Nursery Chef

Location: Onslow Village

Chef – Nursery – £30,000 Negotiable   Salary:  £30,000 per annum – negotiable depending on experience

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…