At a Glance
- Tasks: Prepare delicious, home-cooked meals for children aged 6 months to 4 years.
- Company: Join a caring family business dedicated to nurturing young minds.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, flexible hours, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Enjoy beautiful countryside surroundings and ample free parking.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on children's health while enjoying a supportive work environment.
- Qualifications: 1 year of cooking experience; Food Hygiene qualification preferred but training available.
The predicted salary is between 16 - 20 £ per hour.
We are looking for a caring, passionate person who can prepare home‑cooked meals for our children aged 6 months to 4 years. You will support our nursery cooks creating delicious, balanced meals, following our four week rolling menu. Our meals are designed to be sustainably sourced, low sugar and age appropriate. We only serve high quality, low fat, locally sourced meat.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Be available to cover the absences and holidays of our nursery cook team.
- Be able to work both independently and cooperatively with the management team, nursery staff and the children.
- Maintain an excellent standard of cleanliness and hygiene in the whole kitchen.
- Be able to cater for the individual dietary requirements of each of the children.
- Work to the requirements of Safer Food Better Business requirements and COSHH.
- Have at least 1 year’s professional cooking experience.
Contract: Bank (variable hours) contract - providing cover for annual leave and other absences. As a member of our Bank Nursery Cook team, we would contact you to ask if you are available to cover absences and annual leave days for other cooks.
Location: Providing cover at all 3 of our settings: Bletchingdon Setting – OX5 3DH, Eynsham – OX29 4EH, Farmoor – OX2 9NT.
Hours: 7.30am – 1.30pm (Please note we are a 51 weeks a year nursery and this is not a term time position.)
Salary: Bank team hourly rate - £16.00 – £20.50 per hour (dependent on qualifications and experience).
Experience: 1 year’s cooking experience in a professional environment. We would prefer a candidate who has a Food Hygiene qualification but training will be available.
Closing Date: Open until appointed.
Training and other information: Training will be provided where necessary alongside our established mentoring programme. You will need your own transport as there are no public transport services to this address and Lower Road does not have a footpath. There is ample parking on site. Please be aware that this can be a physically demanding role. We expect high levels of professionalism from our staff. Good levels of interpersonal communication are necessary when working with other staff to plan and prepare meals.
Safeguarding: Willow Cottage is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants must be able to provide evidence of having the right to live and work in the UK and must undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and DBS and barred lists checks.
Equal Opportunities: We are an equal opportunities employer. Please see our willow-cottage.com/jobs web site for further information.
Benefits:
- Competitive and regularly reviewed salary.
- Flexible working arrangements.
- Bonus annual leave for reliable attendance.
- Bonus annual leave for long service.
- Bonus annual leave for Christmas shopping.
- Scheme to purchase additional annual leave.
- We support both in-house and external training.
- We promote and support many internal career opportunities.
- We are a family business promoting a caring, supportive environment and culture.
- Refer a friend scheme.
- Overtime rates.
- There is ample free parking on our site.
- Our staff are able to join the NEST pension scheme.
- Beautiful countryside setting.
For more information about working for Willow Cottage please see our vacancies page.
Nursery Chef / Cook - Advert in Oxford employer: Willow Cottage Nurseries Ltd
Willow Cottage is an exceptional employer that prioritises a caring and supportive work environment, making it an ideal place for those passionate about nurturing young children through nutritious home-cooked meals. With competitive pay rates, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for professional development, employees can thrive in their roles while enjoying the beautiful countryside setting. Our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children ensures that our staff are part of a dedicated team that values high standards and personal growth.
Contact Details:
Willow Cottage Nurseries Ltd Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Nursery Chef / Cook - Advert in Oxford
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the nursery! Visit the settings if you can, and chat with the staff. This shows your genuine interest and helps you understand their vibe, which is super important for a role like this.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your cooking skills! If you get the chance, bring in a sample of your cooking or share a recipe that aligns with their menu. It’s a tasty way to demonstrate your passion for creating healthy meals for kids.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to talk about your experience! Prepare examples of how you've catered for dietary needs or maintained hygiene standards in previous roles. This will help us see how you fit into our team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Nursery Chef / Cook - Advert in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Cooking:When you write your application, let us see your love for cooking! Share any experiences that highlight your passion for preparing healthy meals, especially for children. We want to know why you care about creating delicious, balanced meals.
Highlight Relevant Experience:Make sure to mention your professional cooking experience clearly. If you've worked in a similar environment or have experience catering for dietary requirements, shout about it! This will help us see how you fit into our nursery cook team.
Keep It Clean and Professional:Since cleanliness and hygiene are super important in our kitchen, make sure your application reflects this. Use clear language and check for any spelling or grammar mistakes. A tidy application shows us you value high standards!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Willow Cottage Nurseries Ltd
✨Know Your Menu
Familiarise yourself with the four-week rolling menu that the nursery follows. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to creating delicious, balanced meals that are sustainably sourced and age-appropriate for children aged 6 months to 4 years.
✨Highlight Your Experience
Make sure to showcase your professional cooking experience, especially any work you've done in a similar environment. If you have a Food Hygiene qualification, mention it! If not, express your willingness to undergo training.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Since you'll be working closely with management, nursery staff, and children, it's crucial to show that you can work both independently and as part of a team. Share examples of how you've successfully collaborated with others in past roles.
✨Emphasise Cleanliness and Safety
Discuss your commitment to maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene in the kitchen. Be prepared to talk about your understanding of Safer Food Better Business requirements and COSHH regulations, as these are vital in a nursery setting.
