Cook

Super Start Nurseries Ltd; Dartford; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 18,000; Full time

Job summary

A children's nursery in Dartford is seeking a passionate Nursery Cook. The role involves preparing nutritious meals for children and ensuring food safety standards. Ideal candidates will have experience in a similar role and a Food Hygiene Certificate. The position offers fixed daytime hours, ongoing training, and a supportive team environment.

Benefits

Childcare discounts

Private medical insurance

Employee mentoring program

Health & wellbeing initiatives

Free parking

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a similar cooking role, ideally within a nursery, school, or care setting.
• Able to manage kitchen operations independently.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook healthy, balanced meals and snacks for children aged 3 months — 5 years.
• Ensure meals comply with food safety regulations.
• Maintain a 5-star food hygiene rating.

Skills

Organised

Reliable

Knowledge of food safety

Passion for healthy food

Education

Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 or 3 preferred)

Job description

DO YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND IN COOKING / CATERING? ARE YOU LOOKING FOR BETTER HOURS, AWAY FROM EVENINGS / WEEKENDS?

This role is 25 HOURS a week, Monday to Friday, all year through. 8.30am to 1.30pm Dartford.

Job Summary

We are looking for a passionate and reliable Nursery Cook to join our friendly team. In this role, you will be responsible for planning, preparing, and serving nutritious meals for young children, while maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness and food safety. You’ll play a vital part in supporting children’s health and wellbeing through healthy eating, and you’ll help create a warm, safe, and inclusive environment for all.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook healthy, balanced meals and snacks for children aged 3 months — 5 years.
• Cater to a range of dietary requirements, allergies, and cultural needs.
• Ensure all meals are prepared in compliance with statutory food safety and hygiene regulations.
• Maintain our 5-star food hygiene rating through excellent cleanliness, safe food practices, and kitchen management, including keeping on top of records e.g. Opening and closing checks, Fridge Temperature recording, Probe Calibration etc.
• Order food supplies weekly, ensuring stock is fresh, appropriately stored, and within budget.
• Perform a weekly deep clean of the kitchen in addition to daily cleaning routines.
• Clean the kitchen and all equipment thoroughly after each mealtime.
• Keep accurate food safety records and up-to-date allergen information.

About You

• Previous experience in a similar cooking role, ideally within a nursery, school, or care setting.
• Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 or 3 preferred).
• Knowledge of food safety and allergen management.
• Organised, reliable, and able to manage kitchen operations independently.
• Passion for healthy food and a genuine care for children’s wellbeing.

What We Offer

• A friendly, supportive team environment.
• Fixed daytime hours – perfect for work-life balance.
• Ongoing training and opportunities for development.
• A chance to play a key role in the health and happiness of our children.
• Competitive salary of up to £18,000 per year.

Benefits

• Additional leave.
• Childcare discounts.
• Private medical insurance.
• Employee mentoring program.
• Health & wellbeing initiatives.
• Free parking and on-site facilities.
• Company events and celebrations.
• A supportive environment focused on staff development and well-being.

Additional Benefits

• Employer contribution to Pensions.
• Access to exclusive discounts with major retailers for staff through my work life solutions / edenred.
• Staff health Insurance Cash Plan.
• The nursery is closed between the dates of Christmas and New Year that is part of the statutory holiday entitlement. These dates will be advised to you in advance.
• Birthday Leave in addition to your statutory holidays.
• Childcare discount of up to 30% for staff children to attend our nurseries.
• Employee of the month incentives and bonus.
• Employee monthly Attendance and reliability bonus.
• Company events and celebrations.
• An in depth, supportive Induction programme to support you joining our nurseries.
• Regular opportunities for training and developing your CPD to keep your skills and knowledge up to date and help prepare for greater responsibilities within the company if career progression is something that interests you.

Employment Requirements

An enhanced DBS check and two satisfactory professional references are required before any employment can be confirmed.

Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. Therefore, it is essential in making your application that you disclose any information requested in respect of applicable convictions and cautions (including, as applicable any reprimands or final warnings).

Legal & Conformity Statement

This post may be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, in which case applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act unless the conviction or caution is “protected” as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). All guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found in the DBS filtering collection, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dbs-filtering-guidance . The fact that a pending charge, conviction, caution, reprimand, or final warning has been recorded against you will not necessarily debar you from consideration for this role but any failure to disclose any such information will result in dismissal or disciplinary action.