We have an excellent Monday to Friday role for an experienced Nursery Cook / Chef within a lovely nursery in Kennington, Oxford. There is one cook within the kitchen and is very much part of the nursery team. They have an unusual set-up in that the children and staff do a lot of cooking every day and contribute to the meals. It’s a lovely environment where you can expect a lot of input and collaboration from the kitchen team into the rooms’ cooking.
About the Nursery
Our client is an independent children's nursery offering high quality full day child care and excellent pre-school education following Montessori philosophy. Founded by existing owners, they have been located in Kennington, just South of Oxford in England, since 1994 with facilities for up to 110 children. They offer day care all year round, not just school term time, opening at 8 a.m. through to 6 p.m.
About the role
As Nursery Cook / chef your responsibilities are:
1. Creating a weekly vegetarian/ vegan menu
2. Preparing and cooking lunch and tea for up to 100 children and 20 staff (approx)
3. Serving lunch and tea
4. Clearing and tidying meals away
5. Washing tidying all dishes, utensils etc
6. Clearing and tidying kitchen
7. Wiping down cooker and all surfaces and splashbacks
8. Sweeping and mopping floors as needed
Key tasks
9. Planning weekly menus to include food for special needs (religious, medical and other)
10. Cooking all meals for children and staff and providing catering for special occasions as necessary (children’s concerts, open days, away days/ inset days)
11. Organising shopping list
12. Receiving shopping and putting away
13. Organising and rotating stock
14. Keeping fridges and freezers clean
15. Keeping all machines clean and in working order (using descaler and machine cleaner as recommended by manufacturer)
16. Keeping kitchen cupboards clean, inside and outside
17. Being responsible for paperwork requirements to meet Food and Hygiene Standards
18. Providing training for other kitchen staff (Assistant)
19. Any other kitchen duties as required
About you
To be successful for the role of Nursery Cook / Chef, you need to:
20. Have a sound knowledge of vegetarian and vegan cooking
21. Have a sound judgement of quantities so as to keep leftovers to a minimum
22. Be able to incorporate leftovers into the menu as necessary
23. Keep mandatory training up to date – Food Hygiene/Allergies and Safeguarding and Prevent
24. Complete any training courses as set out by Small World
25. Keep up and implement any changes in Health and Safety regulations
Chef Skills and Qualifications:
26. NVQ Level 2 in Catering (minimum)
27. Level 2 course in Food Hygiene and Allergens (minimum); ideally Level 3 Food Safety and Hygiene
28. Strong organisational skills
29. Good communication
30. Team player
31. Creative flair
About the hours and rewards
In the role of Nursery Cook / Chef, you will work Monday to Friday, generally 9am to 6pm. The Nursery is closed on Bank Holidays and over Christmas.
For the role of Chef, there is on offer:
32. A salary of £25,000 to £27,500 per annum depending on skills and experience
33. Holiday entitlement of 28 days per year, which include Bank Holidays and Christmas shutdown.
34. Parking on site