Nursery Cook / Chef

Childbase Partnership Limited; Reading; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals

Wellbeing support

Career development

Discounted childcare

Job summary

Childbase Partnership invites you to join the Nursery Cook team at Green Park Day Nursery in Reading. You will be responsible for preparing wholesome meals for children from 6 weeks to 5 years, following a set menu and using fresh ingredients.

You will maintain high hygiene standards, manage allergens, and support kitchen budgeting in partnership with your Co-Cook and Nursery Manager. The role is a fixed-term contract ending in May 2027 with alternating shifts and pro-rated annual leave.

Qualifications

• Professional catering experience with ability to prepare meals from a set-menu using fresh ingredients.
• Knowledge of allergens and dietary requirements; able to provide suitable alternatives.
• Follows COSHH and environmental health legislation; maintains 5-star hygiene standards.

Responsibilities

• Prepare wholesome meals for up to 105 children aged 6 weeks to 5 years.
• Collaborate with Nursery Manager and Kitchen Assistant to manage kitchen budget.
• Lead and mentor Kitchen Assistant; ensure safety and hygiene compliance.

Skills

Food hygiene

COSHH

Allergens knowledge

Manual handling

Budgeting

Team leadership

Job description

Join Childbase Partnership and be part of something extraordinary. Role: Nursery Cook | Catering for up to 105 children aged 6 weeks-5 years old.

Location: Green Park Day Nursery | Reading | RG2 6UQ (on Green Park Business Park).

Contract: Fixed-term contract ending at the end of May 2027 | 37.5 hours/week | 52 weeks/year.

Working pattern: Monday-Friday | Alternating shifts of 07:30-16:00 and 09:00-17:30.

Salary: £25,330.50-£31,200 per annum (pro-rata) | £12.99-£16.00 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 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, your Co-Cook and the 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 and your Co-Cook, 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 the 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.