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- Tasks: Plan and prepare healthy meals for children in a fun nursery environment.
- Company: Join Ormiston Families, a leading charity supporting families in East England.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, pension scheme, employee discounts, and wellbeing support.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on children's health while working in a supportive team.
- Qualifications: Level 2 food handling qualification and current food hygiene certificate required.
- Other info: Part-time, temporary role with flexible term-time options available.
This post is part time and temporary (maternity cover) - we would consider term time only. This post is 27.5 hours per week. The salary for this post is £12.60 per hour.
Ormiston Families 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.
Play Out Ipswich are looking for a 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 out 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, support nursery staff in involving the children in food preparation activities.
- Implement and maintain effective programmes of parent partnership as part of the nursery’s inclusive ethos.
- Ensure the effective use of equipment and resources and routine cleaning of equipment to maintain the hygiene and safety within the nursery.
- Respond appropriately to issues regarding confidentiality; for example, being aware of personal information regarding children.
- 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.
- Company pension scheme.
- Regular staff events.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Employee Discount Scheme.
- Cycle to Work Scheme.
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.
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.
Cook employer: Ormiston Families
Contact Detail:
Ormiston Families Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Cook
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific dietary needs of children, as this role requires you to cater for various allergies and preferences. Understanding these requirements will not only help you in menu planning but also show your commitment to the children's health.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight any experience you have working in a nursery or similar environment during your interview. This will demonstrate your ability to engage with children and work collaboratively with staff, which is crucial for this role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your knowledge of food hygiene and safety standards. Being able to articulate how you maintain cleanliness and safety in the kitchen will reassure the hiring team of your capability to handle their kitchen environment.
✨Tip Number 4
Show your passion for cooking and working with children by sharing personal anecdotes or experiences. This can help you connect with the interviewers and demonstrate that you are not just qualified, but genuinely enthusiastic about the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Cook
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description carefully to understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Cook position. Make sure you highlight your relevant experience in cooking for children and knowledge of food hygiene.
Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to reflect your experience in food preparation and any qualifications related to food handling. Emphasise your ability to plan healthy menus and maintain hygiene standards, as these are key aspects of the role.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for cooking and working with children. Mention specific examples of how you've catered to dietary requirements and created nutritious meals in previous roles.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications: Ensure you mention any relevant qualifications, such as a level 2 qualification in food handling or a current food hygiene certificate. This will demonstrate your commitment to maintaining high standards in food safety.
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 food and how it can positively impact children's health and well-being.
✨Demonstrate Your Knowledge of Food Hygiene
Be prepared to discuss your understanding of food hygiene and safety standards. Highlight your relevant qualifications, such as your food hygiene certificate, and provide examples of how you've maintained cleanliness and safety in previous kitchen roles.
✨Discuss Menu Planning Experience
Talk about your experience in planning healthy, balanced menus. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've catered to dietary requirements and allergies, ensuring that all children receive nutritious meals.
✨Emphasise Teamwork and Communication Skills
Since you'll be working closely with nursery staff and parents, it's important to showcase your teamwork and communication skills. Provide examples of how you've collaborated with others in a kitchen setting and how you engage with children to make food preparation fun and educational.
