Restaurant jobs in Billericay East

Nursery Cook

Little Adventurers Nursery – Mountnessing

Mountnessing, Brentwood, Essex (CM15) | Full-time | Permanent

Do you take real pride in home-cooked, wholesome food and love the idea of feeding little tummies (and growing minds) every day? Little Adventurers Nursery is opening a brand-new, purpose-built setting in Mountnessing this Autumn, and we’re looking for a talented Nursery Cook to lead our kitchen from day one — preparing nutritious, home-cooked meals for children aged 3 months to 5 years.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Be part of our founding team at a brand-new, purpose-built nursery – help set up our kitchen and menus from the very start
• Career progression pathways with in-house training and funded further qualifications
• Healthy work/life balance and a genuinely friendly, open-door management style
• Discounted childcare fees (subject to availability) plus company pension
• Wellbeing support including a staff wellbeing programme, complimentary events and restaurant vouchers
• On-site parking
• Regular celebrations – team building activities and an Annual Staff Awards Ceremony

About Little Adventurers Nursery, Mountnessing

Little Adventurers Nursery is a special kind of nursery, with children at the heart of everything we do. Our brand-new, purpose-built setting on Roman Road has been thoughtfully designed with three dedicated learning rooms for babies, toddlers and preschool children, and direct access to an exceptional outdoor learning environment. Freshly prepared, home-cooked meals are a big part of what makes us special, and as our Nursery Cook you’ll be right at the heart of that. We believe our staff deserve just as much care as our children, which is why we invest in a genuinely supportive team environment.

The Role

This role has been created for our new nursery, caring for children aged 3 months to 5 years. You’ll be responsible for the ordering, preparation, cooking and service of nutritionally balanced, attractive, family-style meals — planning menus on a rotational basis with the nursery managers to suit meat-eating and vegetarian diets, and catering for allergies and dietary requirements. You’ll also help maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and health & safety throughout the kitchen and nursery, and support with laundry duties as needed. You will report to the nursery managers and deputy manager.

Role Responsibilities

• Order, prepare, cook and serve nutritionally balanced, appetising family-style meals for children aged 3 months to 5 years, to a high standard
• Plan menus for all ages, costing dishes effectively within budget while considering seasonal and locally available food, dietary requirements and allergies
• Coordinate an efficient food rotation and waste control system, including labelling and stock rotation
• Maintain the kitchen and equipment to a high standard of cleanliness at all times
• Control hygiene and health & safety in the kitchen and other domestic areas, keeping up to date with current legislation and local authority Environmental Health standards
• Order supplies, maintain stock control and keep accurate budgetary and ordering records
• Keep up to date with new trends and methods in food preparation and share these with the manager
• Maintain standards in domestic areas for the comfort and wellbeing of staff and children
• Assist with nursery laundry and the laundry area

Requirements

• Experience preparing, cooking and serving food and beverages from scratch to a high standard
• Catering experience and catering qualifications, including Food Hygiene and Food Allergy Awareness (Level 2 minimum)
• Knowledge of health & safety and food hygiene regulations, and a general understanding of nursery operations
• Ability to maintain a high standard of personal and general cleanliness and hygiene in line with statutory regulations
• Ability to follow menus and recipes, and to use kitchen and cleaning equipment safely and appropriately
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage your own time effectively
• A professional, positive approach with staff, parents and children
• Willingness to share skills and knowledge to support others
• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and families

Schedule

Day shifts, Monday to Friday. Full-time, permanent, subject to a 6-month probationary period.

Safeguarding Commitment

We are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children in our care. All applicants will be subject to vetting and safeguarding procedures prior to appointment, including an enhanced DBS (Criminal Records) check, verification of qualifications, reference checks and confirmation of identity, in line with our child protection procedures. Shortlisted candidates will receive a job description, person specification and a request for identification prior to interview.

How to Apply

Apply through Indeed, or email mountnessing@littleadventurersnurseries.co.uk to register your interest. For updates as we get ready to open, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @adventurers.mountnessing.

Job Types & Requirements Snapshot

• Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
• Benefits: Childcare discount, company events, company pension, employee discount, health & wellbeing programme, on-site parking, 2 days sick pay
• Work Location: In person

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits:

• Employee discount

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: Nursery cook – Mountnessing

Pay: £13.00-£16.00 per hour

Benefits:

• On-site parking

Work Location: In person