Senior Deputy Nursery Manager
Earn £35,074 to £37,544 per year while working just four days a week!
Permanent | 38 hours across four days | Same day off every week
Less than five minutes' walk from Brentwood Station
Ready for a senior leadership role where you can make a real difference?
At Leaping Lilies Day Nursery, we're looking for an experienced and ambitious Senior Deputy Nursery Manager to join our leadership team.
This is a senior role for someone who understands what excellent early years provision looks like and has the leadership skills to help make it happen consistently across a nursery.
You'll be joining a team that includes both established educators and newer team members, with the opportunity to help develop our people, strengthen consistency and drive the quality and standards of our provision forward.
We want a leader who is visible, confident and involved.
Someone who can support the Nursery Manager while also taking genuine ownership and responsibility for the nursery around them.
Four days at work. Three days away from work. Every week.
Senior leadership shouldn't have to mean giving up your work life balance.
Our Senior Deputy Nursery Manager works a of 38 hours across four days, with the same day off every week.
That means a predictable working pattern, a consistent day off and three days away from work each week.
You can continue building an ambitious career in early years leadership while still having time for life outside of work.
Lead people. Drive quality. Raise standards.
As Senior Deputy Nursery Manager, you'll work closely with the Nursery Manager to help lead the quality, culture and day to day performance of Leaping Lilies.
You'll be visible throughout the nursery, working with our leadership team, Room Quality Leads and educators to ensure high expectations translate into excellent everyday practice.
You'll recognise what's working well and help build on it.
You'll identify where greater consistency or improvement is needed and take responsibility for helping make that happen.
And you'll help create a culture where everyone understands the standards expected of them and feels supported to achieve them.
Develop the people around you
One of the most important measures of a great leader is the impact they have on other people.
As Senior Deputy Manager, you'll play a significant role in developing our Room Quality Leads, Deputy Managers and educators.
You'll coach, challenge, support and provide constructive feedback.
You'll help emerging leaders develop their confidence and capability.
You'll recognise talent and encourage it.
And when standards aren't where they need to be, you'll have the confidence and professionalism to address this and support meaningful improvement.
We want someone who can help us build strong teams and strong leaders, not simply manage a daily rota.
Take ownership of quality
Quality should be visible in every room and every interaction.
You'll work alongside the Nursery Manager to monitor the quality of education, safeguarding, environments, routines and professional practice across Leaping Lilies.
You'll spend time in rooms, observe practice and support our Room Quality Leads to maintain high expectations.
You'll help ensure that the EYFS and Development Matters are implemented effectively and that planning, observations and assessments genuinely support children's learning and development.
We want someone who is constantly looking at the nursery and asking:
What are we doing well, and how can we make it even better?
A genuine senior leadership position
The Senior Deputy Manager should be someone the Nursery Manager can rely upon.
You'll have significant responsibility for supporting the effective operation of the nursery and will be expected to make confident, considered decisions.
You'll support other members of the leadership team, help maintain clear expectations across the setting and take an active role in ensuring standards are followed through.
When the Nursery Manager is absent, you'll be confident taking responsibility for the leadership and operation of the nursery.
Continue building your leadership career
Senior Deputy Manager doesn't have to be the final step in your career.
For someone with the right capability and ambition, this role provides valuable experience in whole nursery leadership and an opportunity to continue developing towards future Nursery Manager and wider leadership positions within our nursery group.
You'll have access to ongoing CPD and professional development to help strengthen your leadership and management capability.
We want talented people to build their careers with us.
Less than five minutes from Brentwood Station
Leaping Lilies is conveniently located less than a five minute walk from Brentwood Station, making the nursery easily accessible by train and other public transport.
For anyone commuting into Brentwood, our location makes getting to and from work straightforward.
What we offer
£35,074 to £37,544 per year
A competitive salary recognising the experience, accountability and leadership responsibility of the Senior Deputy Nursery Manager position.
Four day working week
Work a maximum of 38 hours across four days, giving you three days away from work each week.
Same day off every week
Your day off remains consistent, providing a predictable weekly working pattern.
Professional progression
Opportunities to continue developing towards Nursery Manager and wider leadership positions within our nursery group.
Ongoing CPD
Continued professional learning and senior leadership development.
Comprehensive induction programme
A structured introduction to Leaping Lilies, our expectations, systems and ways of working.
First Aid qualification
Training provided to support your professional responsibilities.
Excellent transport links
Less than five minutes' walk from Brentwood Station.
Health and wellbeing programme
Supporting the wellbeing of the people who care for and educate our children.
Company pension
Workplace pension scheme.
Referral programme
Employee referral programme.
Uniform provided
Uniform provided as part of your role.
Well resourced environments
Nursery environments and resources designed to support high quality early years education.
What you'll be responsible for
As Senior Deputy Nursery Manager, you'll take a significant role in the leadership and operation of Leaping Lilies.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Supporting the Nursery Manager with the overall leadership and day to day operation of the nursery
- Providing visible, positive and professional leadership throughout the setting
- Leading, supporting and developing Deputy Managers, Room Quality Leads and educators
- Helping drive consistently high standards of education, safeguarding and care
- Monitoring quality through regular room walks, observations and professional feedback
- Identifying areas for improvement and ensuring agreed actions are followed through
- Supporting high quality implementation of the EYFS and Development Matters
- Helping maintain consistently strong learning environments throughout the nursery
- Coaching and developing educators and emerging leaders
- Supporting induction, probation, supervision and performance development
- Helping create a positive professional culture with clear expectations and accountability
- Building strong relationships with children, parents and families
- Supporting effective staffing, deployment and organisation
- Ensuring policies, procedures and safeguarding requirements are consistently followed
- Supporting the operational and administrative requirements of the nursery
- Providing safeguarding leadership and acting as a Designated Safeguarding Lead when required
- Taking responsibility for the nursery in the Nursery Manager's absence
Who we're looking for
You'll need a full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification, excellent knowledge of the EYFS and safeguarding, and significant experience within early years.
We're looking for an established leader with the confidence and capability to operate at senior level across the nursery.
You may already be working as a Senior Deputy Manager and looking for your next opportunity.
Or you may be a highly successful Deputy Nursery Manager who has demonstrated that you're ready for greater responsibility and the next step in your career.
We're particularly interested in someone who:
- Sets high standards and leads by example
- Understands what excellent early years provision looks like
- Has strong safeguarding knowledge and professional judgement
- Can confidently lead and develop other leaders and educators
- Takes ownership rather than waiting to be directed
- Can drive consistency across different rooms and teams
- Communicates confidently and professionally
- Is highly organised and follows things through
- Can make effective decisions and remain calm under pressure
- Is comfortable challenging standards constructively when required
- Recognises talent and enjoys developing other people
- Has the ambition to continue progressing as an early years leader
Safeguarding
Safeguarding children is at the heart of everything we do.
Leaping Lilies Day Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks and will require a satisfactory enhanced DBS check in accordance with the requirements of the role.
Ready for your next step in leadership?
We're looking for a Senior Deputy Nursery Manager who wants genuine responsibility and the opportunity to make an impact.
Someone who wants to develop people, strengthen leadership, drive standards and take real ownership of quality across the nursery.
In return, you'll receive a salary of £35,074 to £37,544 per year, opportunities for continued career progression and a four day working week with the same day off every week.
And with Brentwood Station less than five minutes away, Leaping Lilies is exceptionally well connected for your journey to and from work.
If you're ready for your next senior leadership opportunity, we'd love to hear from you.
Leaping Lilies Day Nursery
Job Type: Permanent
Pay: Up to £37,544.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Company pension
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Referral programme
Work Location: In person
