Deputy / Nursery Manager

We are looking for a kind, experienced, passionate Nursery manager / Deputy manager to join our team at Thakeham Pre School CIO.

We are looking for someone to provide safe, high-quality education and care for early years children. To fulfil legal and statutory requirements. To lead and manage staff on a day-to-day basis. To contribute to and implement early years policies. To ensure that all statutory, legal and setting obligations are followed and met.

Main duties:

• To lead, motivate and inspire the team to deliver outstanding early years education and care.
• To take responsibility for drawing up long-term, medium-term and sessional curriculum plans that take into account the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), and to monitor the effectiveness of the setting’s curriculum; this may include working with external professionals.
• To be responsible for providing a high quality of education and learning, ensuring that staff are properly deployed, and to offer appropriate stimulation and support to the children attending the setting.
• To have an appropriate action plan in place that enables the setting to achieve and maintain a minimum ‘Good’ Ofsted rating at the next inspection.
• To take responsibility for ensuring that performance management systems are in place and followed, e.g. induction, probation, supervision, team meetings, appraisals and objective setting.
• To ensure that staff are appropriately supported to carry out their role effectively, including the Early Years SENCO.
• To draw up and to supervise the daily programme of activities and events.
• To be responsible for implementing systems of observation and record keeping so that children’s progress and achievements are effectively and regularly assessed; to monitor the effectiveness of assessment procedures.
• To organise the key person system and to effectively supervise staff on a daily basis; to be responsible for monitoring the quality of teaching; to participate in staff appraisals and to identify in-service training needs.
• To ensure that the welfare and safety of children is promoted within the setting and that any child protection concerns are always acted upon appropriately and immediately.

Essential criteria:

• At least two years’ proven experience of working in an early years care and education setting, or at least two years’ other suitable experience.
• Level 3 early years education and childcare qualification or equivalent, [and a commitment to obtaining a level 4 qualification].
• EYFS 2024 requirement: Employed or internal job changes on or after 4 January 2024 must hold a level 2 Maths qualification or must achieve one within 2 years of starting in the position.
• Ability to ensure that the setting achieves and maintains at least a good Ofsted rating.
• Sound understanding of child development and children’s needs.
• Ability to plan and implement an early years curriculum, taking into account the SEN Code of Practice, child protection procedures and equal opportunities considerations.
• Demonstrable and detailed knowledge of current legislation relevant to the early years.
• Understanding of the Prevent Duty in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, as it relates to early years settings.
• Ability to comply with the requirements placed on the setting by the EYFS.
• Experience of effectively communicating with parents and addressing any concerns.
• Ability to work with parents and families to encourage their involvement.
• Ability to effectively market the setting to maximise occupancy levels and fee income.
• Ability to effectively lead and manage a team of adults, including conducting performance management processes e.g. induction, supervision meetings, appraisals and setting objectives.
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuously promoting a culture of safeguarding.
• Commitment to equal opportunities and an understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion issues.
• Ability to write clear reports.
• Knowledge of data protection and information management practices and their application within the setting.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and requires an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check. Applicants must be prepared to disclose any convictions they may have and any orders that have been made against them.