Nursery Chef in Arlesey

Acre Wood Day Nursery is on the lookout for a committed and enthusiastic Kitchen Chef to become part of the kitchen team. The ideal candidate will support in preparing nutritious meals for children and will gain valuable experience in food preparation, kitchen operations, and hygiene standards.

This full-time role offers 25 hours per week, with flexible shift patterns between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Please note that this is a full-year position, as the nursery operates year-round, and is not term-time only.

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.
• Prepare and cook enough age-appropriate food for all the children on a daily basis, with minimum wastage.
• Take responsibility to make sure all dietary requirements are catered for and clearly communicated to the teams.
• Ensure that dietary requirements and personal care routines are adhered to at all times, including the robust measures around the Red, Amber and Green plate procedures.
• 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.

Requirements:

• Able to demonstrate a sound knowledge of managing different dietary requirements around food allergies - essential.
• Sound knowledge of COSHH - 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.

Why Join Us?

• Annual leave: 24 days’ 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 and development 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 health and wellbeing support.
• Refer a Friend scheme: 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. This post will be subject to enhanced checks as part of our Safeguarding Duty.

Acre Wood Nursery 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. Discrimination on the grounds of gender, age, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, ethnic or national origin, or political belief has no place within the Family First Group.