Assistant Chef

Busy Bees Nurseries Ltd.; Wantage; Remote; GBP 24,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Ongoing professional development

Birthday off

25% childcare discount

Job summary

Busy Bees Nurseries Ltd. is seeking an Assistant Chef to join our kitchen team in Wantage, Oxfordshire. You will prepare healthy meals supporting children’s growth and development, while assisting in daily kitchen operations and maintaining high standards of hygiene.

The role emphasises leadership within early years settings, mentoring, and a proactive approach to improvements and compliance within a nurturing environment.

Qualifications

• Prepare healthy, nutritious meals for children with dietary needs.
• Assist in supervising kitchen operations with a focus on food safety and hygiene.
• Support inventory, ordering and stock management as required.

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.

Skills

Leadership in EYs settings

Mentoring

Problem solving

Compliance

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 more 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.

Our Charitable Commitment

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 Oxford Ardington, rated Good by Ofsted, accommodates 102 children in a beautiful woodland location that offers excellent transport links and access to local walks and cafés. Our nursery prioritises staff wellbeing with a comprehensive package that includes hot lunches. We frequently organise trips for children to explore the local park, post office, and surrounding woods, enriching their learning experiences. Conveniently situated just outside Wantage in Ardington village, our nursery is very easy to find. Additionally, we provide free parking for staff, ensuring a welcoming and accessible environment for educators and families alike.

Busy Bees Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Ongoing professional development and career progression
• Our ‘Hive’ benefits and wellbeing hub, with discounts across a huge range of retailers
• Up to 28 days holiday per year (including bank holidays)
• Your birthday off – it’s our gift to you!
• 25% childcare discount
• Enhanced family leave and return to work bonus
• Menopause support through Peppy
• Financial support through Salary Finance
• 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)

But wait, there’s more! You'll also enjoy access to our Benefits and Wellbeing platform, Hive - offering huge array huge of retail discounts helping your money to go further, along with a Wellbeing Hub featuring resources to support your physical and mental health. A Celebrating You section showcasing the ways we recognise and reward our valued team members. Plus, a dedicated Grow with Us area sharing the exciting development opportunities and training designed to support you to thrive and grow 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

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