Nursery Cook / Chef

Childbase Partnership; Peacehaven; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Leave buy/sell option

Childcare discounts

Wellbeing support

Training & development

Job summary

Childbase Partnership is seeking a Nursery Cook for Windermere Day Nursery and other locations, with a fixed-term 4-month contract and 37.5 hours per week. Salary £25,330.50–£30,439.50 per annum (pro-rata) or £12.99–£15.61 per hour. Shifts are Monday–Friday, 07:30–18:30.

Role includes budget awareness and safeguarding responsibilities. The nursery group emphasises care, inclusion, and development, offering generous leave, childcare discounts, wellbeing support, and career progression

Qualifications

• Passionate about preparing wholesome meals for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years.
• Professional catering experience and ability to follow a set-menu.
• Knowledge of allergens, COSHH and food hygiene.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook meals to set-menu, with fresh ingredients and suitable alternatives.
• Assist with kitchen budgeting and maintain high hygiene standards.
• Lead or mentor Kitchen Assistant and work with Nursery Manager.

Skills

Catering experience

Food preparation

Allergens awareness

COSHH

Manual handling

Food Hygiene training

Budget management

Leadership

Team mentorship

Job description

Join Childbase Partnership and be part of something extraordinary.

Role: Nursery Cook | Catering for up to 115 children aged 6 weeks-5 years old.

Location: Windermere Day Nursery | Kettering | NN16 8LX.

Contract: Fixed-term for 4 months | 37.5 hours/week | 52 weeks/year.

Working pattern: Varied shifts Monday-Friday between 07:30-18:30.

Salary: £25,330.50-£30,439.50 per annum (pro-rata) | £12.99-£15.61 per hour.

We've been delivering childcare excellence since 1989. Within our 44-day nurseries, Head Office, and Training Academy, EduBase, our ethos is simple: we all belong, we all matter, and we all contribute. We believe in 'careers, not jobs', supporting one another to grow and succeed.

Why join us?

• Generous annual leave: 23 days paid leave per annum (pro-rata), rising to 28 days with length of service, plus paid bank holidays.
• Work-life balance: Up to a further 20 paid days off each year through our Partnership Reward Days incentive; take your leave or sell the days you accrue, tax-free.
• Family childcare savings: If you have children or grandchildren, there's the potential for you to benefit from generously discounted childcare at Childbase Partnership nurseries, with savings of up to 75% for parents, and 40% for grandparents, depending on your contracted hours.
• Exclusive partner benefits: Long-service rewards, qualification bonuses and retail discounts.
• Wellbeing support: Free meals, mental health and occupational health support, flu jabs, eye care vouchers and a free will-writing service.
• Career development: Team inset days, access to online training and apprenticeships through our academy.

About us

We are employee-owned: Every colleague is a partner with a voice, who helps drive our success; when we do well, we each receive an annual tax-free dividend.

We are number 1: Ranked top of the Nursery World league tables for our Ofsted outcomes.

We are community driven: Supporting causes close to our hearts, we've raised more than £3.5 million for charity.

We are environmentally responsible: Building a greener tomorrow our nurseries all hold Green Flag awards and are powered by 100% renewable energy.

About you

You are passionate about preparing wholesome, healthy meals: You have professional catering experience and can prepare and cook a range of foods from a set-menu, using fresh ingredients, providing suitable alternatives for children with allergies and dietary requirements.

You are diligent: Your attention to detail, knowledge of COSHH, allergens, manual handling and environmental health legislation, alongside your Food Hygiene training, will ensure you and your Kitchen Assistant maintain 5-star hygiene standards within your kitchen.

You are an advocate for safeguarding: You will ensure the well-being and dietary needs of every child are met and their understanding of healthy eating is promoted.

You are collaborative: In partnership with the Nursery Manager, you will contribute towards the profitability of the nursery by managing the kitchen budget, build respectful relationships with colleagues, children and parents and effectively lead and mentor your Kitchen Assistant.

We are an inclusive employer and we welcome applicants of all ages and backgrounds. We're committed to FREDIE (fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, and engagement) and will consider any reasonable adjustments required. If you meet the essential criteria for this role, your application will be automatically shortlisted for review by our Recruitment Team who will determine if an interview is the next step.

Applicants must currently reside within a commutable distance of the nursery and hold suitable Right to Work in the UK; VISA sponsorship is not available. Safer recruitment checks apply, which include an Enhanced DBS check.