Step into a pivotal leadership role where you’ll help shape a nurturing, high-quality early years environment and support the smooth running of a busy nursery. This is an opportunity to make a tangible difference to children’s development while mentoring staff and building strong partnerships with families. You’ll be trusted as a key member of the management team, contributing to continuous improvement and outstanding standards of care.

About the Role:

As Assistant Nursery Manager, you will support the Nursery Manager in overseeing day-to-day operations, ensuring the delivery of a safe, stimulating, and inclusive environment in line with EYFS and regulatory standards. You will play a central role in leading the staff team, maintaining high-quality practice, and promoting effective communication with parents and external stakeholders. Your input will directly influence the nursery’s performance, reputation, and outcomes for children.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the Nursery Manager in the daily running of the nursery, ensuring rooms are appropriately staffed, organised, and resourced.
• Lead, supervise, and motivate practitioners across the setting, providing guidance, coaching, and regular feedback to maintain high standards of practice.
• Oversee the planning and implementation of an engaging, age-appropriate curriculum aligned with EYFS, ensuring activities meet children’s developmental needs.
• Monitor and quality-check observations, assessments, and record-keeping to ensure accuracy, consistency, and effective use in planning next steps.
• Promote and maintain robust safeguarding and welfare practices, ensuring all staff follow policies and procedures and respond appropriately to concerns.
• Support positive behaviour management strategies, modelling and reinforcing consistent, nurturing approaches across the nursery.
• Build and maintain strong, professional relationships with parents and carers, leading meetings, sharing children’s progress, and addressing queries or concerns.
• Assist with preparing for Ofsted inspections and internal audits, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and contributing to action plans for improvement.

Key Requirements:

• Proven experience working in an early years setting, including responsibilities beyond room-based practice (e.g. room leader, senior practitioner, or similar).
• Strong, current knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and how to apply it in daily practice and curriculum planning.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and lead staff, including delegating tasks, supporting performance, and promoting a positive team culture.
• Solid understanding of child safeguarding and welfare, with confidence in following procedures and escalating concerns appropriately.
• Experience in effective parent communication, including conducting progress meetings, handling sensitive conversations, and building collaborative partnerships.
• Competence in observation, assessment, and maintaining accurate child development records.
• Familiarity with Ofsted requirements and regulatory standards for early years settings.
• Ability to manage workload, prioritise tasks, and remain calm and organised in a busy nursery environment.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience contributing to or leading nursery improvement initiatives or action plans.
• Background in supporting children with additional needs, including working with external professionals.
• Confidence in using digital systems or software for planning, observations, and record-keeping.
• Experience in supporting staff training, inductions, or mentoring new team members.
• Understanding of health and safety procedures specific to early years environments.

Qualifications:

• Level 3 or above qualification in Early Years / Childcare (e.g. NVQ, CACHE, or equivalent) – essential.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development in early years, safeguarding, or leadership – desirable.
• Paediatric First Aid certification – desirable.
• Safeguarding training relevant to early years settings – desirable.
• Additional leadership or management training in childcare or education – advantageous.

If you’re ready to step up into a key leadership position and help drive high-quality early years provision, we’d welcome your application.