Assistant Chef

Busy Bees Childcare; Carterton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading childcare provider in Carterton seeks an Assistant Chef to prepare nutritious meals and support kitchen operations. The ideal candidate will lead their teams, ensuring safety and hygiene standards while contributing to a positive environment for children. This role offers competitive salary, professional development, and various employee benefits including discounted childcare and holiday.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Ongoing professional development

Up to 28 days holiday per year

Birthday off

25% childcare discount

Enhanced family leave

Cycle to Work scheme

Discounted Private Medical Insurance

Qualifications

• Experience in leadership within early years settings.
• Strong mentoring and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to drive improvements and ensure compliance.

Responsibilities

• Prepare healthy, nutritious meals that meet dietary requirements for children.
• Support the Chef in overseeing kitchen operations and maintaining food safety.
• Ensure kitchen inventory is well-maintained and assist with stock management.
• Support meal preparation and assist in cleaning kitchen equipment.

Skills

Leadership in early years settings

Mentoring skills

Problem-solving skills

Job description

Join Our Team at Busy Bees – Leading Nursery Group in the UK

Are you passionate about cooking and providing nutritious meals for young children? As an Assistant Chef at Busy Bees, you’ll be a key part of our kitchen team, preparing healthy meals that support children’s growth and development. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a nurturing environment where you will contribute to the wellbeing of children while gaining valuable experience in catering within the early years sector.

About Us

Busy Bees is the UK’s leading nursery group, with nearly 400 nurseries across the UK and overseas. We are dedicated to giving every child the best start in life and are proud to have won awards for our workplace culture. At Busy Bees, we ensure that every member of our team feels heard, valued, and nurtured.

Why Work at Busy Bees?

We offer a supportive environment that empowers you to create engaging, educational spaces where children can thrive. As part of our team, you’ll be introduced to our unique Bee Curious curriculum, designed to foster curiosity and confidence in young learners.

Through our partnership with BBC Children in Need, we offer fantastic opportunities for community involvement and fundraising to support children’s lives.

About our Nursery – Busy Bees Bicester

Rated Good by Ofsted, this nursery accommodates 108 children and features a longstanding team dedicated to delivering excellent childcare and preparing children for their futures. We utilize the local church for nursery events, fostering community connections and engagement.

Located in a friendly area surrounded by local shops and a primary school, the nursery is also close to a lovely nature reserve, enhancing outdoor learning experiences. With local bus stops within walking distance and just a 10-minute walk to the nearest train station, we ensure easy access for families. Additionally, we offer free parking for staff, creating a convenient and welcoming environment for educators and families alike.

Busy Bees Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Ongoing professional development and career progression
• Hive benefits and wellbeing hub, with discounts across a huge range of retailers
• Up to 28 days holiday per year (including bank holidays)
• Birthday off–our gift to you
• 25 % childcare discount
• Enhanced family leave and return‑to‑work bonus
• Menopause support through Peppy
• Salary Finance financial support
• Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health First Aiders
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Easy access to your workplace pension through Cushon
• Discounted Private Medical Insurance (PMI)

Additional benefits include access to our Hive platform providing huge retail discounts, a Wellbeing Hub with resources to support physical and mental health, a Celebrating You section showcasing how we recognise and reward our valued team members, and a Grow with Us area sharing development opportunities and training designed to support your growth at Busy Bees.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare healthy, nutritious meals that meet dietary requirements for children.
• Support the Chef in overseeing kitchen operations and maintaining food safety and hygiene standards.
• Ensure kitchen inventory is well‑maintained and assist with ordering and stock management.
• Support meal preparation and assist in the cleaning and maintenance of kitchen equipment.

Ideal Candidate

• Experience in leadership within early years settings.
• Strong mentoring and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to drive improvements and ensure compliance.

If you have a passion for leading teams and supporting quality education, apply today!