Nursery Manager
Salary: Up to £50,000 per annum (Depending on Experience/Qualifications)
Brand New Nursery Coming in Autumn 2026
Are you an experienced and inspiring Nursery Manager ready to lead a high-performing large-scale setting?
Monkey Puzzle Epping is our newest nursery and we’re looking for a hands-on, strategic leader to ensure that every child, parent, and where team members can thrive.
You’ll lead the nursery both operationally and strategically, ensuring that the setting continues to deliver exceptional standards of childcare, education, and customer experience.
Your responsibilities will include:
Leadership & Culture
- Lead, inspire, and motivate a large multi-room team to deliver excellence in every area.
- Create a positive, collaborative culture that supports wellbeing and encourages continuous improvement.
- Coach and mentor Deputy Managers, Room Leaders and key staff, helping them grow into confident leaders of their own teams.
- Champion inclusion and diversity within the nursery community.
Quality & Curriculum
- Ensure the EYFS curriculum is embedded effectively across all age groups, promoting inspiring learning environments.
- Maintain a consistent focus on safeguarding, health & safety, and children’s wellbeing.
Compliance & Standards
- Maintain regulatory compliance at all times, keeping the nursery inspection-ready for Ofsted and local authority visits.
- Implement and monitor policies, risk assessments, and safeguarding procedures, ensuring they’re understood and followed by the team.
- Lead incident reporting, audits, and action plans to uphold high operational standards.
People Management
- Recruit, induct, and retain talented team members, managing staffing levels for a large-scale setting.
- Conduct appraisals, supervisions, and one-to-ones to drive professional growth and team engagement.
- Identify training needs and implement development plans to build a strong pipeline of future leaders.
Parent & Community Partnerships
- Act as the main point of contact for parents, promoting open communication and trust.
- Host parent information sessions, open days, and nursery events to build a strong community presence.
- Work in partnership with external agencies, schools, and local community groups to support children’s learning and transitions.
Business & Financial Management
- Manage the nursery budget effectively, including forecasting occupancy, monitoring income and expenditure, and controlling running costs.
- Analyse occupancy trends to maximise capacity across all rooms, ensuring strong financial performance.
- Collaborate with Head Office on marketing initiatives and business development projects to keep the nursery thriving.
- Ensure the nursery achieves or exceeds its KPIs in occupancy, quality, and parent satisfaction.
Innovation & Growth
- Champion environmental and sustainability initiatives within the nursery.
- Lead continuous improvement projects, drawing on staff feedback, inspection recommendations, and parent surveys.
- Explore new enrichment activities and curriculum enhancements to set the nursery apart in the local market.
What We’re Looking For
- Minimum Level 3 Early Years qualification (Level 5+ desirable)
- Designated Safeguarding Lead trained with strong safeguarding knowledge
- Safer Recruitment training and proven experience in managing large teams
- Minimum 2+ years in a Deputy or Manager role in a busy nursery/preschool (experience in settings of 80+ places desirable)
- Strong track record of delivering ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted results
- Financially astute, confident managing budgets and occupancy planning
- Excellent communication, organisation, and IT skills
- A natural leader with a passion for creating a happy, high-performing team culture
What can Monkey Puzzle Offer?
- Length of Service Recognition: We want you stay with us! We recognise and reward your length of service with Monkey Puzzle with vouchers
- Competitive Salaries: We are not here to penny pinch. Our salaries are competitive based on your position and the job market. Salaries are reviewed throughout the year.
- Enhanced Maternity Pay: Enhanced pay after 2 years’ service
- Medicash: Cover for dental treatments, optical, doctor consultations, therapies, and prescriptions as well as mental health support
- YuLife: You will be enrolled into our Group Life Assurance policy and have access to the YuLife app
- Refer a Friend: Bring connections to work with us and earn rewards
- Flexible Working: We would like to be able to give you the choice and flexibility to reduce your working hours.
- Social Events: We arrange catch ups with the team alongside our Christmas parties
#Epping
Safeguarding Statement
Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries are committed to Keeping children safe; therefore, it is necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record Disclosure and Barred check to be undertaken. All posts involving direct contact with children and vulnerable adults are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. However, amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013 & 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected'. These are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account. All candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions, you may be asked for further information about your criminal history during the recruitment process. If your application is successful, this self-disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure & Barring Service before your employment commences.
Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries is a renowned brand that offers outstanding day nursery and preschool child care services for children aged 3 months to 5 years old. With over fifteen years of experience, Monkey Puzzle has worked closely with parents, staff, and Ofsted to deliver exceptional childcare, providing children with unlimited opportunities to play, learn, and grow in a safe and secure environment. With a network of carefully designed nurseries across the United Kingdom, Monkey Puzzle is dedicated to supporting families and answering the question, "Where can I find a nursery near me?". Their nurseries are located in various counties and London boroughs, ensuring accessibility for families in different areas. Monkey Puzzle also prioritizes the growth and development of their team members. They offer apprenticeship programs, early years career opportunities, and comprehensive training and development for their staff, resulting in a highly skilled and dedicated team. From babies to preschoolers, Monkey Puzzle caters to the educational and developmental needs of children in each age group. Their curriculum is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage, ensuring that children are well-prepared for their transition to school. Choose Monkey Puzzle for exceptional childcare and a nurturing learning environment for your child's early years.
