Most support roles in specialist education feel like you're just ticking boxes, doing tasks that don't really matter to anyone. This is different: you'll be the reliable, friendly presence that keeps a thriving school running smoothly - and the young people will know your name and genuinely value you. If you're someone who takes pride in doing a job properly and wants to work somewhere that actually recognises that effort, read on
Picture this: you're preparing a meal in a well-equipped kitchen, knowing it's going to fuel a group of young people who face real challenges in their education. Your cooking matters. Your cleanliness standards matter. The school van you've maintained matters because it gets these students safely to where they need to be. You're not invisible - you're part of the reason this place works
The school serves young people with complex educational needs, communication difficulties and challenging behaviours. That means every day you'll interact with staff and students who genuinely appreciate someone who shows up, does the job well, and treats them with respect. You'll get proper training in child safeguarding so you feel confident in those moments when a young person stops to chat. You become a familiar, trusted face
This specialist learning environment has just been rated Good by Ofsted, and that's no accident - it's built on people who care about the details. You'll work in a beautiful, well-resourced setting where the facilities match the quality of the mission. And the provider invests heavily in their team: 35 days holiday, genuine wellbeing support, medical cover, high-street discounts, and the chance to earn a £1,000 refer-a-friend bonus
What you will be doing
- Prepare fresh, nutritious meals for the school community, with dietary requirements and preferences properly catered for
- Maintain high standards of kitchen hygiene, food safety and stock management, keeping detailed records as needed
- Drive the school vehicles, keeping them well-maintained, clean and safe - and making sure they're roadworthy at all times
- Keep the school buildings and grounds clean, tidy and welcoming, handling day-to-day domestic tasks with care and attention
- Build positive relationships with young people and staff, being a consistent, approachable presence they can rely on
Why you will love working here
- Competitive salary of £28,619-£31,613 depending on experience, with annual pay progression built in
- 35 days annual holiday including bank holidays - proper time to rest and recharge
- Full induction and on-the-job training, plus child safeguarding training so you feel confident in every part of the role
- Flexible benefits package you can tailor to your needs, medical cover including opticians and dentist claims, and high-street discounts
- Wellbeing support and employee assistance available whenever you need it, because we look after our people
- Earn a £1,000 bonus every time you refer a friend who gets hired - help us build the team and get rewarded
Is this you?
- You've got solid practical skills - whether from work experience, training, or years of managing your own home - and you're genuinely proud of doing things properly
- You're comfortable driving and happy to maintain vehicles to a good standard, with a clean driving record
- You have experience in food preparation, catering or domestic work - or you're a capable learner who's keen to develop these skills on the job
- You're a team player with a 'can do' attitude - the sort of person who notices what needs doing and gets on with it without waiting to be asked
- You're interested in working with young people and willing to undertake child safeguarding training to build your confidence in that role
- You're reliable, punctual and take responsibility for your work - you understand that consistency matters in a specialist school setting
Applications close on 12 October 2026. Great roles like this are filled quickly, so the sooner you apply the better.
Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.