Warlingham Day Nursery are looking for a cook with a passion for good food. You'll be planning, preparing and cooking a healthy balanced diet for our children aged 6 months to 8 years old. We offer a wide range of fresh fruits, berries, vegetables and meats, and you will need to be skilled in preparing and cooking all of these ingredients so they're served up tasting great. We teach and encourage children to appreciate and enjoy healthy food, so offering them high quality meals is important to satisfy their growing appetites, as well as to look after their health and well-being.

You should have at least one year of experience from working in a commercial kitchen, and have full knowledge of the food hygiene and health and safety requirements. Cleanliness before, during and after preparing food, along with checking temperatures, dates, allergens and intolerances will be part of your usual routine.

Some of the responsibilities include:

• Choosing and planning our weekly menus, from a list of well used and enjoyed recipes as well as trying out new ideas

• Selecting and ordering food from our suppliers and supermarkets. An understanding of £ per kg would be an advantage

• Collecting and taking delivery of food, and prompt safe storage at the setting. You'll need to be physically fit and capable of handling ingredients in bulk.

• Monitoring stock levels and use-by dates to ensure food is only served fresh, and that stock is rotated and used up efficiently

• Correct seasoning and timing of cooked foods is essential, so they're served up at the right temperature and tasting great

• Serving individual portions as well as self-serve trays, then collecting used crockery and cutlery afterwards

• Cleaning and washing up, experience of correctly loading a dishwasher is essential

• Carrying out correct food labelling, handling and correct safe storage methods

• Maintaining high standards of hygiene and cleanliness of all cooking and preparing equipment and utensils, as well as the kitchen and storage areas including fridges, freezers and shelving

• Able to carry out risk assessments, and keep records as part of good food safety, allergen, and hygiene practices

• Being co-operative, open and approachable with adults and children, and behave as a positive role model

• Encourage and promote healthy eating, and support staff in helping children learn about what they eat and how it can make them feel

• A genuine desire to see children eat with a happy face and hopefully an empty plate!

Full time, from 40 hours per week over 4 or 5 days - negotiable with some flexibility depending on your circumstances.

Standard childcare recruitment practice applies, including following our safer recruitment policy and procedures, a DBS check, identity check, qualification check and we will kindly ask for two references.