Cook

About the job

Key information

Buttercups Nursery School are looking for a happy, friendly and enthusiastic Cook to join our wonderful team!

Monday – Friday 8am – 2pm

Pay: From £14.00 per hour

We are looking for someone who is passionate about food and enjoys creating healthy, nutritious and delicious meals for young children. Our Cook plays an important role in nursery life, helping to make mealtimes a happy, enjoyable and positive experience for our children.

What will I be doing?

You will be responsible for preparing fresh, nutritious and age-appropriate meals and snacks each day, while carefully following children’s allergies, intolerances and individual dietary requirements. You will also work closely with the nursery team to ensure that every child can enjoy safe, healthy and appealing food.

We currently have a three-week rotating menu in place, but we would love someone who can bring their own ideas and creativity to the role. If you enjoy experimenting with healthy recipes, introducing new flavours and creating exciting meals that children will love, we would be delighted to hear from you!

What You’ll Be Doing

• Preparing and cooking fresh, nutritious and balanced meals and snacks for the children each day.
• Following our existing menus while bringing your own ideas and creativity to develop new, healthy recipes.
• Taking full responsibility for allergy, intolerance and special dietary requirements, ensuring these are followed safely and accurately.
• Ensuring all food preparation, cooking, storage and serving complies with current food safety and hygiene requirements.
• Working closely with nursery staff to ensure children’s individual dietary needs are understood and met.
• Maintaining accurate food and kitchen records where required.
• Ordering, receiving and safely storing ingredients and monitoring stock levels.
• Ensuring food is served at appropriate times and in a way that is appealing and suitable for young children.
• Maintaining a clean, tidy and well-organised kitchen throughout the day.
• Cleaning and maintaining kitchen equipment and food preparation areas to a high standard.
• Following all Health & Safety procedures and taking steps to prevent cross-contamination.
• Helping to create a positive and enjoyable mealtime experience for our children.

Safeguarding Children

At Buttercups Nursery School, safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility. Every member of our team, regardless of their role, plays an important part in keeping children safe.

As our Cook, you will work within our safeguarding procedures and will be expected to:

• Have a commitment to promoting the health, safety and wellbeing of every child.
• Understand that safeguarding is the responsibility of all staff, including those working in non-teaching roles.
• Be alert to any concerns about a child’s welfare, behaviour or wellbeing and report these promptly to the appropriate member of the safeguarding team.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries when working around children.
• Follow Buttercups’ safeguarding, child protection, confidentiality, health and safety and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Treat all children with kindness, dignity and respect.
• Maintain confidentiality and handle information about children and families appropriately.
• Understand the importance of creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all children.

 

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

You will need to be confident working independently and have a good understanding of food hygiene, safer food practices, Health & Safety and preventing cross-contamination. You will take pride in maintaining a clean, organised and safe kitchen environment and ensuring that food is prepared, stored and served to the highest standards.

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who is friendly, reliable, caring and passionate about providing children with healthy and enjoyable food.

Whether you are an experienced nursery cook or an experienced cook looking to bring your skills into an early years environment, we would love to hear from you.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience preparing and cooking food, ideally for groups of children, although nursery or childcare experience is not essential.
• Has a good understanding of food hygiene and safe food handling practices.
• Understands the importance of allergy awareness and preventing cross-contamination.
• Takes pride in preparing food that is nutritious, appealing and age appropriate.
• Is organised and able to manage their own workload effectively.
• Can work independently while also being a positive member of the wider nursery team.
• Has excellent attention to detail, particularly when following dietary and allergy requirements.
• Is reliable, friendly and approachable.
• Has good communication skills and is confident working alongside nursery staff.
• Is happy to contribute ideas and bring creativity and enthusiasm to our menus.

Previous catering, restaurant, school or nursery experience would be an advantage but is not essential. Relevant catering or food hygiene qualifications would also be welcomed.

Licence/Certification:

• driving license (preferred)

What is in it for me?

At Buttercups, we believe that food and mealtimes are an important part of children’s early years experience. We want our children to enjoy a varied and healthy diet, discover new tastes and develop positive relationships with food from an early age.

If you are passionate about cooking and would love the opportunity to make a real difference to the children in our care, we would love to hear from you!

Benefits:

• On-site parking

Supporting documents and information

Buttercups Nursery School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This post is subject to safer recruitment procedures, including satisfactory references, identity and right-to-work checks, verification of qualifications where applicable, an appropriate DBS check, and any other checks required for the role in accordance with current safeguarding requirements.

Our recruitment process follows the principles of safer recruitment, and safeguarding will be considered throughout the recruitment and selection process.

Apply on the Buttercups Nursery School website

Apply now