Burleigh Nursery, a well-established and highly regarded childcare setting in Newport, is looking for a reliable and experienced part-time cook to join our friendly team.
This rewarding role is ideal for someone who takes pride in preparing fresh, nutritious meals and wants to support the health and wellbeing of young children in a safe, caring and positive environment.
About the role
You will be responsible for managing the nursery kitchen and independently preparing healthy, balanced meals and snacks for young children. You must be confident managing food safety, allergies and dietary requirements while maintaining excellent standards of hygiene and organisation.
Please note that this is a hands-on cooking position. Applicants must have practical, professional experience preparing and cooking complete meals. Kitchen-assistant, food-service or cleaning experience alone will not meet the essential requirements unless the role included responsibility for cooking complete meals.
Before applying, please ensure that you have the relevant professional cooking experience and can confidently carry out all the responsibilities of the role, including preparing complete meals and managing a nursery kitchen safely and independently.
Key responsibilities
- Prepare and cook nutritious, balanced meals and snacks for young children
- Plan varied menus in line with relevant nutritional guidance
- Prepare suitable meals for children with allergies, intolerances and other dietary requirements
- Follow allergen-management procedures and prevent cross-contamination
- Maintain high standards of food hygiene, food safety and kitchen cleanliness
- Monitor food storage, stock levels, temperatures and expiry dates
- Maintain accurate kitchen and food-safety records
- Manage the kitchen and daily meal service safely and independently
- Work closely with nursery staff to meet children’s individual needs
Essential requirements
- Previous professional cooking experience
- Experience planning, preparing and serving complete meals independently
- Sound knowledge of food hygiene and safe food-preparation practices
- A good understanding of allergies, dietary requirements and cross-contamination risks
- Strong time-management and organisational skills
- A reliable, punctual and responsible approach to work
- The ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team
- A positive and caring attitude
Desirable requirements
- Cooking experience in a nursery, school, care home or similar setting
- A current Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene Certificate or higher
- Training in allergen awareness, paediatric nutrition or special diets
What we offer
- Competitive pay of £12.71–£13.50 per hour, depending on experience
- A friendly and supportive working environment
- The opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to children’s health and wellbeing
How to apply
Please submit an application outlining your professional cooking experience. Include the settings in which you have worked and describe your responsibilities for:
- Preparing and cooking complete meals
- Managing food hygiene and safety
- Catering for allergies and dietary requirements
- Running a kitchen or meal service independently
Applications will be assessed against the role’s cooking experience, competence, safeguarding and food-safety requirements.
Job type: Part-time
Work location: In person, Burleigh Nursery, Newport
Pay: £12.71-£19.11 per hour
Experience:
- cooking: 1 year (required)
Work Location: In person
