Join the Eday school family - Cook's job is on the menu!

Join the “family” at Eday Community School – the cook’s job is on the menu!

When is going to work just like being part of one big family? When you join the team at Eday Community School, that’s when!

The school – which received a very positive inspection report recently – is looking for a new cook to keep the bairns and staff well fuelled from the new term onwards.

It has been a community effort that has led to the school’s marked inspection improvement – could you continue that community spirit to ensure the cook’s role is filled?

The wage has gone up to between £13.02 - £13.13 an hour, there’s a great pension, exceptional annual holidays and there may be job share opportunities if more than one person was interested. If you are a parent, there’s the added bonus of not having to look for childcare as you work when they are at nursery or school. Experience is not necessary as training can be provided.

The current school cook, Jonathan Mann, says: “Working in Eday Community School is like being part of one big family.”

Jonathan has done a fantastic job of encouraging healthy eating and a varied diet of the children during his time with the school – with the salad options as popular as the pudding choices!

Here’s some comments from the bairns themselves:

• Our cook makes balanced meals with healthy and unhealthy food. My favourite is chicken in gravy with peas and roast potatoes – P2
• Our school dinners taste amazing – P2
• I like that you get to try new things, so you find out if you like them or don't like them – P3
• I love the food and that there are lots of salads – P5

Acting Head Teacher, Rona Humphreys, added: “Eday Community School is like a family, we all work and have fun together. Our school rules are 'Ready, Respectful and Safe,' these rules are easily spotted in the dining room, where the staff eat with the children.

“The children all have great table manners, and they all know the routine of scraping their plates and putting their cutlery in the water to soak. We are also very lucky that the children are good eaters, the salad is as popular as pudding! Mealtimes are central to the great atmosphere in the school.”

Scott Pring, the Council’s Catering Manager, said: “School lunches play a crucial role in ensuring that all children get to eat healthy and nutritious foods - which in turn supports their ability to learn at school.

“We never want to have to reduce the school meal offer but if we don’t have anyone to cook the food, we have no option. This is absolutely a last resort but if we do not have the staff, then we simply cannot provide the full service. It’s not a road we want to have to go down as we are all aware of how important a hot nutritious meal is for our children, but we simply may have no choice.

“Please consider applying - staff – quite a number of whom have been employed with the service for many, many years – tell us it’s a great job especially if you have children of your own to work around. But maybe you are retired and would enjoy being around bairns again – it’s so lightsome….and it would bolster your income.”

If you are interested in finding out more give Scott a shout on (01856) 879238 or by email or head here to apply - www.orkney.gov.uk/cooks

To read the full Eday inspection story head here.