Nursery Cook / Chef

Willow Cottage Nurseries Ltd; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Willow Cottage Nurseries Ltd is seeking an experienced Nursery Cook or Chef to prepare home-cooked meals for children aged 6 months to 4 years, following a four-week rolling menu and SFBB/COSHH standards.

You will cover across our 3 settings (Bletchingdon, Eynsham, Farmoor) with 7:30am–1:30pm hours, 51 weeks a year. Own transport is preferred. High standards of cleanliness and the ability to cater for dietary needs are essential.

Qualifications

• Experienced nursery cook or chef with at least one year of professional cooking experience.
• Ability to plan and prepare home-cooked meals for young children.
• Adherence to safety standards (SFBB) and COSHH requirements.
• Ability to cater for dietary requirements and allergies.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve breakfasts, lunches, and afternoon snacks daily.
• Provide cover across three nursery settings when needed.
• Collaborate with management and staff to ensure meal quality.
• Maintain high standards of kitchen cleanliness and hygiene.
• Follow four-week rolling menu and sustainable, low-sugar meals.

Skills

Nursery cook/chef

Food safety

Meal planning

Dietary accommodation

Interpersonal skills

Job description

We are looking for a caring, passionate person who can prepare home-cooked meals for our children aged 6 months to 4 years. You will support our nursery cooks creating delicious, balanced meals, following our four week rolling menu. Our meals are designed to be sustainably sourced, low sugar and age appropriate. We only serve high quality, low fat, locally sourced meat.

With a thriving team across our three unique sites, the Willow Cottage family is always growing. If you are an experienced Nursery Cook or Chef passionate about providing nutritious, home-cooked meals and inspiring healthy habits in early childhood, we would love to hear from you.

• Manage Daily Service: Prepare and serve fresh, home-cooked breakfasts, lunches, and afternoon snacks.
• Provide Essential Cover: Support the team by covering absences and holidays across our nursery settings.
• Collaborate Effectively: Work both independently and cooperatively with management, staff, and children.
• Maintain Excellence: Uphold exceptional standards of cleanliness and hygiene throughout the kitchen.
• Support Individual Needs: Confidently cater for the specific dietary requirements and allergies of each child.
• Ensure Compliance: Work strictly to Safer Food Better Business (SFBB) and COSHH requirements.
• Bring Experience: Demonstrate at least one year of professional cooking experience

Location

Providing cover at all 3 of our settings

Bletchingdon Setting – OX5 3DH
Eynsham – OX29 4EH
Farmoor – OX2 9NT

Hours

7.30am – 1.30pm
(Please note we are a 51 weeks a year nursery and this is not a term time position.)

Training and other information

Training will be provided where necessary alongside our established mentoring programme.

You will need your own transport as there are no public transport services to this address and Lower Road does not have a footpath. There is ample parking on site.

Please be aware that this can be a physically demanding role.

We expect high levels of professionalism from our staff.

Good levels of interpersonal communication are necessary when working with other staff to plan and prepare meals.

Willow Cottage Nurseries are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All applicants need to go through our thorough Safer Recruitment process.

We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer.

Experience the warmth of a family-run nursery. Read What the staff say about their journey at Willow Cottage.