Step into a pivotal leadership role where you’ll shape the early years experience for children in a small, friendly nursery setting. This is a hands-on management position where you’ll lead a close-knit team, drive high standards of care and education, and ensure the nursery is consistently ready for Ofsted. You’ll enjoy a supportive environment with free on-site parking, discounted childcare, access to an on-site gym, a pension scheme, sick pay, generous annual leave, and a 37-hour working week.

About the Role:

As Nursery Manager, you will take full responsibility for the day-to-day running of a small nursery, ensuring a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for children. You will lead and develop the staff team, oversee the Early Years curriculum, and maintain full compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. Your leadership will directly influence the quality of provision, parent satisfaction, and the nursery’s inspection outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the daily operation of the nursery, ensuring smooth running of all rooms and activities.
• Lead the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the Early Years curriculum in line with the EYFS framework.
• Maintain robust safeguarding and child protection procedures, acting as a designated lead and ensuring staff follow best practice.
• Manage, coach, and support the staff team, including supervision, performance reviews, and ongoing professional development.
• Ensure the nursery is consistently Ofsted-ready through effective self-evaluation, action planning, and quality assurance processes.
• Implement and monitor health, safety, and risk management procedures, including regular risk assessments and incident reporting.
• Oversee accurate record keeping and nursery administration, including registers, children’s records, policies, and compliance documentation.
• Promote positive behaviour management strategies, modelling and embedding consistent guidance approaches across the nursery.

Key Requirements:

• Proven experience in a senior role within an early years setting, ideally as Nursery Manager or Deputy Manager.
• Strong knowledge and practical experience of Early Years curriculum planning and the EYFS framework.
• Demonstrable safeguarding and child protection expertise, including working within statutory guidance and local authority procedures.
• Track record of effective staff leadership, team management, and building a positive, collaborative culture.
• Solid understanding of regulatory compliance for early years settings, including Ofsted requirements and inspection frameworks.
• Experience implementing health, safety, and risk management processes in a childcare environment.
• Competence in nursery administration and record keeping, including maintaining accurate and confidential documentation.
• Skilled in behaviour management and positive guidance approaches appropriate for early years children.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience managing a small nursery or similar setting with close parent and community engagement.
• Familiarity with quality improvement tools and frameworks used in early years provision.
• Confidence in using nursery management software and basic IT systems for administration and reporting.
• Experience liaising with external agencies and professionals to support children’s development and wellbeing.
• Ability to contribute to marketing and occupancy growth through high standards of service and parent communication.

Qualifications:

• Level 3 or above qualification in Early Years/Childcare (e.g. NVQ, CACHE, or equivalent) – essential.
• Level 5 or higher early years/childcare or leadership qualification – preferred.
• Designated Safeguarding Lead training or equivalent – essential.
• Paediatric First Aid certification – essential.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development in early years leadership, curriculum, or safeguarding – preferred.

If you’re a confident, experienced early years leader ready to take ownership of a small, high-quality nursery, we’d like to hear from you. Apply now to take the next step in your career and make a lasting impact on children, families, and your team.