Nursery Chef

Grandir UK Limited; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days annual leave including bank &

Flexible working options

£500 Refer a Friend bonus

Sick pay from day one

Life assurance

Great Place to Work environment

Employee discounts

Job summary

Grandir UK is seeking a passionate Nursery Chef for the Dicky Birds Nursery and Preschool in Wimbledon. You will prepare nutritious meals for children, plan balanced menus, and ensure food safety and budget adherence.

You will work closely with the Nursery Manager and team to deliver a welcoming mealtime experience and support healthy eating messages for early years learners.

Qualifications

• Experience preparing fresh, nutritious meals for children.
• Ability to plan varied, balanced menus for different age groups.
• Catering for allergies and dietary requirements while maintaining quality.

Responsibilities

• Prepare fresh, healthy meals and snacks for children.
• Plan menus that are varied and balanced by age group.
• Cater to allergies and dietary needs while following hygiene standards.
• Maintain high standards of kitchen cleanliness and safety.
• Manage food records and ordering within budget.
• Ensure stock is available and used efficiently.
• Support learning about healthy eating with the nursery team.

Skills

Menu planning

Allergies catering

Food hygiene

Budgeting

Team collaboration

Meal preparation

Job description

Nursery Chef

Dicky Birds Nursery and Preschool, Pelham Road

Part of Grandir UK

Salary £26,437 - £30,701 per annum (depending on experience and qualifications with regular pay reviews)

Join a supportive, child-focused nursery offering strong benefits, flexible working and genuine career progression.

Our Dicky Birds Nursery and Preschool on Pelham Road in Wimbledon is looking for a passionate and enthusiastic Nursery Chef to join our team. You will be responsible for preparing fresh, nutritious meals and snacks for our children, while helping to create a welcoming and enjoyable mealtime experience.

Your Role

As our Nursery Chef, you will:

• Prepare fresh, healthy and nutritious meals and snacks for the children
• Plan menus that are varied, balanced and suitable for different age groups
• Cater for allergies, dietary requirements and individual needs
• Maintain high standards of food hygiene, cleanliness and kitchen safety
• Complete relevant food safety and kitchen records
• Order and manage food supplies, ensuring stock is available and used efficiently
• Work within the nursery's food budget
• Keep the kitchen clean, organised and well maintained
• Follow all relevant food hygiene and health and safety requirements
• Work closely with the Nursery Manager and wider team
• Support children's learning around healthy eating and nutrition
• Help create a positive and enjoyable mealtime experience for the children

Core Benefits

• 33 days annual leave including bank holidays, with 3 days used during the Christmas shutdown period
• Christmas and New Year shutdown
• Flexible working options
• £500 Refer a Friend bonus
• Sick pay from day one
• Life assurance
• Great Place to Work environment

Enhanced Family and Wellbeing Benefits

• Maternity and adoption leave paid at 100% for the first 12 weeks
• Paternity leave paid at 100% for 4 weeks
• Parental bereavement leave up to 4 weeks paid
• Compassionate leave up to 2 weeks paid
• Miscarriage leave up to 2 weeks paid
• Wellbeing Day – an extra day off just for you
• The Grand Event – up to an additional week of annual leave to attend a significant life event after 2 years' service

Even More Benefits

• Employee benefits portal with hundreds of retail discounts
• 24-hour remote GP appointments
• Medical cashback for dental treatment, physiotherapy and alternative therapies
• Recognition, rewards and team celebrations throughout the year
• Tailored in-house training and genuine progression opportunities
• Sustainability focus with Carbon Literacy trained teams and Eco Schools accreditation

Grandir UK is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. An enhanced DBS check is required for this role and will be carried out by our approved third-party provider.

We are an equal opportunity employer and recruit based on merit. To support our recruitment process, we may use AI-assisted tools for tasks such as application screening and reference checks. All hiring decisions are made by our team.