Step into a pivotal leadership role where you’ll shape the daily experience and long-term outcomes for children in their early years. This is an opportunity to lead a dedicated team, drive high standards of care and education, and ensure the nursery remains a trusted, compliant, and thriving setting for families.

About the Role:

As Nursery Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the effective day-to-day running of the nursery, ensuring a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for all children. You will lead and develop the staff team, oversee curriculum planning and quality standards, and maintain full compliance with Ofsted, EYFS, and all relevant regulations. Your work will directly influence the nursery’s reputation, operational performance, and the quality of relationships with parents and carers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, manage, and motivate the nursery team to deliver high-quality care and education in line with EYFS and nursery policies.
• Oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of an engaging early years curriculum that supports each child’s learning and development.
• Ensure robust safeguarding and child protection practices are implemented, monitored, and understood by all staff.
• Maintain full regulatory compliance with Ofsted, EYFS, health and safety, and local authority requirements, including preparation for inspections.
• Manage nursery budgets, fees, and financial processes to ensure sustainable and efficient operation.
• Lead staff recruitment, induction, supervision, and ongoing training to build a skilled and committed team.
• Foster strong, professional communication and partnerships with parents and carers, including regular updates and formal meetings.
• Oversee accurate record keeping, administrative processes, and quality assurance activities to support continuous improvement.

Key Requirements:

• Proven experience in a senior role within an early years setting, ideally as Nursery Manager or Deputy Manager.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to coach, support, and challenge staff effectively.
• In-depth knowledge of the EYFS framework and best practice in early years curriculum planning.
• Demonstrable understanding of safeguarding and child protection procedures, with confidence in implementing and monitoring them.
• Experience of managing regulatory compliance, including Ofsted inspections and health and safety requirements.
• Competence in budgeting, financial monitoring, and managing nursery resources.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with staff, parents, and external agencies.
• Strong organisational and administrative abilities, with attention to detail and accurate record keeping.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience leading quality improvement initiatives within an early years setting.
• Background in developing and delivering staff training programmes.
• Familiarity with digital nursery management systems and tools for planning and record keeping.
• Experience managing change, such as growth, refurbishment, or new initiatives within a nursery.
• Knowledge of local early years funding arrangements and occupancy management.

Qualifications:

• Level 3 or above qualification in Early Years Education/Childcare (e.g. NVQ, CACHE, NNEB) – essential.
• Level 5 or equivalent early years/childcare or leadership qualification – desirable.
• Up-to-date Paediatric First Aid certification – essential.
• Safeguarding and child protection training to a designated lead level – desirable.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development in early years leadership, curriculum, or quality assurance – desirable.

If you are a confident, organised nursery professional ready to take full ownership of a high-quality setting, we would like to hear from you. Apply now to take the next step in your early years leadership career.