School Cook

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.

Our school will adopt the 4DWW once we have a full team in place - and with the rollout already underway across the wider Group, now is the perfect time to join .

Job title: School Cook

Location: Hemlock Stone School. Stapleford, Nottinghamshire NG9 8GA

Salary: £12.50 per hour

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Contract: Permanent, Term Time Only

Start Date: January 2026

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

Do you love cooking wholesome, tasty meals - and want to use your skills to make a positive impact on young people's lives?

At Hemlock Stone School, part of Options Autism, we're looking for a talented and enthusiastic School Cook to lead our kitchen and create nutritious, home-cooked meals that keep our pupils and staff happy, healthy, and energised.

About the role

This is your chance to do what you love while knowing your food is fuelling learning, growth, and smiles every single day.

What you'll be doing:

• Planning, preparing, and serving nutritious meals that meet all dietary needs and preferences
• Leading daily kitchen operations, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently
• Maintaining the highest standards of food hygiene, safety, and cleanliness
• Managing stock, monitoring supplies, and minimising food waste
• Working closely with staff to make mealtimes a positive and welcoming part of the school day

Who we're looking for:

• A passion for cooking and creating delicious, balanced meals
• Experience in kitchen management or large-scale food preparation
• Knowledge of food hygiene and safety standards (Level 2 Food Hygiene preferred)
• A flexible, organised, and positive team player with great communication skills

If you want to combine your love of food with making a real impact, join Hemlock Stone School as our School Cook.

About us

Our New Options Autism School - Hemlock Stone School in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire. The school will have capacity for 66 pupils and is due to open March 2026 and will cater for pupils who have ASC and Complex Needs.

For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. We are a leading provider of education for neurodivergent young people and young adults. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the fifth year running.

Why join Options Autism?

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

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.