Nursery Chef

About Early Years Ltd.; Harrogate; Hybrid; GBP 19,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional Development

Work-Life Balance

Supportive Environment

Creative Freedom

Job summary

About Early Years Ltd. in Harrogate (HG3) is seeking a Nursery Chef / Cook to plan, prepare, and serve healthy meals for children, with attention to age-appropriate textures and portion sizes.

You will manage weekly menus, dietary requirements, stock, and hygiene compliance, while supporting a positive kitchen environment and delivering CPD and 3 company training days per year.

Qualifications

• Maintain an up-to-date Basic Food Hygiene certificate.
• Complete required CPD (continuous professional development).

Responsibilities

• Meal preparation and menu planning for breakfast, lunch, and snacks with age-appropriate textures and portions.
• Cater to dietary requirements in collaboration with parents and staff.
• Follow weekly menus with at least two vegetable portions per main meal.
• Prepare food and refreshments for events and training days.
• Host weekly cooking sessions with children.
• Source cost-effective provisions and manage weekly orders; inspect deliveries and manage stock rotation.
• Maintain hygiene standards and follow food safety legislation; adhere to cleaning rotas and equipment maintenance.
• Submit daily temperature checks and keep statutory logbooks; maintain milk counts and handover records.
• Attend mandatory training days and staff meetings; maintain confidentiality and represent the organisation professionally.

Job description

Job Title: Nursery Chef / Cook

Reports To: Nursery Manager & Deputy Manager

Location: Harrogate, HG3

Job Purpose

To plan, prepare, and deliver healthy, fresh, and nutritionally balanced meals for children while maintaining the highest standards of kitchen hygiene, safety, and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Meal Preparation & Menu Planning

• Prepare fresh breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks daily, ensuring age-appropriate texturing (e.g., purees for babies) and correct portioning.
• Catering for individual dietary requirements, allergies, and religious preferences in collaboration with parents and staff.
• Follow set weekly menus incorporating at least two vegetable portions per main meal, and contribute ideas to menu reviews.
• Prepare food and refreshments for special events, celebrations, and training days.
• Host weekly cooking sessions with the children.

2. Kitchen Operations & Stock Control

• Source cost-effective, high-quality provisions from trusted suppliers and manage weekly orders.
• Inspect deliveries, manage stock rotation, and ensure correct food storage/dating to minimize waste.
• Probe and record food temperatures to guarantee safe serving standards.

3. Hygiene, Health & Safety

• Maintain exemplary hygiene standards across all kitchen, food preparation, and storage areas.
• Adhere strictly to daily cleaning rotas, schedules, and equipment maintenance.
• Follow food safety legislation, wear appropriate uniform/hair coverings, and uphold company standards during Environmental Health inspections.

4. Record Keeping & Compliance

• Complete daily checks for fridge, freezer, and water temperatures, maintaining all statutory logbooks.
• Submit monthly milk counts and ensure accurate handover records for cover staff.
• Maintain an up-to-date Basic Food Hygiene certificate and complete required continuous professional development (CPD).

5. Teamwork & Professionalism

• Foster positive working relationships, support colleagues, and contribute to an enjoyable environment.
• Attend mandatory training days (3 times per year) and active staff meetings.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and represent the organization professionally.

Benefits & Perks

• Professional Development: Paid ongoing training, continuous professional development (CPD) support, and 3 dedicated company training days per year.
• Work-Life Balance: Structured daytime nursery shifts with predictable hours (no late nights) and clear sickness notification policies.
• Supportive Environment: Collaborative workplace culture focused on teamwork, respect, and staff well-being.
• Creative Freedom: Opportunities to contribute to menu design, seasonal event planning, and interactive cooking sessions with children.

We look forward to hearing from you!