Nursery Chef

Join Our Team as a Nursery Chef!

Salary: £13.46 per hour

Hours: 25 hours per week, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Monday to Friday

Are you passionate about cooking and nurturing young minds? Acre Wood Day Nursery is searching for a dedicated and enthusiastic Kitchen Chef to join our vibrant kitchen team! In this role, you will play a crucial part in preparing nutritious meals for children, gaining invaluable experience in food preparation, kitchen operations, and hygiene standards.

This is a full-time position offering 25 hours per week with flexible shifts between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Please note, this is a year-round role as our nursery operates continuously, not just during term time.

Your Responsibilities

• Maintain a clean and safe kitchen environment, adhering to both internal and external hygiene standards.
• Complete the Kitchen Hygiene Checklist monthly and ensure the Cleaning Schedule is regularly updated and displayed prominently.
• Prepare and cook age-appropriate meals for children, minimizing food wastage.
• Communicate dietary requirements clearly with the team to ensure all needs are met.
• Follow robust procedures for dietary requirements, including the Red, Amber, and Green plate protocols.
• Collaborate with nursery staff and parents to promote healthy eating habits.
• Manage food orders carefully to meet budgetary requirements.

What We’re Looking For

• Essential: Strong knowledge of managing dietary requirements, especially food allergies.
• Essential: Familiarity with COSHH regulations.
• Essential: Ability to work within a catering budget while maintaining high food service standards.
• Essential: Experience in cooking within domestic or commercial settings.
• Essential: Proficiency in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent).
• Desirable: Passionate about cooking for young children.

Why Join Us?

At Family First, we truly value our team members and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 🌴 Annual Leave: 24 days of holiday plus bank holidays and an extra paid day off for your birthday.
• 👶 Childcare Discount: 75% off nursery fees for team members.
• 💬 Wellbeing Support: Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme helpline.
• 📚 Learning and Development: Tailored training opportunities to support your career growth.
• 💼 Pension: Company pension scheme.
• 🛍️ Employee Discounts: Access to Perkaboo employee discounts.
• 🤝 Mentoring: Employee mentoring programme.
• ❤️ Health and Wellbeing: Dedicated support for your health and wellbeing.
• 👥 Refer a Friend: Earn up to £750 through our referral programme.

We are committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. A Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate will be required for all posts, and this position will be subject to enhanced checks as part of our Safeguarding Duty.

Acre Wood Nursery is part of the Family First Group, where we treat everyone with respect and equality. We are dedicated to providing equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices for all children and families, regardless of their background.