Join Our Team
At Orchard Nursery School, we believe every child deserves the very best start in life—and every member of our team deserves to feel valued, supported and inspired.
Located in the beautiful village of Ketteringham, just a short drive from Wymondham and Hethersett, our countryside nursery offers a warm, nurturing environment where children can flourish through play, exploration and meaningful relationships. We're proud of our close-knit team, and we're looking for an enthusiastic Nursery Room Leader to help shape the learning experiences of our wonderful 2–3-year-olds.
If you're an experienced early years professional with a passion for inspiring children and supporting colleagues, we'd love to hear from you.
About the Role
As our Nursery Room Leader, you'll take the lead in our 2–3-year-old room, guiding a small team of practitioners and creating a happy, engaging environment where children feel safe, confident and excited to learn.
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys leading by example, values teamwork, and wants to make a real difference every day.
Hours:
- Full-time, approximately 40 hours per week
- Three full days and two shorter days
- All year round
Our nursery is open Monday to Friday, 8:00am–5:30pm, and is closed on Bank Holidays and during the Christmas to New Year period.
Start Date:
We are looking to appoint as soon as possible, although we are happy to wait for the right candidate to complete their notice period. We can also be flexible for applicants who require an earlier start.
Your Responsibilities
As Room Leader, you will:
- Lead and support a team of up to three practitioners, creating a positive, collaborative working environment.
- Take responsibility for the day-to-day running of a room of up to 12 children aged 2–3 years.
- Plan and deliver exciting, child-led learning experiences in line with the EYFS.
- Observe, assess and support each child's individual learning and development.
- Build positive relationships with families, keeping parents informed of their child's progress.
- Work closely with the management team to maintain and continually improve the quality of our provision.
- Lead room meetings and contribute to wider nursery planning, staff development and quality improvement.
- Ensure high standards of safeguarding, health and safety, and children's wellbeing are maintained at all times.
What We're Looking ForEssential
- Level 3 Early Years qualification (or above).
- Experience working in a nursery or preschool setting.
- Excellent communication and organisational skills.
- A genuine passion for early childhood education.
- Ability to motivate and support colleagues.
- Enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references upon appointment.
Desirable
- Previous leadership or Room Leader experience.
- Paediatric First Aid qualification.
- Experience supporting children with additional needs.
- Good knowledge of the EYFS and current safeguarding requirements.
What We Offer
We know that a happy team creates happy children, so we're committed to looking after our staff.
You'll enjoy:
- A welcoming, supportive and inclusive working environment.
- A beautiful countryside setting with free on-site parking.
- Ongoing professional development and training opportunities.
- A competitive salary, negotiable depending on qualifications and experience.
- Company pension.
- The opportunity to make a genuine difference in children's lives every single day.
Safeguarding
Orchard Nursery School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and a six-month probationary period.
How to Apply
If you'd like to become part of our friendly team, we'd love to hear from you.
Please send your CV and a covering letter explaining why you'd be a great fit for the role to [email protected], using "Nursery Room Leader Application" as the subject line.
A full job description and application form will be provided upon request.
We look forward to welcoming our next Room Leader to Orchard Nursery School.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: From £14.50 per hour
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee mentoring programme
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Wymondham NR18 9RS: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Education:
- Diploma of Higher Education (required)
Experience:
- Nursery: 1 year (required)
Language:
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
