Nursery Cook

Meal planning and nutrition

You plan balanced meals and snacks that meet dietary guidelines for young children. This includes ensuring the right mix of proteins, carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, and dairy, and sometimes aligning with frameworks like the UK’s NHS or Ofsted guidance. You also consider allergies, cultural preferences, and special diets.

Food Collection, preparation and cooking

You will collect the food order from the chosen provider (Supermarket chain or locally sourced, prepare fresh, age-appropriate meals daily. That means cooking food to the right texture (e.g., soft for babies), avoiding choking hazards, and ensuring everything is appealing and safe for children.

Food hygiene and safety

Maintaining strict hygiene standards is a big part of the role. You follow food safety regulations (like those from the Food Standards Agency), keep the kitchen clean, store food correctly, and monitor temperatures. You’ll often need food hygiene certification.

Managing allergies and dietary needs

You must carefully track children’s allergies and intolerances (e.g., nuts, dairy, gluten). Preventing cross-contamination is critical, and you may need to prepare separate meals for certain children.

Stock control and ordering

You manage kitchen supplies—ordering ingredients, checking deliveries, rotating stock, and minimizing waste while staying within budget.

Record keeping

You may keep records of menus, food temperatures, cleaning schedules, and allergy information to comply with inspections and regulations.

Working with staff and children

You communicate with nursery staff about children’s needs and sometimes interact with the children, encouraging healthy eating habits or introducing new foods in a friendly way.

Serving Meals to our children at our Dinton Setting

Clearing away after dinner at our Dinton Setting, meeting the setting's high standards of Cleanliness

Health and safety compliance

Beyond food hygiene, you ensure the kitchen environment is safe—handling equipment properly and following workplace safety procedures.