Nursery Chef – Working Mums Daycare & Pre-School, East Sheen (SW14)
Salary: £30,000 per annum
Hours: Full time, Monday to Friday (typically 7.30am to 4.30pm, 40 hours per week)
Location: Roebuck House, 284-286 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen, London SW14 7JE
Job type: Permanent
About us
Working Mums Daycare & Pre-School in East Sheen is a modern, purpose-built nursery caring for up to 105 children aged three months to five years. Open since 2011, we have built a warm, well-established community for local families, with a long-serving team, a sensory room, a preschool classroom and a beautiful roof garden.
We are proud to be the only nursery, school or childminding setting in Richmond or Kingston to have achieved the Healthy Early Years London (HEYL) Award, recognised by the local authority and the Mayor of London. Nutrition sits at the heart of what we do, and our on-site kitchen is central to that.
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
- Supporting our Healthy Early Years London work and our Physical Activity and Nutrition Co-ordinators (PANCos) with healthy eating initiatives
- Occasionally involving children in food-related activities, tastings and celebrations
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
- £30,000 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
- Childcare discount
- Nursery closed over the Christmas period
- A friendly, long-standing team in a setting genuinely proud of its food
Safer recruitment
Working Mums Daycare 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.
Ready to apply? Click apply and tell us briefly about your catering experience and why you would like to cook for our children.
Pay: Up to £30,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
