Meet the team
We are so lucky to have the most fantastic team of staff working with us at Minichefs. Come and meet some of our team.

History of Minichefs
Minichefs is a cookery school for children founded by Claire McAvoy in May 2000, the first school being in Jersey Channel Islands. A second school was opened in Guernsey in April 2004 managed by Sarah Maginnis. Since then Minichefs have taught thousands of children to prepare modern and traditional recipes, all designed by Claire, to appeal to children, in a safe and fun environment.

Recent research shows that children who attend out of school clubs and extra curricular activities are better behaved, display higher academic achievement and have better social skills.

Whilst at Minichefs children develop core skills. Edutainment, educating children whilst entertaining them. It is an overwhelming experience involving taste, smell, touch, sight and sounds. When children work co-operatively in a group they share utensils, equipment and food, take turns, develop awareness of different eating patterns, cultural diversity and links between food, religious and cultural festivals. They learn to clear away efficiently and safely and hygiene rules are learnt.

Children enjoy the scientific ‘magical’ changes due to food combinations and temperature. Cooking gives independence through the ability to cook for ones self. Cooking promotes pride and self-esteem and, although not all children wish to eat what they have produced, we do encourage them to at least try; the activity produces a valued end product and a better understanding of the ingredients and cooking method.

Cooking develops muscles in the arms when pouring, rolling, kneading, stirring, mixing and whisking. It involves fine and gross manipulative skills, such as measuring, cracking eggs and cutting up fruit and vegetables. Gaining control leads to hand to eye co ordination. Children improve their mathematical skills weighing and measuring and improving reading ability by reading recipes. Children listen carefully in order to gain new vocabulary such as ‘dissolving’, ‘freezing’, ‘liquid’ and ‘solid’. They will also learn mathematical and scientific terms and are encouraged to ask questions. Listening to, and following instructions aids concentration. Minichefs teach an understanding of nutritional principles. We help to unleash children’s creativity by presenting and decorating food.

Although the primary school curriculum does include food related topics under the design and technology heading, it does not allow for a weekly cookery slot, this explains why Minichefs attracts a good deal of attention among parents. Minichefs gives children the opportunity to taste, touch and smell real, fresh ingredients and not the manufactured pre-packed foods, sweets and crisps which is so heavily targeted at children these days. We give children their own space, not underneath mums feet, to prepare and have fun with food, where there is not problem with sticky fingers, flour in their hair and eggs dropped on the floor.

At Minichefs we believe by developing skills with children at an early age, it will change their whole attitude towards food for life. At Minichefs we have a professional, safe and fun approach to teaching children how to cook.