Catering Assistant

How would you like to get paid for five days, but only work four?

At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first.

That’s why we’re proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.

Many of our schools have already introduced the 4DWW — and others are preparing to roll it out as soon as they reach full staffing. So, whether it’s already in place or just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to join #teamOFG.

Position:   Catering Assistant

Location:  Medway Green School, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3TS

Salary:       £16,251.125 per annum (not pro rata)

Hours:        27.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday: 08:30 - 14:00

Contract:   Permanent; term time only

Start:          February 2026

UK Applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for a Catering Assistant to join an amazing team at Medway Green School in Rochester, Kent.

About the Role

As a Catering Assistant, you’ll play a key role in creating a warm, safe, and enjoyable lunchtime experience for our pupils. You’ll support the preparation, cooking, and serving of healthy meals, ensuring dietary needs are met and that every child feels comfortable and supported during mealtimes.

Working as part of a friendly and supportive kitchen team, you’ll help keep everything running smoothly—maintaining excellent hygiene standards, following food safety regulations, and contributing to a calm, welcoming dining environment.

You’ll also interact with pupils daily, offering encouragement and gentle guidance while helping uphold the school’s expectations around behaviour, wellbeing, and respect.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the preparation, cooking, and serving of meals, including special dietary requirements
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness across the kitchen, equipment, and dining areas
• Assist with clearing, washing up, and cleaning after meal service
• Provide cover during staff absences to ensure continuity of service
• Monitor food supplies, report shortages, and record changes to meal numbers
• Follow all health, safety, and food hygiene regulations at all times
• Support lunchtime supervision to ensure pupils are safe, calm, and supported
• Share relevant behaviour observations with teaching staff to promote a positive school environment

What We’re Looking For

• A team player with a positive, can-do attitude
• Someone who takes pride in cleanliness, organisation, and high standards
• Confidence communicating in English with pupils, staff, and visitors
• A commitment to safeguarding, equality, and the values of the school
• Willingness to attend training and team meetings as required

About Us

Medway Green School is a special needs provision that provides for students whose SEMH/SEN needs have resulted in placement breakdown at their mainstream schools. We provide a nurturing and welcoming environment to SEMH students in Key stages 2-4, however within the next 2 years the provision will move to Key stages 3-4 only. Students will experience a personalised curriculum based on previous learning and identified needs. With a keen focus on therapy, education and personal development the school aims to help young pupils grow academically, socially and emotionally to enable them to achieve success as they progress through life.

Opened in 2019, Medway Green School presently provides education to 67 students, with a capacity of 70 students. We have welcomed our first KS4 cohort this year and have been excited to introduce subject specialists to our school, providing a secondary model of learning.

We are part of Acorn Education and can offer plenty of challenges along with a wide range of opportunities to develop your career. Acorn Education is the UK’s leading provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in creating and delivering innovative approaches that achieve 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 Acorn Education?

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:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “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:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• 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.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit.

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.

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