Temporary Nursery Cook / Chef - Worcester

My Shooting Stars Nurseries Ltd; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Shooting Stars Nurseries Worcester is seeking an experienced Nursery Cook/Chef for a temporary contract. The role involves planning, preparing and serving healthy, balanced meals for children aged 0-5, with careful attention to allergies, dietary needs and nutrition. This 35-hour week runs Monday to Friday (7:30am–3:00pm) with an immediate start for around 2–3 months.

Salary is £15.20 per hour. Essential qualifications include Level 2 Food Hygiene; Level 3 is desirable.

Qualifications

• Experience as a cook with menu planning, stock control and cost awareness.
• Ability to cater for allergies and dietary requirements in a nursery setting.
• Knowledge of food safety, hygiene procedures and safe storage.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare and serve healthy meals for children 0-5.
• Create menus that meet nutritional needs and healthy eating goals.
• Cater for allergies, intolerances and dietary requirements.
• Order food, manage stock levels and monitor costs.
• Maintain high standards of hygiene and kitchen organisation.
• Ensure compliance with food safety legislation and nursery procedures.
• Complete food safety records and kitchen documentation.
• Collaborate with nursery team for positive mealtime experiences.

Skills

Menu planning

Food safety

Allergen management

Independent work

Education

Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate

Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification

Job description

Temporary Nursery Cook / Chef - Worcester

Temporary Contract | Immediate Start | 35Hours per Week | Monday to Friday | £15.20 per Hour

At Shooting Stars Nurseries, every day is an opportunity to make a difference to children's lives. We are looking for an experienced and passionate Nursery Cook/Chef to join our friendly team at Shooting Stars Worcester on a temporary basis.

If you take pride in preparing nutritious, home-cooked meals, enjoy working independently, and understand the importance of catering for children's nutritional, dietary and allergy requirements, we'd love to hear from you.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced cook or chef from a nursery, school, care home, hospital, healthcare, hospitality, or catering environment who is available for an immediate start and is looking for a rewarding role where their work directly supports children's health and wellbeing.

Role Details

Position: Temporary Nursery Cook/Chef
Location: Shooting Stars Nursery Worcester
Salary: £15.20 per hour
Hours: 35hours per week, Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 3:00pm
Contract: Temporary, immediate start, approximately 2-3 months

Our nursery is open all year round and closes only on Bank Holidays.

What You'll Be Doing

• Planning, preparing and serving healthy, balanced meals and snacks for children aged 0-5 years.
• Creating menus that meet children's nutritional needs and encourage healthy eating habits.
• Catering for allergies, intolerances, cultural requirements and special dietary needs.
• Ordering food and kitchen supplies, managing stock levels and monitoring food costs.
• Maintaining high standards of food hygiene, cleanliness and kitchen organisation.
• Ensuring compliance with food safety legislation and nursery procedures.
• Completing food safety records and kitchen documentation.
• Working closely with the nursery team to provide positive mealtime experiences for children.

Essential Experience

• Experience as a cook with responsibility for menu planning, food ordering, stock control and food costing.
• Experience preparing meals for individuals with allergies and special dietary requirements.
• Knowledge of safe food storage and food safety procedures.
• Ability to work independently and manage a busy kitchen effectively.
• Previous experience in a nursery, school, care home, hospital, healthcare or similar catering environment.

Desirable Experience

• Experience catering for children under five years old.
• Supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of Safer Food Better Business procedures.

Qualifications

Essential

• Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate (or above).

Desirable

• Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification.
• Food Allergy Awareness training.
• Catering, Hospitality or Professional Cookery qualification.

We're Looking For Someone Who...

• Is passionate about children's nutrition and healthy eating.
• Understands the importance of allergen management and dietary requirements.
• Is organised, reliable and able to work independently.
• Takes pride in preparing high-quality, nutritious meals.
• Enjoys making a positive difference to children's daily experiences.
• Has a positive, professional and flexible approach.
• Can hit the ground running and support the nursery team during a busy period.

Why Join Shooting Stars Nurseries?

As part of our group of seven nurseries across the Midlands, you'll be supported by an experienced management team and a company owner who is passionate about delivering exceptional experiences for children, families and colleagues. We are committed to creating a welcoming, supportive environment where every team member can thrive.

Safeguarding Commitment

Shooting Stars Nurseries is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all colleagues to share this commitment.

All positions involve working directly with children and are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Applicants must disclose any arrests, charges, convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands, warnings, or other information that may affect their suitability to work with children. Employment is subject to an Enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, overseas checks where required, and all other relevant pre-employment checks.