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- Tasks: Prepare and cook healthy meals for children, ensuring dietary needs are met.
- Company: Join Ormiston Families, a leading charity supporting children and families in East England.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, pension scheme, employee discounts, and regular staff events.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on children's health while working in a supportive and inclusive environment.
- Qualifications: Level 2 food handling qualification and current food hygiene certificate required.
- Other info: This is a part-time, temporary role covering maternity leave until March 2026.
Job Description
Play Out Nursery, 333, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich IP3 9BU
This post is part time and temporary (maternity cover up to end of March 2026)
This post is 27.5 hours per week
The salary for this post is £12.60 per hour (FTE £24,570 – Real Living Wage)
Ormiston Families, trading as Play Out Nursery, is one of the leading charities working with children, young people, and families in the East of England. We take early and preventative action to support families to be safe, healthy, and resilient.
Job Purpose:
Play Out Ipswich are looking for cook with a passion for food and working with young children who would like to join us to cover a Maternity Leave. You will be responsible for planning, preparing and cooking healthy balanced meals for the children in our care who range from babies to pre-schoolers.
You will have experience of working in a kitchen and an understanding of food hygiene and health and safety requirements, including cleanliness of the kitchen, checking temperatures, dates and allergens on food products and ensuring all food is safely stored. Alongside the nursery management you will be planning menus, ordering food, checking deliveries and carrying our risk assessments.
Whilst the cooking of good food is an essential requirement, we are also looking for someone who is open and approachable with the children and the staff.
Main Tasks of a Nursery Cook:
- To be responsible for the planning and provision of a healthy, nutritionally balanced menu of hot and cold meals for the nursery children. This must reflect the diversity of the children and take account of any individual dietary requirements and food allergies.
- Take responsibility to make sure all dietary requirements are catered for and clearly communicated to teams.
- Work in co-operation and partnership with the nursery team and parents to encourage a healthy and nutritious diet.
- Where appropriate to support nursery staff in involving the children in food preparation activities.
- To implement and maintain effective programmes of parent partnership as part of the nurseries’ inclusive ethos.
- To ensure the effective use of equipment and resources and routine cleaning of equipment to maintain the hygiene and safety within the nursery.
- To respond appropriately to issues regarding confidentiality; for example, being aware of personal information regarding children.
Skills and Experience of a Nursery Cook
- Relevant level 2 qualification in food handling/preparation or equivalent experience
- Current food hygiene certificate.
- Experience of cooking healthy, nutritionally balanced hot meals.
- Ability to plan healthy, nutritionally balanced menus.
- Ability to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene standards of food preparation areas and equipment
- Excellent organisational skills and ability to keep accurate records.
What We Offer:
- Company pension scheme
- Regular staff events
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Employee Discount Scheme
- We have trained Mental Health First Aiders who form our Wellbeing Team, promoting mental and physical health. Ormiston Families has also signed the pledge to support our employees going through the menopause in the workplace
- Sick pay
For further information and to apply please visit our Work With Us page via our Ormiston Families' website
Closing date for applications: 9am, Friday 27th June 2025
Play Out reserves the right to close the vacancy early if we have received sufficient applications ahead of the closing date.
Safeguarding and DBS requirements for your role:
Ormiston Families is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.
We are an equal opportunities employer; we value diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
Contact Detail:
Ormiston Families Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Nursery Cook
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific dietary needs of children, including allergies and preferences. This knowledge will not only help you in menu planning but also show your commitment to the role during any interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your experience in a kitchen environment, especially any roles that involved working with children or in educational settings. This will demonstrate your ability to create a safe and engaging cooking atmosphere.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss how you would involve children in food preparation activities. This shows your understanding of the nursery's ethos and your willingness to engage with the children beyond just cooking.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Ormiston Families and their values, particularly their commitment to safeguarding and promoting welfare. Being able to articulate how your personal values align with theirs can set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Nursery Cook
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description carefully to understand the responsibilities and requirements of a Nursery Cook. Highlight your relevant experience in cooking, food hygiene, and working with children.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects your experience in food preparation and any qualifications you have related to food handling. Include specific examples of how you've catered to dietary requirements or worked in a team environment.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for cooking and working with children. Mention your understanding of nutrition and how you can contribute to a healthy diet for the nursery kids.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In your application, emphasise your organisational skills, ability to maintain hygiene standards, and experience in menu planning. These are crucial for the role and should be clearly stated.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ormiston Families
✨Show Your Passion for Food
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for cooking and working with children during the interview. Share any personal experiences or stories that highlight your love for preparing healthy meals, as this will resonate well with the nursery's ethos.
✨Demonstrate Knowledge of Dietary Needs
Be prepared to discuss how you would cater to various dietary requirements and allergies. Familiarise yourself with common allergens and how to safely manage them in a kitchen setting, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Highlight Your Organisational Skills
Since planning menus and keeping accurate records are key responsibilities, be ready to provide examples of how you've successfully managed these tasks in previous roles. This will show that you can handle the organisational aspects of the job effectively.
✨Emphasise Teamwork and Communication
The role requires collaboration with nursery staff and parents, so it's important to convey your ability to work well in a team. Share examples of how you've communicated effectively in past positions, especially in a kitchen or childcare environment.
