KiddyKare Recruiting is seeking an experienced and passionate Deputy Nursery Manager to join a high-quality early years setting. This is an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic early years professional who enjoys leading from the front, supporting their team, and ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of a busy nursery. You’ll play a key leadership role, creating an environment where children thrive, staff feel valued, and families receive exceptional care and service.

About the Role:

Working closely with the Nursery Manager, you will help oversee the daily running of the nursery, ensuring smooth operations and consistently high standards of care and education. You will provide strong, visible leadership to the staff team, taking full responsibility for the setting in the Manager’s absence and ensuring compliance with all regulatory and safeguarding requirements. Your impact will be seen in the quality of the provision, the professional development of the team, and the positive relationships built with children and families.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the Nursery Manager with the day-to-day operational running of the nursery, ensuring routines and procedures are effectively implemented.
• Lead, motivate and support the staff team, promoting a positive, professional and collaborative working environment.
• Manage staff deployment throughout the day, maintaining correct ratios and ensuring appropriately qualified practitioners are in each room.
• Prepare and manage staff rotas, arranging cover for holidays, sickness and training to ensure consistent staffing levels.
• Oversee safe and efficient opening and closing procedures, ensuring the nursery environment is secure, well-presented and ready for children.
• Act as the senior leader on site in the Nursery Manager’s absence, making decisions that maintain continuity of care and high standards.
• Support safeguarding procedures as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (Deputy DSL), ensuring concerns are recorded, reported and managed in line with statutory guidance.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with children, parents and carers, providing clear communication and excellent customer service.
• Mentor, coach and support practitioners through regular feedback, helping them develop skills and confidence in their practice.
• Assist with staff inductions, supervisions and performance management, contributing to a culture of accountability and professional growth.
• Help maintain outstanding standards of care, learning and wellbeing across the nursery, monitoring practice and supporting improvements where needed.
• Work within ratio when required, modelling high-quality childcare practice and supporting children’s learning and development.
• Champion inclusive practice and collaborate with colleagues to meet the needs of all children, including those with SEND.
• Ensure all nursery policies, procedures and regulatory requirements are consistently followed and embedded in daily practice.

Key Requirements:

• Proven experience in an early years setting, ideally in a Room Leader, Third in Charge or Deputy Manager capacity.
• Strong team leadership skills, with experience supervising or managing staff in a childcare environment.
• In-depth knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and statutory guidance.
• Demonstrated ability to manage day-to-day operations in a busy nursery, including staff deployment and rota planning.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding principles and the responsibilities of a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise, multi-task and remain calm in a fast-paced environment.
• Confident communicator, able to build effective relationships with staff, children and parents.
• Commitment to high-quality childcare, continuous improvement and professional development.
• Ability to model best practice in the rooms and support staff to raise the quality of provision.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience supporting children with additional needs and working alongside external professionals.
• Previous experience in a Deputy DSL role or involvement in safeguarding case management.
• Experience contributing to nursery self-evaluation and quality improvement plans.
• Background in delivering or supporting staff training and development programmes.
• Familiarity with SEND processes and inclusive strategies within early years settings.

Qualifications:

• Level 3 Early Years qualification (or above) in childcare/early years education (required).
• Current Paediatric First Aid certificate, or willingness to obtain one (required).
• Willingness to undertake Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) training, or existing DSL/Deputy DSL training (required).
• Enhanced DBS check on the update service, or willingness to obtain one (required).
• Additional early years or leadership qualifications (e.g. Level 5 in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services) are advantageous.

If you’re an experienced early years professional ready to take the next step in your leadership career, this Deputy Nursery Manager role offers the scope and support to progress — apply now to be considered.