Join the Founding Team at Aurora Ryefields, Derby

Are you someone who takes pride in high standards of cleanliness, food safety, and teamwork? Do you want to play a key role in supporting young people by ensuring they receive safe, nutritious meals in a well-run environment?

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a brand-new special school and be part of a team committed to excellence from day one.

About Aurora Ryefields

Aurora Ryefields is a new, purpose-built school for pupils aged 4 to 19 with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and associated Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

Our aim is to create a safe, structured and nurturing environment where every pupil can thrive. A key part of this is ensuring that students receive high-quality meals in a clean, safe, and welcoming setting.

As part of our founding team, you will contribute to building strong routines, high standards, and a positive culture across the school.

The Role

As Kitchen Assistant, you will support the Lead Chef in ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the kitchen. You will maintain the highest standards of hygiene, food safety, and organisation while preparing and serving meals to students and staff.

This role is essential to the wellbeing of our pupils and requires someone reliable, organised, and committed to maintaining a safe and efficient kitchen environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Cooking and serving pre-prepared meals delivered to site
• Ensuring correct portioning and food is served at the appropriate temperature
• Maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene in the kitchen and dining areas
• Following food safety procedures, including allergen awareness and compliance with current legislation
• Accurately labelling, dating, storing, and rotating food stock
• Supporting stock control and ordering processes
• Preparing additional food items where required (training provided)
• Cleaning the kitchen and dining hall daily to a high standard
• Working collaboratively with staff and maintaining positive professional relationships

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a dependable and hardworking individual who takes pride in their work and understands the importance of food safety in a school environment.

Essential:

• Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate
• Good understanding of food hygiene, health and safety, and safe working practices
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Good literacy, numeracy, and communication skills
• Ability to prioritise tasks and work flexibly in a busy environment
• A positive attitude and strong work ethic
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
• Physical fitness to meet the demands of the role (including prolonged standing)

Desirable:

• Knowledge of allergen regulations, including Natasha's Law
• Experience working in a school or similar setting
• Understanding of COSHH and manual handling requirements
• Experience managing stock and completing safety checks
• Awareness of working with children or young people with additional needs

What Aurora Ryefields Offers

• The opportunity to be part of a brand-new school from the outset
• A supportive and collaborative team environment
• Structured working hours with a strong work-life balance (term time only)
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• A well-equipped, modern kitchen environment

A role where your work directly contributes to the health and wellbeing of pupils

How to apply?

Please complete an online application form in full, remembering to include all employment and education details.  If you need any assistance or would like any more information please contact Karen in the Aurora Group Recruitment Team at

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled. 

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.