Nursery Chef

Holroyd Howe; Kettering; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 21,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday entitlement

Birthday off

Maternity leave (24 weeks enhanced)

Carer leave

Wedding/commitment day leave

Free meals on shift

Training & development opportunities

Apprenticeships opportunities

Pension and life insurance

Perkbox discounts

Job summary

Holroyd Howe is seeking a Nursery Chef for a Stamford location, delivering healthy meals for nursery children during term-time. You will plan menus, cook nutritious meals, and ensure safe, compliant kitchen operations.

The role emphasizes dietary awareness, hygiene, and teamwork within a supportive school kitchen environment. Ongoing training and development are provided, with a focus on work-life balance and professional growth.

Qualifications

• Experience in preparing meals in a commercial kitchen, school, nursery, or care setting.
• Knowledge of children’s nutritional requirements.
• Understanding of food allergies and special dietary needs.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare, and provide healthy meals and snacks for nursery children.
• Cater for special dietary requirements and allergies.
• Monitor portion sizes appropriate for different age groups.
• Maintain high standards of food hygiene and cleanliness.
• Complete food safety documentation and temperature records.
• Order supplies within budget and manage stock using FIFO.

Skills

Food preparation

Menu planning

Allergen awareness

Teamwork

Food hygiene

Time management

Education

Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene Certificate

Job description

Title: Nursery Chef: Sunday - Thursday (Term Time only!)

Location: Stamford Lincolnshire

Salary: £13.42 per hour

A passionate Nursery Chef is required to run this boutique contract at one of our Stamford School locations! Great opportunity to create delicious, nutritious meals within a excellent kitchen environment. Sunday to Thursday working hours!!

• 28 Days holiday including bank holidays
• Plus your birthday off
• 24 week’s enhanced maternity leave
• Secondary carerleave
• Wedding/commitment day leave
• Free meals on shift
• Bespoke training and development opportunities
• Apprenticeships opportunities for all experience levels
• Pension and life insurance
• Discounts available on our Perkbox app; high street shops, holidays & cinema
• Access to employee assistance programme
• Cycle to work scheme

Are you passionate about creating delicious, nutritious meals that help children learn, grow, and thrive? Do you take pride in preparing food that is both healthy and enjoyable?

At Holroyd Howe, we believe that great food plays a vital role in supporting children's wellbeing, development, and enjoyment of the school day. We provide an exceptional environment where your culinary skills can flourish, your ideas are valued, and your contribution makes a genuine difference to young lives.

As a member of our team, you will be supported in an inclusive environment that encourages growth and celebrates diversity. We will invest in your development with ongoing training, to ensure that you have the skills and knowledge to thrive in your role, and we guarantee a good work-life balance, because we believe that people excel when they are given the space to take care of themselves.

If you are an inspirational and enthusiastic Nursery Chefkeen to make a difference at our stunning Stamford location, thenwe would love to hear from you!

Join us and help create memorable mealtimes that inspire healthy futures.

Job Description

Nursery Chef

Reports To

Junior School-Chef Manager

Job Purpose

To plan, prepare, and provide healthy, balanced, and nutritious meals and snacks for children attending the nursery. The Nursery Chef is responsible for maintaining high standards of food hygiene, safety, and cleanliness while ensuring meals meet dietary, allergy, cultural, and nutritional requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Food Preparation and Menu Planning

• Prepare and cook fresh, nutritious meals and snacks for children in accordance with nursery policies and nutritional guidelines.
• Assist developing varied and balanced menus that promote healthy eating habits.
• Cater for special dietary requirements, allergies, intolerances, and cultural preferences.
• Ensure portion sizes are appropriate for different age groups.
• Monitor food quality, presentation, and freshness.

Food Safety and Hygiene

• Maintain the highest standards of food hygiene and cleanliness.
• Ensure compliance with Food Safety Regulations, HACCP principles, and local authority requirements.
• Complete all required food safety documentation and temperature records.
• Store food safely and correctly to prevent contamination.
• Conduct daily cleaning schedules for kitchen equipment and work areas.

Stock Control and Procurement

• Order food and kitchen supplies within agreed budgets.
• Monitor stock levels and rotate stock using FIFO (First In, First Out) principles.
• Minimise food waste and manage inventory effectively.Check deliveries and ensure products meet quality standards.

Health and Safety

• Comply with all Health and Safety legislation and nursery policies.
• Ensure safe operation of kitchen equipment.
• Report any maintenance, equipment faults, or safety concerns promptly.
• Maintain a safe environment for staff, children, and visitors.

Communication and Teamwork

• Work closely with nursery staff to support children's nutritional needs.
• Communicate effectively regarding allergies and dietary requirements.
• Attend staff meetings and training as required.
• Promote healthy eating awareness among children and staff.

Personal Qualities

• Passion for healthy eating and children's wellbeing.
• Reliable and trustworthy.
• Positive and professional attitude.
• Flexible and adaptable.
• Excellent attention to detail.

Working Conditions

• Based within the Junior school and nursery kitchen and food preparation areas.
• Manual handling of food deliveries and kitchen equipment may be required.
• Compliance with uniform and personal hygiene standards is essential.

Qualifications

• Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene Certificate (or willingness to obtain).
• Experience preparing meals in a commercial kitchen, school, nursery, or care setting.
• Knowledge of children's nutritional requirements.
• Understanding of food allergies and special dietary needs.
• Good organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent in Catering and Hospitality.
• Experience working within an early years or childcare environment.
• Knowledge of government nutritional guidance for early years settings.

Additional Information

We pride ourselves on:

People first
We’re a company of individuals, united in doing our best for our clients.

Great food, always
Using only the best ingredients, our food is fresh, authentic and tailored to each school, age group, and specific needs and preferences.

Food education
We educate pupils through food, encouraging them to understand and develop their own personal tastes and make informed food choices.

Respect in everything we do
Our respectful codes of conduct inform how we behave towards our clients and customers, suppliers and business partners, and each other.

Fresh thinking
New ideas for food, service and ways of working help us maintain our position as creative leaders in school catering.

In order to be considered for this role you must be able to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK.

Holroyd Howe is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all employees to share this commitment. All roles within Holroyd Howe involve regulated activity. It is a criminal offence for individuals barred from working with children to apply for such roles. An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a Barred List check will be required for all successful applicants. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to provide information about relevant criminal offences and will be subject to an online search of publicly available information. This search helps identify any issues that may affect suitability to work with children.

This appointment is offered on the return of satisfactory professional references.

Job Location