At a Glance
- Tasks: Create nutritious meals for children while maintaining a clean and safe kitchen environment.
- Company: Join Cherrywood nursery, a nurturing place dedicated to developing future early years professionals.
- Benefits: Enjoy 24 days annual leave, 75% childcare discounts, and tailored career development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a caring community that values equality and safeguarding for all children.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives through healthy cooking in a supportive team.
- Qualifications: Experience in catering, knowledge of dietary requirements, and a passion for cooking for kids.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 € per year.
Cherrywood nursery is a modern open plan nursery set in the beautiful village of Pirbright. We’re proud of our nurturing environment, our outstanding apprentice programme, and our commitment to developing future early years professionals. Now, we’re looking for a passionate Nursery Chef to join our team and help fuel little minds with nutritious meals made with care.
We are seeking a dedicated Nursery Chef to join our team. You will work closely with the nursery team and parents to support the overall care and educational experience of the children. You will also maintain accurate records of supplies, ordering replacements as needed, while adhering to the nursery’s budget requirements. This position offers 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday.
At Family First, we value our team members and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Annual Leave: Starting at 24 days, plus a paid day off for your birthday and bank holidays
- Employee Childcare Discounts: 75% off nursery fees for our team member’s
- Health and Wellbeing Programme: Confidential employee assistance helpline available
- Tailored learning and development opportunities to support your career growth
- Referral programme: Refer a friend and earn up to £750
As Nursery Chef, you will:
- Keep the kitchen a clean and safe environment, adhering to internal and external requirements; complete the Kitchen Hygiene Checklist each month, and ensure that the Cleaning Schedule is complete and adhered to, being regularly updated and displayed prominently in the kitchen
- Ensure the highest levels of cleanliness and hygiene in the nursery and kitchen
- The nursery staff will tell you each day of the numbers to cater for; prepare and cook enough age-appropriate food (cooked as near to the point of service as possible) for all the children on a daily basis, with minimum wastage
- Work in co-operation and partnership with the Nursery team and parents to encourage a healthy and nutritious diet
- Ensure that budgetary requirements are met through careful planning of all food orders
As Nursery Chef, you will need:
- Able to demonstrate a sound knowledge of managing different dietary requirements around food allergies - essential
- Able to work to a catering budget, in a manner that avoids fluctuating standards of food service - essential
- Experience and qualified to the appropriate level in any role which involves cooking in domestic or commercial property - essential
- Fluent in written and spoken English at GCSE grade C (or equivalent) - essential
- Experienced and passionate about any role that involves cooking for young children - desirable
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. Cherrywood is part of the Family First Group where we take great care to treat everyone as a person, with equal rights and responsibilities to any other individual, whether they are an adult or a child. We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all children and families according to their individual needs.
DBS Chef employer: Family First Nursery Group
At Cherrywood Nursery, we pride ourselves on fostering a nurturing environment where our team members are valued and supported. As a Nursery Chef, you will enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including generous annual leave, substantial childcare discounts, and tailored development opportunities to enhance your career in early years education. Join us in the picturesque village of Pirbright, where you can make a meaningful impact on children's lives while working in a collaborative and caring atmosphere.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land DBS Chef
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the nursery! Visit Cherrywood if you can, chat with the staff, and soak up the vibe. This will help you tailor your approach and show them you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your culinary skills! Bring along a sample dish or two that highlights your ability to cater for children’s dietary needs. This not only demonstrates your cooking prowess but also your understanding of what little ones need.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to discuss your experience with food allergies and dietary requirements. The nursery is all about keeping kids safe, so make sure you can confidently talk about how you handle these situations in the kitchen.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace DBS Chef
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your passion for cooking and working with children shine through. Share any experiences that highlight your love for creating nutritious meals and how you believe they contribute to a child's development.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to tailor your application specifically for the Nursery Chef role at Cherrywood nursery. Use keywords from the job description, like 'nutritious meals' and 'dietary requirements', to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Highlight Relevant Experience:Don’t forget to mention any relevant experience you have in cooking for children or managing dietary needs. This is crucial for us, so be specific about your past roles and how they relate to this position.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates regarding your application status.
How to prepare for a job interview at Family First Nursery Group
✨Know Your Ingredients
Familiarise yourself with the nutritional needs of young children and any dietary restrictions they may have. Be ready to discuss how you would cater to these needs while keeping meals exciting and nutritious.
✨Showcase Your Hygiene Standards
Prepare to talk about your experience maintaining kitchen hygiene and safety. Bring examples of how you've adhered to cleanliness standards in previous roles, as this is crucial for a Nursery Chef.
✨Budgeting Brilliance
Be prepared to discuss how you manage food budgets effectively. Share specific strategies you've used to minimise waste while ensuring high-quality meals, as this will demonstrate your ability to meet the nursery's budget requirements.
✨Team Player Attitude
Highlight your experience working collaboratively with teams, especially in a childcare setting. Discuss how you would communicate with nursery staff and parents to create a supportive environment for the children’s dietary needs.
