Nursery Chef – Acorn Cottage, Cranbrook Nurseries, Horley (RH6)
Salary: £29,000 per annum Hours: Full time, Monday to Friday (typically 7.30am to 4.30pm, 40 hours per week)Location: Acorn Cottage, Antlands Lane West, Shipley Bridge, Horley, Surrey RH6 9TE Job type: Permanent
About us
Acorn Cottage is a 50-place, Ofsted Outstanding day nursery in Shipley Bridge on the edge of Horley, caring for children aged three months to five years. We operate from a purpose-designed detached house with a fully enclosed garden, and we are proud of the home-from-home feel we have built for local families over many years.
Our setting has a real love of the outdoors. Free-flow play means children move between indoors and out throughout the day, connecting with nature and learning through hands-on discovery. We focus on holistic development and child-led learning, giving children the firm foundations, life skills and confidence they need for their next steps.
Good food sits at the heart of that. Everything our children eat is freshly prepared on site, and our kitchen is central to the warm, family feel of the nursery.
Acorn Cottage is part of the Cranbrook Nurseries family, with settings across Horley, Crawley and Haywards Heath.
The role
We are looking for an experienced, enthusiastic Nursery Chef to take full ownership of our on-site kitchen and provide freshly prepared, nutritious meals for our children every day. You will plan and cook balanced menus, cater confidently for allergies and dietary requirements, and play a real part in the health and wellbeing of the children in our care.
This is a sociable, rewarding kitchen role with no evenings, no weekends and no split shifts.
What you will be doing
- Planning and preparing fresh, healthy, seasonal menus for children aged three months to five years, including breakfast, hot lunch, tea and snacks
- Managing allergens, intolerances and cultural or dietary requirements safely, working closely with room leaders and parents
- Maintaining excellent food hygiene standards and keeping accurate HACCP and temperature records
- Ordering stock, managing suppliers and working within a set food budget
- Keeping the kitchen clean, organised and inspection-ready at all times
- Working with the nursery team on healthy eating initiatives, and helping children understand where their food comes from
- Occasionally involving children in food-related activities, tastings and celebrations, including making the most of our outdoor space and growing areas
What we are looking for
- Proven experience as a chef or cook, ideally in a nursery, school, care or similar catering setting
- Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene certificate as a minimum (Level 3 desirable, or willingness to work towards it)
- Strong, practical knowledge of allergen management and Natasha's Law
- Confident working independently and managing your own kitchen, stock and budget
- Warm, reliable and genuinely interested in children's health and nutrition
- Understanding of, or willingness to learn, EYFS food and nutrition guidance
What we offer
- £29,000 per annum
- 95% childcare discount
- Monday to Friday only, with no evenings, weekends or bank holidays
- Full ownership of a well-equipped on-site kitchen
- Ongoing training and development, including food safety and nutrition qualifications
- Company pension scheme
- On-site parking
- A friendly, long-standing team in an Outstanding setting genuinely proud of its food
Safer recruitment
Cranbrook Nurseries is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check with a children's barred list check, satisfactory references, and full pre-employment vetting in line with the EYFS Statutory Framework and Keeping Children Safe in Education.
Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
Pay: Up to £29,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
