Nursery Chef – Anglo Spanish Nursery School, Clapham (SW4)
Salary: Up to £30,000 per annum
Hours: Full time, Monday to Friday (typically 7.30am to 4.30pm, 40 hours per week)
Location: 14 Prescott Place, Clapham Common, London SW4 6BT
Job type: Permanent
About us
Anglo Spanish Nursery School is an 86-place bilingual day nursery and pre-school in the heart of Clapham, caring for children from two months to five years. We have been part of this community since 1998 and are proud of the independent, family feel we have built over nearly 30 years.
We offer a full English-Spanish immersion education, where children pick up a second language naturally through strong relationships, play and everyday experiences. Outdoor learning sits at the core of our curriculum, and our team combines advanced early years training with genuine warmth.
Good food is central to all of it. Every meal our children eat is homemade on site, and our kitchen is a real part of the daily life of the nursery.
We are just minutes from Clapham High Street, between Clapham North and Clapham Common tube stations.
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 seasonal 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 two months to five years - breakfast, hot lunch, tea and mid-morning and afternoon snacks
- Cooking without added salt or sugar, using ingredients that bring natural flavour and sweetness
- Supporting children at every stage, from the start of weaning through to confident eaters
- 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 Spanish and other cultural food experiences that reflect our bilingual community
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
- Spanish language skills are welcome but not essential
What we offer
- Up to £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
- Excellent transport links - minutes from Clapham North and Clapham Common tube
- A friendly, long-standing team in a nursery genuinely proud of its food
Safer recruitment
Anglo Spanish Nursery School 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.
Work Location: In person
Pay: Up to £30,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
