Nursery Chef

Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries Ltd; High Wycombe; On-site; GBP 26,775 - 36,225; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Workplace pension

Employee Assistance Programme

Birthday/Wellbeing Day

50% discounted childcare fees

Staff prize draws

Retail discounts

Welcome goodie bag & uniform

CPD training days

Job summary

Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries Ltd in High Wycombe is seeking a Nursery Chef to run the kitchen and prepare fresh, nutritious meals for our children. This full-time role is 40 hours per week, 8am–5pm, year round, with a competitive salary of £31,500 and benefits including pension, 50% childcare discount, staff prize draws and CPD training.

You will work with the team to follow menus, monitor hygiene, manage allergies and uphold safe food practices across our busy nursery sites.

Qualifications

• Current (Level 2+) Food Hygiene & First Aid.
• Knowledge of allergens and dietary requirements.
• Experience in HACCP food controls.
• Recognised catering qualification required.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.
• Good communication and flexible approach.

Responsibilities

• Run the kitchen on a day-to-day basis.
• Prepare and cook fresh food for snacks, lunch and tea.
• Maintain cleaning routines and cooking charts.
• Monitor appliance temperatures and records.
• Follow menus and ingredient lists precisely.
• Coordinate with staff about allergies and dietary needs.
• Cover for other nursery settings when required.

Skills

Food Hygiene Level 2+

Allergen management

HACCP experience

Communication skills

Team player

Education

Recognised Catering Qualification

Job description

Nursery Chef

We Are Recruiting:

Our award winning nursery group is looking for a passionate and dedicated Chef to prepare fresh and nutritious meals for the children at our wonderful 90 place nursery in High Wycombe.

Position: Nursery Chef

Hours: 40 hours per week (8am-5pm), all year round

Salary: £31,500 per annum

About Our Nursery:

We are a family-run business with over 25 years of experience and eight beautiful nurseries across Buckinghamshire and West London. Our High Wycombe setting is especially close to our hearts – a truly unique nursery nestled in the heart of the community. Celebrating its 6th birthday in 2025, the nursery was lovingly transformed into a vibrant early year setting by our founders, Olivia and Tim. Thoughtfully designed with stunning rooms, exceptional resources, and exciting outdoor gardens, the nursery is a place where curiosity, creativity, and joy come to life.

The ongoing development of the nursery is a priority, with generous budgets for resources, enrichment activities, and creative projects which our dedicated maintenance team work closely with the nursery staff to bring inspiring ideas to life for the children.

What can we offer you?

• A competitive salary with regular reviews
• Workplace pension
• Employee Assistance Programme – available from your first day of employment
• Extra Birthday/Wellbeing Day as an annual gift *
• Bupa health care package *
• Mental health first aiders at nursery to offer support when needed
• 50% discounted childcare fees *
• FREE Monthly Staff Prize Draw
• Retail discounts
• Free welcome goodie bag, uniform, snacks, drinks and personal care items whilst at work
• Opportunities for personal and professional growth including 5 paid training days per year, access to extensive online and face to face CPD
• Referral bonus when you recommend a staff member or a family to the nursery *
• Team wellbeing and celebration budget to enable regular events, celebrations, annual awards day, summer and Christmas party and treats at nursery.

*terms and conditions apply & details are shared in employee welcome pack

What we are looking for:

• Current (Level 2 +) Food Hygiene & First Aid
• Knowledge of allergens & demonstrable experience managing allergies & dietary requirements
• Experience in managing HACCP food controls
• Recognised Catering Qualification
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Good communication skills, patience & passion
• Friendly & flexible approach at work, which facilitates the development of effective relationships
• Previous experience working with young children would be desirable

You will be responsible for:

• Running the kitchen on a day to day basis
• Preparing and cooking fresh food for snacks, lunch and tea
• Implementing the daily routine of cleaning and cooking
• Monitoring, registering and maintaining appliance temperatures and charts
• Following menus – adhering to the recipe/ingredients list accordingly
• Liaising with staff/manager regarding children’s allergies, dietary requirements/preferences
• Working within the foody hygiene standards and relevant health & safety regulations
• Ensuring adequate records are kept and updated regularly
• To cover in the absence of the Chef at our other nursery settings when required

We embrace everyone. Our goal is to create a truly inclusive culture and diverse workforce.

Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This is in line with updated Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2024 Guidance. Safeguarding training is a fundamental part of every role. All colleagues are required to complete regular training to ensure they understand and fulfil their responsibilities.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and does require a Disclosure Barring Scheme check. Applicants must be prepared to disclose any convictions they may have and any orders which have been made against them.

Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, as all new staff will be subject to enhanced DBS clearance, identity checks, qualification checks and employment checks to include an exploration of any gaps within employment, two satisfactory references and registration with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Benefits

• A competitive salary with regular reviews
• Workplace pension
• Employee Assistance Programme – available from your first day of employment
• Extra Birthday/Wellbeing Day as an annual gift *
• Bupa health care package *
• Mental health first aiders at nursery to offer support when needed
• 50% discounted childcare fees *
• FREE Monthly Staff Prize Draw
• Retail discounts
• Free welcome goodie bag, uniform, snacks, drinks and personal care items whilst at work
• Opportunities for personal and professional growth including 5 paid training days per year, access to extensive online and face to face CPD
• Referral bonus when you recommend a staff member or a family to the nursery *
• Team wellbeing and celebration budget to enable regular events, celebrations, annual awards day, summer and Christmas party and treats at nursery.