Job Description

The position is for 35 hours a week during school holidays between 9:00am and 4:30pm (with a 30 minute unpaid lunchbreak).

We align with the West Northants School Calendar so you could expect your working weeks over 2026 to be:

- Monday 16 February to Friday 20 February (5 days)

- Monday 30 March to Friday 10 April (10 days)

- Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May (5 days)

- Tuesday 21 July - Monday 31st August (29 days)

- Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October (5 days)

- Monday 21 December to Thursday 31st December (9 days)

63 days in total for 2026 with an initial earning potential of 6,615.00. Additional hours may become available and your hourly rate may increase during this time.

Purpose of Post

Displays a commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children.

To prepare all meals for children within Lily Pad Day Nursery.

To ensure meals are balanced and offer a healthy and varied diet for the children.

To ensure all dietary requirements for the children are met.

To assist in setting and maintaining a high standard of hygiene within the kitchen at all times.

To support planning and produce shopping lists for all necessary food provisions.

To maintain all the required records and ensure they are up to date at all times.

Responsible to

Nursery Manager, Deputy Manager.

Main Duties

The following examples are illustrative but not exhaustive.

Professional Attitude

To be aware of the high profile of Lily Pad Day Nursery and to uphold its standards at all times.
To uphold and respect the confidentiality within Lily Pad Day Nursery.

To ensure your food hygiene certificate is current and to a minimum of Level 2 To undertake training appropriate to this post, including Safeguarding and Food Hygiene. To be responsible for completing any paperwork as required including supervisions and suitability checks. To be flexible within the working practices of the Nursery and be prepared to help where needed. To ensure high standards of personal hygiene. To ensure meals are well presented, of a high standard and in suitable quantities. To ensure all meals are served on time.

Outcomes for Children

To follow a balanced weekly menu with respect to children's individual needs and dietary requirements To ensure all dietary requirements are met with high regard to children's allergies and parental food choices. To ensure the provision of high quality meals to meet the needs of individual children from differing cultures and religious backgrounds. To assist the development of the children's awareness of food issues. Be proactive in promoting cooking activities with the children of Lily Pad Day Nursery and support opportunities for this to occur.

Working in a Team

To attend out of working hours activities where appropriate, e.g. training, staff meetings. To support colleagues when planning cooking activities with the children and offer guidance and support as required. To regularly support reviews of menus, seeking input from staff, children and parents. When appropriate, liaise with other sites to exchange recipes, future menu ideas, current best practice and legislation requirements.

Administration

To ensure a regular cleaning schedule is operational within the kitchen and to record the outcomes. To ensure that all cutlery, crockery, kitchen utensils, and kitchen machinery is kept clean and maintained to a high standard. To ensure all ingredients and products are stored and rotated appropriately. To ensure specific utensils, crockery, pots and dishes used for individual dietary needs are kept separate for that purpose. To record the correct temperatures of food, fridges and freezers ensuring all are compliant with current legislation. Ensure all daily, weekly and monthly checks are completed on time and in full.

Policies and Procedures

To assist with outside agencies to ensure the kitchen, hygiene and food meets all the current legislation. To maintain a sound knowledge of the company Policy and Procedures, and to comply to them at all times.
To adhere to the appropriate kitchen dress code.

To adhere to the Lily Pad Day Nursery Staff Handbook.
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: 15.00 per hour

Benefits:

Childcare Company events Company pension Free parking Health & wellbeing programme On-site parking Private dental insurance Private medical insurance Store discount
Experience:

Chef: 1 year (preferred) Cooking: 1 year (required) Kitchen experience: 1 year (required)
Work Location: In person