Nursery Cook / Nursery Chef

About the Role

Are you a talented Chef or Cook tired of the grueling hours, late nights, and split shifts of traditional hospitality? It’s time to bring your culinary skills to a role that respects your work-life balance.

Action Staffing Ltd is currently recruiting a passionate and reliable Nursery Cook / Nursery Chef on behalf of a premier early years setting in East London.

This is a permanent, full-time position offering daytime hours from Monday to Friday, meaning no late nights, no weekends, and no bank holidays!

Your Responsibilities

As the heart of the nursery kitchen, you will have total ownership of the catering space:

• Plan and cook wholesome breakfasts, healthy snacks, balanced hot lunches, and afternoon teas from scratch following early years nutritional guidelines
• Meticulously track and manage individual dietary profiles and the 14 main food allergens, food intolerances, and cultural preferences
• Run full kitchen infrastructure, including weekly stock ordering, inventory control, and strict FIFO rotation
• Maintain premium cleanliness and sanitation standards to protect and retain the kitchen's Level 5 Star Food Hygiene Rating
• Complete essential daily records including temperature logs, cooking probe records, and Safer Food Better Business (SFBB) manuals

Requirements

What we are looking for:

• Proven professional cooking experience as a Nursery Cook, School Chef, Care Home Cook, or within a commercial kitchen environment
• A recognised Level 2 Award in Food Safety for Catering qualification (or equivalent food hygiene certificate)
• Comprehensive understanding of COSHH guidelines, kitchen health & safety protocols, and cross-contamination prevention
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills to ensure food service runs smoothly on schedule
• Warm, team-oriented attitude with dedication to child health and early years nutrition

A clean Enhanced DBS check is required before starting.

Salary & Working Hours

• Hours: Full-Time, 36 to 40 Hours per Week (Monday to Friday daytime hours)
• Schedule: Daytime only (No late nights, no weekends, no bank holidays)
• Employment Type: Permanent, All Year Round
• Supportive setting where the catering team is a highly respected part of the educational family

Location

The nursery is located in East London.

It is easily accessible from:

• Stratford
• Hackney
• Bow
• Mile End
• Leyton
• Walthamstow
• Surrounding East London areas

Apply

If you are a dedicated cook looking for a permanent career move that fits around your life, step into this rewarding role today.

Please contact the childcare recruitment experts at Action Staffing Ltd to submit your CV for immediate consideration.