Nursery Chef

Fennies Day Nurseries; Woking; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading childcare provider in the UK is seeking a Nursery Chef to prepare nutritious meals for children, ensuring high standards of food safety. This position involves collaborating with a dynamic team to deliver exceptional mealtime experiences. Required qualifications include a Level 2/3 Food Hygiene certificate and allergen training. The role offers competitive pay, career growth opportunities, and generous benefits like annual leave increases and childcare discounts.

Benefits

Performance-related bonuses

Free daily lunches

Access to Employee Assistance Programme

Increased annual leave

Childcare discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in preparing nutritious meals for children.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations and practices.
• Ability to adapt to dietary needs of children.

Responsibilities

• Prepare nutritious meals that support children's health.
• Collaborate with kitchen assistants and nursery managers.
• Maintain high standards of hygiene and safety in the kitchen.

Skills

Catering for children’s dietary requirements

Maintaining high food safety standards

Knowledge of nutrition legislation

Food Hygiene Level 2/3

Allergen Training

Job description

Job Title: Nursery Chef

Location: 1 Tennis Close, Stompond Land, Walton on Thames, KT12 1FN

Salary: Up to £32,000 per annum

Hours: 40 hours, Monday - Friday, 7 am - 4 pm

Reports to: Catering manager

What You’ll Be Doing

Be All In: You bring unwavering commitment to preparing nutritious, well-balanced meals that support children’s health and wellbeing, while maintaining the highest standards of food safety and kitchen hygiene.

Come Together: You lead with thoughtful collaboration, working closely with Kitchen Assistants, Nursery Managers, and the wider team to ensure smooth operations and a positive mealtime experience for children and staff.

Be Yourself: You demonstrate confidence, self‑awareness, taking pride in your role, adapting to individual dietary needs, and modelling professionalism and care in every aspect of kitchen life.

Go Further: You show culinary ambition by continuously improving kitchen practices, mentoring your team, and contributing to innovative, child‑friendly menus that reflect Fennies’ values and standards.

Financial Rewards

Salaries that match or exceed industry standards, reviewed annually. Includes performance‑related bonuses and a £500 referral bonus.

Incredible Incentives

Regular events like our annual Christmas Party and Summer BBQ, plus daily lunches with a variety of options; completely free!

Career Growth Opportunities

Targeted talent mapping, professional development programmes, and 1‑to‑1 coaching to help you Go Further in your role.

Loyalty Rewards

Yearly increases in annual leave and recognition for your commitment through the Fennies Club, gift cards, and commemorative plaques celebrating your length of service and our Be All In spirit.

Well‑being Focus

Access to our BUPA Employee Assistance Programme for 24/7 mental health and wellbeing support, up to 33 days of annual leave, and childcare discounts available depending on your role.

What You Bring

• How to cater for children’s dietary requirements by following up‑to‑date legislation regarding nutrition, and through your knowledge of catering for children
• The requirements for receiving the highest rating from the local council’s Environmental Health Department are to maintain the high standards already in the setting
• How to implement all relevant policies and procedures
• You’ll have a L2/L3 Food Hygiene certificate
• You’ll have completed your Allergen Training

Diversity & Inclusion

At Fennies, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued. A diverse workforce brings a wealth of perspectives, driving innovation and excellence. We are proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Fennies Nurseries is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced criminal record check and proof of identity will be required. In line with Safer Recruitment and Keeping Everyone Safe, we also carry out online searches for all shortlisted candidates, including Google and Social Media checks. Any relevant information found may be discussed during the interview process.