Nursery Cook

Nursery Cook

Location:Witham Essex

Salary:26100 per annum (pro rata)
Contract/Hours:Fixed Term/Part Time 35 hours per week(from March 2026)

Closing date:Midnight on the 11th of December 2025

Benefits:

• Time off to recharge- 33 Days leave per year (pro rata).
• 24/7 Confidential Helplinespeak to trained counsellors any time 365 days a year for emotional wellbeing or mental health support.
• Enhanced Well-being: 8 sessionsIn-Person Phone or Online Counselling or CBT
• Treat yourself:Staff discounts portal and blue light card with 15000 retailers
• Salary Finance access tofinancial advice and the ability to manage savings or loans directly from your salary.
• Childcare Discount A whopping 60% off childcare within our nurseries and out of school clubs
• Up to 3 Days Dependency Leave to care for dependents in an emergency.
• Paid maternity adoption and paternity leave
• Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities.
• Secure your future:Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover.

Were thrilled that youre considering a career with Spring. Spare us five minutes and we will tell you what you need to know.

Why Spring Nurseries

Imagine a place where laughter echoes imaginations run wild and every day is a new adventure. Thats Spring Nursery! Were not just a nursery; we are a family dedicated to creating a joyful and nurturing environment where children part of Action for Children were on a mission to provide outstanding early education thats accessible to all.

At Spring we are committed to supporting your career growth! Check out our Spring Career Progression Map attached to this advert which highlights the options for progression into a specialist role.

A bit about the role:

Were looking for Nursery Cook to join the team at Spring Harlequin. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with experience in a larger or commercial kitchen whos ready to take on a rewarding role preparing nutritious tasty meals for young children every day.

As our cook youll take full ownership of the kitchen working from our set menus to plan prepare and serve balanced child friendly meals. Youll manage stock levels place food orders and always maintain excellent hygiene and safety standards. Youll take pride in keeping the kitchen spotless well organised and running smoothly.

This is a Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM role where youll be responsible for providing breakfast healthy snacks lunch and tea for the children.

A bit about the nursery:

Nestled in Witham Essex our 37-place nursery care for children from birth to 7 years offering full-day sessions and wrap around care with breakfast and after-school fun. It offers a home-from-home environment where children are encouraged to play explore and grow at their own pace guided by caring practitioners who help them become confident curious learners.

Here learning happens everywhere in our mud kitchen fairy garden and construction zone where imaginations run wild and big dreams begin to take shape. Indoors youll help create spaces filled with stories laughter and those unforgettable I did it moments.

What youll be doing

In the role of Nursery Cook youll be:

• Planning healthy meals with staff that are nutritious varied and tasty considering the childrens dietary and cultural requirements.
• Taking full responsibility for compliance with all relevant food hygiene and Health & Safety requirements.
• Ensuring that all stock is order and replenished as needed that food is correctly stored in line with guidance and that stock is rotated and all equipment is kept clean and in good repair.
• Keeping waste to a minimum ensuring our impact on the environment is as minimal as it can be and costs are kept low.
• Managing the food budget and taking responsibility for the expenditure and invoicing.
• Always following latest legislation in relation to food and food hygiene and taking part in all necessary and required training as needed.

What we need from you

In the role of Nursery Cook were ideally looking for someone who has:

• A basic food hygiene certificate - Level 3 preferred but can be obtained in the role.
• A passion for cooking and following the spring menu and inputting new ideas and recipes into menu updates.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Experience in a similar role working in a catering environment.

Contact: If you need support with your application please contact our Recruitment Team at quoting reference 12305

Diversity Equality and Inclusion

At Spring were dedicated to building a diverse inclusive and authentic workplace. We actively encourage applications from Black Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within the organisation. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups.

Male staff are often under-represented within this sector and we would like to encourage more male applicants for our roles.

We arecommittedto safer recruitment practices to protectourservice users; therefore all applicants are expected tohaveanunderstandingof andcommitmenttosafeguarding best-practice.

Dont meet every single requirement

If youre excited about this role but your experience doesnt align perfectly with the job description wed love you to apply anyway. You might just be the perfect person for this role or another role within the Action for Children family.

Application Process

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for thisrole.

There are 5 sections for you to complete - Personal Details CV Supporting Statement & Information Equality & Diversity Submission & Declaration please refer to the JD and Person Specification when applying.

We also want to know what unique qualities you can bring to help us reach our vision for children and families.

Talent Pool:Were sure youve got what it takes to join our ambitious team. If youre unsuccessful this time around wed like to hold your details in case similar jobs come up that you might be better suited for. But feel free to let us know if youd rather we didnt do that.

If you need support with your application please contact our Recruitment Partner

Well be happy to give you any support you require.

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Job Description

See below for further information about working with us:

Employee Reward Booklet

Spring Early Years Career Pathway