Job Description

Job Summary:

DO YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND IN COOKING / CATERING?

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR BETTER HOURS, AWAY FROM EVENINGS / WEEKENDS?

This role is 25 HOURS a week, Monday to Friday, all year through. 7.30am to 12.30pm The Cottage Nursery, Crayford, DA1 3PY

We are looking for a passionate and reliable

Nursery Cook

to join our friendly team. In this role, you will be responsible for planning, preparing, and serving nutritious meals for young children, while maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness and food safety. You'll play a vital part in supporting children's health and wellbeing through healthy eating, and you'll help create a warm, safe, and inclusive environment for all.

Your Key Responsibilities:

Prepare and cook healthy, balanced meals and snacks for children aged 3 months - 5 years. Cater to a range of dietary requirements, allergies, and cultural needs. Ensure all meals are prepared in compliance with statutory food safety and hygiene regulations. Maintain our

5-star food hygiene rating

through excellent cleanliness, safe food practices, and kitchen management. Including keeping on top of records e.g. Opening and closing checks, Fridge Temperature recording, Probe Calibration etc.

Order food supplies weekly

, ensuring stock is fresh, appropriately stored, and within budget. Perform a

weekly deep clean of the kitchen

in addition to daily cleaning routines. Clean the kitchen and all equipment thoroughly after each mealtime. Keep accurate food safety records and up-to-date allergen information. Stock rotation, completing the weekly food order, being budget aware , effectively ordering for the menu Creating the seasonal menus, working in partnership with parents, children and staff for meal and recipe ideas. Cater for events such as The Easter Fun Day, Graduation, Parents events, Open Days etc.

About You:

Previous experience in a similar cooking role, ideally within a nursery, school, or care setting. Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 or 3 preferred). Knowledge of food safety and allergen management. Organised, reliable, and able to manage kitchen operations independently. Passion for healthy food and a genuine care for children's wellbeing.

What We Offer:

A friendly, supportive team environment. Fixed daytime hours - perfect for work-life balance. Ongoing training and opportunities for development. A chance to play a key role in the health and happiness of our children.

Benefits of working with us:

Additional leave

Childcare discount

Company events and celebrations.

Discounted or free food

Private medical insurance including dental, optician, GP services, physio, counselling services.

Wellness programme

Additional benefits include:

1. Employer contribution to Pensions.

2. Access to exclusive discounts with major retailers for staff through my work life solutions / edenred.

3. Staff health Insurance Cash Plan.

4. The nursery is closed between the dates of Christmas and New Year that is part of the statutory holiday entitlement. These dates will be advised to you in advance.

5. Birthday Leave in addition to your statutory holidays.

6. Childcare discount of up to 30% for staff children to attend our nurseries.

7. Employee of the month incentives and bonus.

8. Employee monthly Attendance and reliability bonus

9. Company events and celebrations.

10. An in depth, supportive Induction programme to support you joining our nurseries

11. Regular opportunities for training and developing your CPD to keep your skills and knowledge up to date and help prepare for greater responsibilities within the company if career progression is something that interests you.

An enhanced DBS check and two satisfactory professional references are required before any employment can be confirmed.

Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. Therefore, it is essential in making your application that you disclose any information requested in respect of applicable convictions and cautions (including, as applicable any reprimands or final warnings).

This post may be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, in which case applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are 'spent' under the provision of the Act unless the conviction or caution is "protected" as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). Any such 'protected' conviction or caution is not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account. All guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found in the DBS filtering collection, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dbs-filtering-guidance . The fact that a pending charge, conviction, caution, reprimand, or final warning has been recorded against you will not necessarily debar you from consideration for this role but any failure to disclose any such information will result in dismissal or disciplinary action.

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: From 12.21 per hour

Benefits:

Additional leave Childcare Company events Company pension Discounted or free food Employee discount Free parking Health & wellbeing programme On-site parking Private medical insurance
Experience:

Cooking: 2 years (required)
Language:

Fluent English (required)
Licence/Certification:

Level 2 or above in Food Safety (preferred)
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person