Nursery Cook/Chef

Join Childbase Partnership and be part of something extraordinary.

Role: Nursery Cook | Catering for up to 105 children aged 6 weeks-5 years old.

Location: Green Park Day Nursery | Reading | RG2 6UQ (on Green Park Business Park).

Contract: Fixed-term contract ending at the end of May 2027 | 37.5 hours/week | 52 weeks/year.

Working pattern: Monday-Friday | Alternating shifts of 07:30-16:00 and 09:00-17:30.

Salary: £25,330.50-£31,200 per annum (pro-rata) | £12.99-£16.00 per hour.

We’ve been delivering childcare excellence since 1989. Within our 44-day nurseries, Head Office, and Training Academy, EduBase, our ethos is simple: we all belong, we all matter, and we all contribute. We believe in ‘careers, not jobs’, supporting one another to grow and succeed.

Why join us?

Generous annual leave: 23 days paid leave per annum (pro-rata), rising to 28 days with length of service, plus paid bank holidays. Work-life balance: Up to a further 20 paid days off each year through our Partnership Reward Days incentive; take your leave or sell the days you accrue, tax-free. Family childcare savings: If you have children or grandchildren, there's the potential for you to benefit from generously discounted childcare at Childbase Partnership nurseries, with savings of 75% for parents, and 40% for grandparents, depending on your contracted hours. Exclusive partner benefits: Long-service rewards, qualification bonuses and retail discounts. Wellbeing support: Free meals, mental health and occupational health support, flu jabs, eye care vouchers and a free will-writing service. Career development: Team inset days, access to online training and apprenticeships through our academy.

About us

We are employee-owned: Every colleague is a partner with a voice, who helps drive our success; when we do well, we each receive an annual tax-free dividend. We are number 1: Ranked top of the Nursery World league tables for our Ofsted outcomes. We are community driven: Supporting causes close to our hearts, we’ve raised more than £3.5 million for charity. We are environmentally responsible: Building a greener tomorrow our nurseries all hold Green Flag awards and are powered by 100% renewable energy.

About you

You are passionate about preparing wholesome, healthy meals: You have professional catering experience and can prepare and cook a range of foods from a set-menu, using fresh ingredients, providing suitable alternatives for children with allergies and dietary requirements. You are diligent: Your attention to detail, knowledge of COSHH, allergens, manual handling and environmental health legislation, alongside your Food Hygiene training, will ensure you, your Co-Cook and the Kitchen Assistant maintain 5-star hygiene standards within your kitchen. You are an advocate for safeguarding: You will ensure the well-being and dietary needs of every child are met and their understanding of healthy eating is promoted. You are collaborative: In partnership with the Nursery Manager and your Co-Cook, you will contribute towards the profitability of the nursery by managing the kitchen budget, build respectful relationships with colleagues, children and parents and effectively lead and mentor the Kitchen Assistant.