Nursery Cook

The Old Station Nursery Group; Royston; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free childcare (first month)

Discretionary discounts & wellbeing

Training and development

Volunteer day

Perkbox & Blue Light Card

Job summary

The Old Station Nursery Group in Royston is seeking a Nursery Cook to prepare nutritious meals from scratch for our growing children. You will plan menus, manage orders within budget, and ensure meals meet dietary needs in a busy nursery setting.

You will work 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, in a cafe-style kitchen. A valid food hygiene certificate and knowledge of allergens are essential, with opportunity for training and development within a supportive team.

Qualifications

• Must hold a valid food hygiene certificate.
• Strong knowledge of food allergens and dietary requirements.
• Experience cooking from scratch, baking, and menu preparation is essential.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve nutritious meals and snacks for children.
• Plan menus and manage food orders within budget.
• Cater for allergies and dietary requirements with clear information for staff.
• Prepare food safely and adapt textures/sizes for children.
• Help children explore ingredients and baking activities.
• Keep kitchen, equipment and storage areas clean and hygienic.
• Follow food safety procedures and maintain kitchen records.

Skills

Food hygiene

Allergen aware

Menu planning

Nutrition

Education

Food hygiene certificate

Job description

Join Our Team as a Nursery Cook

Bring care to the kitchen and good food to growing humans

At The Old Station Nursery, we believe everyone is still growing -little humans and big humans alike. As a Nursery Cook at Royston, you’ll prepare nutritious meals that give children the energy to play, learn, and discover.

You’ll be part of a caring nursery community where your skills are valued and the thought you put into every meal makes a difference.

Why Join Our Team?

We take care of the people who care for our children and families. Here’s what that means for you:

• Childcare support: Free childcare for your first month, followed by a 52% discount based on your working hours.

• Time to recharge: 31 days of holiday, including national bank holidays, plus your birthday off and an extra day after 3 years of service.

• Space to grow: Access to The National College, with a library of courses and training to develop your practice and leadership.

• Connection to your community: One paid day each year to volunteer and support a cause that matters to you.

• Everyday support: With access to Perkbox, enjoy discounts on shopping, meals out, and everyday essentials, alongside wellbeing tools and online medical services. You’ll also be eligible for a Blue Light Card, helping your money go further with even more discounts.

• Recognition along the way: We celebrate the care and commitment you bring, with Employee of the Month recognition, long-service awards to mark your milestones, and referral bonuses for introducing friends or family to our team.

Pay: £27,456 - £27,456 £13.20 per hour

Hours:40 hours per week Monday-Friday working 9:00-5:30

Location

Sunhill Montessori Nursery
Grantham Close
Royston
Hertfordshire
SG8 5WY

Where You’ll Be Working

Sunhill Day Nursery Royston is a bright, purpose-built, premium nursery offering three distinct learning enhancements for our children: Montessori, organic growing and food and child-friendly cooking classes. These important learning experiences help set our Royston nursery apart from others by equipping children with a deep understanding of the environment, sustainable living, and the exciting process of cooking with their own organic produce. Our nursery is made up for 4 rooms - our baby room, toddler room, 2- 3 year olds and pre school. Free onsite parking - accessible from the A10 and A505. If you don't drive, we are within walking distance of the train station (train lines running from Cambridge to London). Situated on the edge of the commercial area in the Northern outskirts of Royston, adjacent to Tesco, Johnson Matthey and other major employers, we are ideally located within walking distance of the train station and readily accessible from the A10 and A505. Parking is available onsite.

What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll take care of the nursery’s day-to-day cooking, preparing meals from scratch and helping children enjoy a varied, nutritious diet.

From planning menus to preparing lunch and introducing children to baking, you’ll bring organisation, creativity, and close attention to each child’s dietary needs.

Your role will include:

• Preparing and serving delicious, nutritious meals and snacks suited to children’s ages and stages

• Planning menus and managing food orders within budget

• Catering carefully for allergies and dietary requirements, working closely with nursery colleagues to keep information clear and accurate

• Preparing food safely, including adapting textures and sizes to children’s needs

• Helping children explore ingredients and discover the enjoyment of baking through supported activities

• Keeping the kitchen, equipment, and food storage areas clean, organised, and hygienic

• Following food safety procedures and maintaining the required kitchen records

Our values are simple: Own it. Be human. Make it happen. In the kitchen, that means taking responsibility for safe, thoughtful food preparation, listening to others, and working together to make mealtimes a positive part of every child’s day.

What We’re Looking For

You must hold a valid food hygiene certificate and have strong knowledge of food allergens and dietary requirements. Previous experience in cooking from scratch, baking, and menu preparation is essential.

You’ll also bring:

• Pride in preparing nutritious food that children enjoy
• Care and attention when catering for individual dietary needs
• Good organisation and time management to keep meals running to schedule
• Confidence managing food orders, ingredients, and budgets
• A friendly, collaborative approach and a willingness to share ideas
• High standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and kitchen safety

We’re looking for someone who understands that every meal is an opportunity to help children feel cared for, included, and ready for their next discovery.

Please note: we are currently unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

The Old Station Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all applicants to share this commitment. All roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks, satisfactory references, verification of your right to work in the UK, and any essential qualifications. If successful, our Onboarding Team will guide you through every step of the onboarding process. We are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be considered to support fairness and accessibility for all candidates. This role involves regulated activity with children.