Cook

About the role of a Cook

At Early Learning Rituals, our Cook plays an important role in the health, wellbeing and everyday experience of our children.

We are seeking a passionate and organised Cook who takes pride in preparing fresh, nutritious and delicious meals for our small community of children aged 2–5 years.

Working within our boutique 29-place service, you will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of our kitchen and café, preparing meals that support children's nutritional needs while safely managing allergies, medical dietary requirements, cultural considerations and individual needs.

This role is about more than preparing food. Our Cook is a valued member of our Rituals community, building warm relationships with children, educators and families and contributing to positive, relaxed and enjoyable mealtime experiences.

Key responsibilities

• Prepare fresh, nutritious, balanced and varied meals and snacks for children aged 2–5 years.
• Plan and maintain menus that support children's nutritional needs and promote a positive relationship with food.
• Safely accommodate allergies, medical dietary requirements, intolerances, cultural requirements and individual dietary needs.
• Follow Early Learning Rituals' food safety, allergen management procedures.
• Maintain high standards of food safety, hygiene, cleaning and kitchen organisation.
• Ensure food is received, stored, prepared, cooked, cooled, reheated and served safely in accordance with applicable food safety requirements and our Food Safety Program.
• Maintain required kitchen, food safety and temperature records.
• Manage kitchen stock levels, ordering, rotation and minimisation of food waste.
• Coordinate purchasing and kitchen requirements with service management.
• Work collaboratively with educators to support safe and positive mealtime experiences.
• Build respectful and meaningful relationships with children, families and the wider Rituals team.

About you

We are looking for someone who genuinely enjoys cooking for children and understands the responsibility that comes with preparing food in an early childhood environment.

You will ideally have:

• Previous experience cooking within an early childhood education and care service or similar environment.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene and safe food handling practices.
• Confidence managing food allergies, intolerances and medical dietary requirements.
• The ability to follow established procedures and maintain accurate food safety documentation.
• Excellent organisation and time-management skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• A warm, calm and respectful approach when interacting with children.
• The ability to communicate and work collaboratively with educators, families and service leadership.
• A current Working with Children Check and any other screening or training required for the position.
• Food Safety Supervisor training, or willingness to obtain this, is highly regarded.
• Experience in early childhood education and care is highly regarded but not essential.

About Early Learning Rituals

Early Learning Rituals is a locally owned and operated, boutique early childhood service in Hazelmere.

With just 29 children each day, we have intentionally created a small community where every child can be seen, known, heard and loved.

Our philosophy is grounded in respectful relationships. We value calm, meaningful childhood experiences and recognise mealtimes as an important part of children's wellbeing, relationships and sense of belonging.

Our approach to food is grounded in the principle of “we provide, they decide” and serve our menu deconstructed. We provide children with nutritious and considered food choices while respecting their autonomy to listen to their own bodies.

At Rituals, our Kitchen is directly linked with our children's café, making it the heart of the service. Our Cook isn't separate from our community, they are an important part of it. You will know the children you cook for, work closely with the educators who care for them and have the opportunity to genuinely influence the food and mealtime experiences we provide.

If you are passionate about creating beautiful, nutritious food for children and would love to work within a small, relationship-focused early learning community, we would love to hear from you.

Benefits

• A small & collaborative team approach.

• Birthday day off.

• End of year closing period during Christmas & New Years to ensure staff spend quality time with families.

• Paid professional development opportunities.

• Work in an inspiring environment where the kitchen is a key part of our service, directly linked to our children's cafe.

• Locally owned with experience in the profession and a focus on community relationships & staff wellbeing. The owners are actively involved in the management of the service.

• Individual contracts based on experience, ability and performance.