Nursery Chef - Weir Link Nursery and Pre-School - Full Time

London Early Years Foundation (LEYF); Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary uplift for 40-hour week chefs

No evenings or weekends

Pension 7%

70% childcare discount

Up to 35 days off incl. holidays

Training & development

Parental leave

Wellbeing app & discounts

Job summary

London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) is seeking a dedicated Nursery Chef for our Balham setting. You will prepare nutritious meals for children, contribute to healthy eating habits, and manage the kitchen with a focus on safety and allergy awareness. The role offers in-house training and sociable hours with no evenings or weekends.

Join a family of 40+ nurseries and benefit from the LEYF Chef Academy, generous pension, staff discounts, and extensive training opportunities.

Qualifications

• Right to work in the UK required.
• Positive attitude and enthusiasm to work with children.
• Willing to complete Food Hygiene Level 2 if not held already.

Responsibilities

• Prepare nutritious meals for children in a nursery setting.
• Promote healthy eating habits through cooking activities.
• Manage kitchen operations and supplier relationships to ensure a safe, clean environment.
• Ensure safety and compliance for children with allergies.

Skills

Right to work in UK

Positive attitude

Working with children

Willing to learn

Education

Food Hygiene Level 2

Job description

Nursery Chef - Full Time - Balham, SW12 - £33,109 per annum + amazing benefits

Work in a friendly kitchen and enjoy working with children every day

"When I arrive at the nursery in the morning, the children's faces light up." – Conchobar, Senior Chef

We're the London Early Years Foundation, or LEYF Nurseries for short; a family of 40+ nurseries. Our people love working for us because we focus on the child and their family, and give them the best start in life.

We give you strong in-house training at our Chef Academy. You'll work sociable hours in a friendly environment, and you'll love interacting with the children in your nursery.

What's in it for you?

"It's not just a kitchen job; you get to engage with the children a lot." – Bruno, Chef

• An extra £1,000 uplift in your salary (for 40-hour week qualified chefs) when you complete our inhouse Early Years Chef Academy
• You work sociable hours - no evenings or weekends
• Generous pension at 7% from us (1% from you)
• 70% discount on childcare fees
• Up to 35 days off a year, including 8 bank holidays, 3 days off between Christmas and New Year, and your birthday (pro-rated for part-time hours)
• Lots of training, promotions and nurturing work environment
• Sector-leading parental leave
• Many other benefits that take care of you, including access to the wellbeing app, shopping discounts, annual conference and money for team celebrations

A Bit About The Role

"It's a different working environment - a lot friendlier and calmer." – Conor, Senior Chef

You’ll help prepare nutritious meals for children and feel real job satisfaction from promoting healthy eating habits for life. Children love the cooking and food-related activities run by our Chefs.

You’ll enjoy working with the wider nursery team but also get ownership of the kitchen and suppliers, ensuring a healthy environment and keeping children with allergies safe. You’ll be part of the LEYF chef community contributing across our settings, sharing ideas and recipes.

You Will Need

• The right to work in the UK
• A positive attitude and excited to work with children
• Food Hygiene Level 2 or equivalent, or be willing to do the course in the first week of work (paid for by LEYF)

About The Nursery

Weir Link Nursery & Pre‑School provides high‑quality Early Years care for children from birth to age 5. Located in Balham, we’re easily reached via Clapham South and Balham stations, plus multiple bus routes. Families love our spacious outdoor garden, nearby parks, and bright open‑plan learning spaces. With our well‑loved Lending Library, regular trips, and strong community connections, it’s a wonderful place for children to learn and grow.