Purpose of the Job To plan, prepare, and cook nutritious, balanced meals that support the health, wellbeing, and learning of primary-aged children in a safe and caring environment. The Cook will ensure high standards of hygiene, food safety, and service; including plating presentation and contribute to creating a positive lunchtime experience for all pupils. Responsibilities: * Oversee the daily running of the school kitchen and food preparation areas. * Ensure compliance with food hygiene, health and safety, and school nutritional standards. * Manage stock, food ordering, and budget effectively. * Promote a positive dining experience that encourages healthy eating habits. * Supervise and support kitchen staff (if applicable). * Be an active and cheerful presence in the school community. Tasks and Duties: * Plan and prepare a variety of child-friendly, healthy meals that can be adapted to meet dietary requirements including allergies and intolerances. * Cook meals from scratch using fresh ingredients, ensuring portion control and nutritional balance. * Keep accurate records of menus, food and equipment temperatures, stock levels, and allergen information. * Clean and maintain kitchen and equipment to required standards, following daily and weekly cleaning schedules. * Ensure food is served efficiently and safely, working with lunchtime staff as needed. * Liaise with suppliers and order food and cleaning materials within budget. * Assist with the development and display of menus and themed food days to promote food awareness and enjoyment. * Attend relevant training courses and meetings as required by the school or local authority. Creativity and Innovation: * Introduce new, appealing meals and themed days to engage children and promote a love for healthy food. * Find solutions to accommodate pupils' individual dietary needs in fun, inclusive ways. * Suggest and implement ideas to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and support sustainability (e.g., using local produce). * Encourage pupil involvement in food education (e.g., grow-your-own ingredients, taste testing, cooking clubs). Contacts and Relationships: * Pupils: Build positive, friendly relationships with children; promote confidence and good behaviour during lunch. * Staff: Work collaboratively with teaching, support, and lunchtime staff to ensure smooth operation of lunch service. * Parents/Carers: Occasionally liaise with parents regarding dietary needs or food preferences. * Suppliers: Maintain professional relationships with food providers and delivery services. * Local Authority / Environmental Health: Ensure compliance with food safety standards and assist during inspections. Decision Making: * Decide on appropriate meal quantities and stock levels based on pupil numbers and menus. * Make daily operational decisions around food preparation, presentation, and service delivery. * Report any equipment faults or food safety concerns to the Office Manager or Headteacher promptly. Resources Managed: * Kitchen equipment, food stock, cleaning products, and supplies. * Responsibility for adhering to the kitchen budget (with oversight from the Office Manager). * Management of kitchen assistant staff, supported by members of SLT. Working Conditions: * Work is primarily in a kitchen environment with exposure to heat, steam, cleaning materials, and food allergens. * Requires standing for long periods and lifting/moving equipment or supplies. * Role is term-time only + 2 days, with working hours typically during school mornings and early afternoons. General: * Knowledge of food hygiene and health & safety standards. * A positive, friendly manner and enjoyment of working with children * Ability to plan and manage menus, orders, and time effectively * Basic IT or admin skills for recording data (or willingness to learn) Required skills/experience: * Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate * Good understanding of special dietary needs and allergens Desirable: * Experience working in a school or child-focused environment Blue Arrow is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to helping find great work opportunities for great people.

TPBN1_UKCT