Job Description

Hours: 15 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Term time plus 5 inset days - 39 weeks per year.

Start date: January 2026

Actual salary: £8,728.50 - £8,861.47
FTE: £25,142 - £25,525 includes fringe allowance

An opportunity has arisen to work in our supportive school catering team at Hilltop Junior School in Wickford, making a positive impact on our children's school journey as Kitchen Assistant.

The successful applicant will be enthusiastic and efficient in assisting with the preparation and serving of meals and beverages to our children, staff and visitors.

The role will involve all aspects of cleaning equipment, walls (up to 6ft), floors, fixtures and fittings to ensure a safe and hygienic environment.

For an informal discussion or to arrange a visit, please contact Suzanne Cullinane, School Business Manager:hilltopjun.admin@heartsacademy.uk/ 01268 734649

For all vacancies at HEARTS Academy Trust please visit our website:https://heartsacademytrust.co.uk/careers/vacancies/

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised date, should we receive enough suitable applicants.

HEARTS Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to the receipt of a satisfactory application form,satisfactory references that meet the requirements as set out in KCSIE, satisfactory online search and an Enhanced DBS check, to include a children's barred list check, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020). This means that certain convictions and cautions are considered 'protected' and do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-guidance-on-the-rehabilitation-of-offenders-act-1974

To view the Trust policies relating to recruitment, EDI, data protection and child protectionplease visit the HEARTS Academy Trust website:https://heartsacademytrust.co.uk/trust-information/policies/

If you would like any support or assistance at any stage of your application process, please contact: recruitment@heartsacademy.uk/ 01268 572672. We will be happy to discuss this with you.

Information about the School

Hilltop Junior School is child-centred and believes in high expectations for all. We are an over-achieving, oversubscribed school, with strong links with the community and feeder schools. We pride ourselves on positive relationships that benefit the pupils at the heart of the community.

We are proud to have recently been graded as "good" by Ofsted and shortlisted as TES Primary School of the Year. We are a creative school with an inspiring, vibrant and engaging curriculum. We have the highest aspirations for all of our children and believe in providing them with a full, varied learning experience that is exciting and equips them for life.

At Hilltop, we have a strong and passionate team of teachers who are dedicated to ensuring that every single child achieves their full potential. Our pupils consistently achieve above national averages in reading and writing.

We are a leading school in Wickford, set in beautiful grounds and well-served by transportation links. We are close to major road networks, making it easy for pupils to access our school.

Hilltop Junior School is ranked in the top 5% of schools and is the proud recipient of many awards including;- • Pearson Centre of Excellence 2022 • SENDIA; the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Inclusion Award from Optimus Education • L.P.P.A. (Leading Parent Partnership Award) • Fully accredited National Online Safety certified school • History Quality Mark – Gold Status • Wellbeing Award • SMSC Quality Mark Gold • Young Carers Award • Healthy Schools Award • SAFE CIC Gold Award • An Artsmark School • working towards UNICEF Rights Respecting Gold • IQM – Inclusive School Award • Green flag status • Forest Schools

Hilltop Junior School is part of the HEARTS Academy Trust, a Trust of local schools that has the values of happiness, equity, achievement, resilience, truth and spirituality. The Trust is truly innovative and rewards outstanding staff for outstanding outcomes. The school calendar consists of 184 days contact time with pupils, 5 non-pupil days and the equivalent of 6 days of high quality continuous professional development.

The Trustees are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The post will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, online searches, medical check, prohibited from teaching check and references. References are taken up prior to interview. A copy of the trusts Child Protection Policy is available on our website:- https://www.heartsacademytrust.co.uk/trust-information/policies

We can offer you:

• an excellent CPD entitlement with purposeful training, including Trust-wide twilights throughout the year

• a two-week October half-term

• supportive colleagues who want to provide the best possible opportunities for their pupils

• a highly effective learning environment

• a responsive and involved leadership team

• the HEARTS four-day face-to-face teaching week model whereby all teachers in the trust receive 20% non-contact time. This goes above and beyond the national entitlement of 10% PPA

• a school with a highly positive culture that supports all staff; mental health, workload and wellbeing are at the forefront of our vision and values

• access to our school counsellor and network of Mental Health and Wellbeing champions

For further information about HEARTS, including policies and procedures, please refer to our website www.heartsacademytrust.co.uk