Why Work at Orchard Lea?
Are you looking for a nursery where teamwork truly matters? A place where everyone supports each other, where qualified professionals work together to provide the very best care for children?
At Orchard Lea Nursery & Preschool, we believe that great nurseries are built by great teams. If you are passionate about childcare and want to work in a friendly, supportive, and inspiring environment, we would love to hear from you.
We are a family-run childcare provider with two well-established nurseries in the Bristol area:
- Kingswood (BS15)
- Keynsham (BS31)
Our settings care for children aged 6 months to school age, offering fantastic indoor and outdoor learning environments where children can thrive.
Most importantly, we are passionate about giving every child the best possible start in life — and that starts with having the right people in our team.
Our Team
Our staff are at the heart of everything we do. We pride ourselves on building a positive, supportive working environment where everyone feels valued and respected.
At Orchard Lea you’ll be part of a dedicated team of early years professionals who share a passion for delivering outstanding childcare while supporting one another every day.
The Kitchen Assistant will be responsible for:
- Food preparation — Preparing fresh meals/snacks, following menus, portion control, and supporting the cook.
- Dietary management — Handling allergies, intolerances, cultural diets; correct labelling and serving.
- Hygiene & safety — Maintaining high food‑hygiene standards, recording temperatures, following HACCP and COSHH.
- Cleaning duties — Full kitchen cleaning, dishwashing, stock rotation, safe storage, waste disposal.
- Team support — Communicating with practitioners, supporting mealtimes, occasionally assisting with children under guidance.
The Role
We are looking for an enthusiastic and friendly person to join Orchard Lea Nursery Kingswood BS15 as a Kitchen Assistant. Ideally the person should be happy to work as a key member of our team and yet be motivated and able to work on their own at times using their initiative.
In line with our recruitment policy any successful applicant is expected to provide satisfactory references and submit a DBS application.
The role of Kitchen Assistant is varied, we have compiled a list of responsibilities to give a better indication of tasks involved. This is not an exhaustive list and as with most roles things do change.
The nursery is open throughout the year. This is not a term time only post.
The role has the following responsibilities:
· To contribute to and maintain our 5 Star Food Hygiene rating.
· To ensure that the kitchen is clean and tidy and a safe place to work (we all take responsibility for this).
· To ensure food and hard goods storage areas are kept clean and tidy.
· To receive and check our weekly shopping deliveries and ensure that stock rotation is kept.
· Ensure that the necessary records are taken, documented and maintained e.g. fridge and freezer temperatures, food temperatures before meals are served, cleaning rotas etc.
· To have twice daily (at beginning and end of your working day) short meetings with a member of the management team going through the days menus and discussing as necessary to include “todays plan”.
· To receive our main meal from Early Years Catering ensuring that the order has been delivered correctly. Checking dietary requirements against those ordered.
· Divide the ordered dinners into smaller serving containers for individual rooms from numbers agreed by a member of the management team.
· Ensuring that the correct dietary requirements are allocated to the right groups of children.
· Setting up trays with equipment need for the dinner time e.g. bibs, plates, bowls, feeding utensils and dietary lists.
· To support your colleagues at lunchtime, this could include helping to serve the dinners to our children.
· Once dinner service is complete to return all equipment to kitchen, clear away trays and trolley, load dishwashers. Once equipment is cleaned and dried to return items to their homes within the kitchen area.
· To prepare tea for service at the end of the day handing over to team member as necessary. This is very simple cooking using our own recipe sheets.
· To ensure food is stored appropriately and date rotated.
· To complete a Food Hygiene Certificate, costs to be met by Orchard Lea Nursery.
· To liaise with Environmental Health during their inspections.
· To complete Safer food, Better Business paperwork
· To complete a Paediatric First Aid Certificate which is offered " in house" and cost met by Orchard Lea.
· To complete any additional training as required by Orchard Lea.
· To support the nursery with its green policies of recycling.
· To contribute to the safety and wellbeing of all those persons that use Orchard Lea Nursery, whether an adult, child, member of staff or visitor.
In line with our recruitment policy, any successful applicant is expected to provide satisfactory references and submit a DBS application. They are also expected to complete statutory training for example; Prevent, FGM , Child Protection, Safer Food Handling. Also, to attend staff meetings and updates.
A valid Paediatric First Aid Certificate is desirable however, there will be opportunity to obtain this through the Nursery.
We believe that every member of our team contributes to the care and education of our children and how we support our families.
The nursery is supported by a strong administration team including HR coordinator, SENCO and Forest School Lead. As part of the team you will be supported by your Nursery Manager and Deputy. Orchard Lea operates a buddy system.
We recognise that Continual Professional Development is key to sustaining a well skilled and dynamic team.
We recognise that at different times in our career journey we all need a little flexible working. Orchard Lea recognises the significance of a Work – Life balance.
Hours - Monday to Friday
Monday 10:00 – 16:00pm
Tuesday 10:00 – 18:00pm
Wednesday 10:00 – 18:00pm
Thursday 10:00 – 18:00pm
Friday 10:00 – 18:00pm
(these hours can be discussed at interview and/or reviewed)
The successful candidate will receive a recruitment bonus paid following successful completion of probation.
Requirements
- Understand the importance of health and hygiene
- Previous experience in a kitchen environment (either in a nursery or educational setting)
- Understanding of catering for special dietary needs, allergies and intolerances
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Good timekeeping and organisational skills
- An enthusiastic, flexible, can-do attitude
- Enhanced DBS with Children’s Barred List— Nursery kitchen work counts as regulated activity under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (we will process an application for you prior to your start date)
- Food Hygiene Certificate* (at least Level 2 )
- Allergen awareness — Written allergen controls and safe practice
- Knowledge of EYFS nutrition guidance
- COSHH awareness — Safe storage and handling of chemicals
We believe that our team deserve to feel valued and supported. When you join Orchard Lea, you can benefit from:
- Being part of a friendly and supportive team, where every day is different
- Recruitment bonus – up to £1,500 after successful probation
- Flexible working options to support work/life balance
- Generous holiday entitlement, increasing with service up to 7 weeks per year (including bank holidays)
- Paid overtime and travel when visiting our other nursery
- Staff uniform provided, plus a uniform allowance paid twice a year
- Excellent staff facilities to relax during breaks
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provided by Health Assured
- Confidential support available 24/7, 365 days a year
- 30% staff discount on childcare
- Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) for out-of-hours training
- Pension scheme
- Team building activities and social events throughout the year
- Nursery closed between Christmas and New Year, as well as all bank holidays
We hope that the above explains most of the role as advertised. Naturally on the job training and mentoring will be provided. As with many jobs they continue to evolve with time and can develop with your input.
Our interview process:
Should you have any initial questions please do not hesitate to contact us via email [email protected] OR [email protected]. We look forward to receiving your application.
Pay: £12.71-£13.70 per hour
Work Location: In person
