Nursery Chef

Chef – Nursery – £30,000 Negotiable

Salary: £30,000 per annum – negotiable depending on experience
Find out more about this role by reading the information below, then apply to be considered.
Hours: 40 hours per week
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Interviews: Immediate interviews available

Experienced Chef Wanted – Nursery

Are you a passionate and experienced Chef, Nursery Chef, School Chef or Catering Professional looking for a rewarding opportunity where your culinary skills can make a genuine difference to children's lives?

We are currently recruiting for a talented, reliable and enthusiastic Chef to join a well-established childcare setting in the Guildford area.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with previous nursery, school or educational catering experience , or an experienced professional Chef with strong transferable skills who would love to move into children's catering.

Offering a competitive salary of £30,000 per annum, negotiable depending on experience, a permanent 40-hour working week and immediate interviews , this is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys preparing fresh, nutritious and beautifully presented meals.

The Role

As Chef, you will be responsible for preparing and delivering high-quality, freshly cooked and nutritionally balanced meals for children.

You will play an important role in creating enjoyable dining experiences, introducing children to varied and healthy foods while ensuring all meals meet individual dietary requirements.

The role involves developing fresh, seasonal and bespoke menus , catering for food allergies, intolerances and specific nutritional needs.

You will work closely with the nursery team to ensure the highest standards of food safety, hygiene and children's wellbeing.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook fresh, nutritious, balanced and appetising meals for children.
• Plan and develop varied, seasonal and bespoke menus suitable for different age groups.
• Cater for food allergies, intolerances and individual dietary requirements .
• Prepare meals suitable for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other dietary preferences.
• Adapt recipes and menus to meet children's individual nutritional needs.
• Maintain strict allergen management procedures and prevent cross-contamination.
• Ensure meals are appropriately prepared, portioned and presented for children's ages and developmental stages.
• Encourage healthy eating through varied, nutritious and appealing meals.
• Maintain excellent standards of food preparation, presentation and service.
• Follow HACCP procedures and maintain accurate food safety documentation.
• Ensure full compliance with food hygiene and food safety regulations.
• Follow COSHH guidelines and maintain a clean, safe and organised kitchen.
• Manage food ordering, stock rotation, storage and temperature monitoring.
• Control food waste while maintaining quality and nutritional standards.
• Work closely with nursery staff to understand children's individual dietary needs.
• Maintain a safe and professional kitchen environment.

Essential Requirements

Applicants must have previous professional Chef experience and either:

• Experience working as a Chef within a nursery, school, early years setting or educational catering environment .

OR

• Strong transferable Chef experience from a professional catering environment, with the ability and enthusiasm to adapt to preparing meals for children.

The successful candidate should also demonstrate:

• Excellent knowledge of food hygiene and food safety standards.
• Good understanding of HACCP and COSHH .
• Strong awareness of food allergens, intolerances and dietary requirements .
• Experience preparing fresh, nutritious and balanced meals.
• Ability to create varied, child-friendly menus.
• Good organisational and time management skills.
• Strong attention to detail and food presentation.
• Ability to work independently and manage kitchen responsibilities.
• A caring, flexible and professional approach.
• Understanding of the importance of safeguarding within a childcare environment.

Desirable Experience

• Previous nursery or school catering experience.
• Experience creating bespoke menus for children .
• Knowledge of children's nutrition and healthy eating.
• Experience catering for children with food allergies or specific dietary requirements.
• Experience managing a kitchen or working independently.

Candidates without previous nursery or school experience will also be considered where they demonstrate strong transferable culinary skills and a genuine interest in children's catering.

Why Apply?

This is an excellent opportunity to join an established childcare setting where your creativity, experience and commitment to preparing high-quality meals will be valued.

The position offers:

• £30,000 annual salary – negotiable depending on experience
• 40-hour working week
• Permanent, full-time employment
• Immediate interviews
• Opportunity to prepare fresh, nutritious and bespoke meals
• Opportunity to develop your career within nursery and educational catering
• A rewarding role where your cooking supports children's health, wellbeing and development

We welcome applications from experienced Nursery Chefs, School Chefs, Catering Chefs and professional Chefs with suitable transferable skills.

Apply Today – Immediate Interviews!

If you are an experienced Chef looking for a permanent opportunity in Guildford, Surrey (GU2 9LX) , we would love to hear from you.

Whether you already have experience preparing meals for children or are looking to transfer your culinary skills into a nursery or school environment, this could be an excellent next step in your career.

Apply today with your updated CV for immediate consideration and interview.

Innov8staffing is acting as a recruitment agency on behalf of our client. xwwtmva Appointment will be subject to appropriate safeguarding and pre-employment checks.

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