks, ensuring all dietary requirements are met. You will help maintain high standards of food hygiene, cleanliness and safety, while working collaboratively with the wider nursery team to promote healthy eating and wellbeing.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the preparation and cooking of age‑appropriate food for all children
• Ensure all dietary requirements are catered for and clearly communicated to staff
• Assist in preparing sufficient food daily while minimising waste
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness and food hygiene in the kitchen and eating areas
• Complete all relevant food safety and hygiene paperwork accurately
• Monitor kitchen supplies and inform relevant staff when stock is running low
• Support the Nursery Cook with budget awareness and stock control
• Take responsibility for the kitchen in the absence of the Nursery Cook, when required
• Work in partnership with nursery staff and parents to promote healthy, nutritious diets
• Ensure compliance with Acorn policies, health & safety, fire safety and safeguarding procedures
• Safeguard all children and understand the role you play in keeping everyone safe

What We’re Looking For

• A flexible and reliable team player
• A good understanding of food hygiene and kitchen safety (training supported)
• Ability to work within a busy childcare environment
• A positive, professional approach and willingness to support the wider nursery team
• Confidence to communicate effectively with colleagues
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality at all times

Why Join Acorn Early Years?

At Acorn, we are passionate about creating inclusive, welcoming environments where children and staff thrive. We value every team member and encourage ongoing professional development.

We are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be considered throughout the recruitment process.

Safeguarding & Compliance

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK, be able to provide two satisfactory references, and all roles are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

As a thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to making Acorn a safe, nurturing and fun place for our children to be, we offer:

• Payscales that are competitive, transparent and reviewed annually
• 65% childcare discount - Pro rata according to contracted hours
• Generous family leave
• Christmas closure
• 25 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays (and the option to buy more)
• 4 dedicated training days and individual development plans
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Cyclescheme
• Techscheme
• Length of Service awards
• Summer and Christmas parties
• Pay advances
• Employee assistance wellbeing programme