Nursery Cook (Maternity Cover)

The Old Station Nursery Group; Droitwich Spa; Hybrid; GBP 29,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free childcare for first month

52% discount based on working hours

31 days holiday plus birthday off

National College training access

One paid volunteer day per year

Perkbox discounts and Blue Light Card

Job summary

The Old Station Nursery Droitwich is seeking a Nursery Cook to cover maternity leave from November 2026 to November 2027. You will prepare nutritious meals from scratch for children, plan menus, manage budgets, and cater for allergies.

This role is 40 hours per week from 8am to 4:30pm, based in Droitwich. We offer childcare support, generous holiday entitlement, training via The National College, and employee discounts. A supportive, inclusive team environment awaits.

Qualifications

• Must hold a valid Food Hygiene Certificate.
• Strong knowledge of food allergens and dietary requirements.
• Experience in scratch cooking and baking.
• Menu planning experience.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve nutritious meals and snacks for children.
• Plan menus and manage food orders within budget.
• Cater for allergies and dietary requirements, ensuring information is accurate.
• Prepare food safely and adapt textures/sizes for children.
• Support baking activities and ingredient exploration with children.
• Keep kitchen and storage areas clean, organized and hygienic.
• Follow food safety procedures and maintain kitchen records.

Skills

Food safety

Allergen awareness

Scratch cooking

Baking

Menu planning

Job description

Join Our Team as a Nursery Cook (covering maternity leave).

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 Droitwich, 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: £28,579 - £29,952 per annum (depending on experience)

Hours: 40 hours per week working8am-430pm

This role is to cover Maternity leave from November 2026 until November 2027

Location

The Old Station Nursery Droitwich
28 Old Coach Road
Droitwich
Worcestershire
WR9 8BB

Where You'll Be Working

The Old Station Nursery Droitwich is rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. Droitwich Nursery is focused on the great outdoors, surrounded by woodland and a variety of child-friendly equipment such as sandpits, a construction area, a fire pit, a mud kitchen and a bug hotel, or what we like to call it, ‘Buggingham Palace’. The nursery is situated on Old Coach Road, opposite Witton Middle School, which is just off B4090 Worcester Road. There is ample parking available.

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

To be considered for this position, candidates must hold a valid Food and Hygiene Certificate and demonstrate strong knowledge of food allergens and dietary requirements. Previous experience in scratch cooking, baking, andmenu preparation is also required.

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.