Monkey Puzzle East Malling
Full-time | Flexible working options available
Salary: £29,000–£31,000 per year, depending on experience
Ready to take the next step in your Early Years career?
Monkey Puzzle East Malling is a beautiful, newly opened 98-place nursery and we are looking for a passionate, confident and hands-on Room Leader to join our growing team.
Whether you are already an experienced Room Leader, a Senior Practitioner, Third in Charge, or a strong Level 3 Practitioner ready for your first leadership opportunity, we would love to hear from you.
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a new nursery where you can genuinely make your mark, help shape your room, develop your team and create an environment that children, families and staff are proud to be part of.
Why join us?
People matter at Monkey Puzzle, and we want our team to feel valued, supported and able to develop.
You will benefit from:
- £29,000–£31,000 salary depending on experience
- 4-day week available
- Flexible full-time working options
- 50% childcare discount
- Free meals while at work
- Free on-site parking
- Company pension
- Free confidential counselling and wellbeing support
- Ongoing professional development
- Access to our online training platform with bespoke career pathways
- Genuine progression opportunities into Third in Charge, Deputy and senior leadership roles
- Company-wide social events
- A supportive and approachable leadership team
- A brand-new nursery where your ideas and input are encouraged
We understand that work needs to fit around life, so we are happy to discuss different full-time working patterns with the right candidate.
About the role
As Room Leader, you will play an important part in the day-to-day running of your room and the wider nursery.
You will be a visible, hands-on member of the team, supporting practitioners, building strong relationships with families and ensuring children receive consistently high-quality care and education.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Leading, supporting and motivating your room team to deliver high-quality Early Years practice
- Creating a warm, welcoming, stimulating and safe environment for children
- Supporting your team to grow, develop and perform to a high standard
- Ensuring all practice is in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), nursery policies and relevant legislation
- Supporting the planning and delivery of engaging learning opportunities based on children's individual interests and developmental needs
- Ensuring children's development is observed, monitored and appropriately supported
- Maintaining high standards within the room, including practice, routines, resources and the learning environment
- Building strong and positive relationships with parents and carers
- Working in partnership with parents, colleagues and external professionals to support children's learning, development and wellbeing
- Ensuring clear, accurate and appropriate record keeping
- Supporting children's transitions into, within and out of the nursery
- Ensuring the safety and welfare of all children at all times
- Reporting any safeguarding, welfare or practice concerns appropriately to a senior member of the team or relevant services
- Promoting a positive, respectful and professional culture amongst children, parents, colleagues and visitors
- Supporting the wider leadership team with maintaining high standards across the nursery
What we are looking for
You will need:
- A minimum full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification
- A strong working knowledge of the EYFS
- A good understanding of child development
- Strong safeguarding knowledge
- At least 2 years' experience working as a Nursery Practitioner or in a similar Early Years setting
- Strong communication and organisational skills
- A positive, professional and supportive approach
- The confidence to guide, support and motivate other members of the team
- A genuine passion for providing high-quality care and education
Previous Room Leader, Senior Practitioner, Third in Charge or similar leadership experience would be an advantage.
However, we would also welcome applications from experienced Level 3 Practitioners who are ready to take the next step into leadership and would benefit from the support of an experienced nursery leadership team.
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 List 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 and 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 and may be asked for further information about their criminal history during the recruitment process.
If your application is successful, this self-disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before your employment commences.
Interested?
If you are passionate about Early Years, want to progress your career and would like to join a supportive, growing nursery where your ideas are valued, we would love to hear from you.
Apply today or call us on 071732 410142 for an informal conversation about the role.
Pay: £29,000.00-£31,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Childcare
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Experience:
- Early childhood education: 2 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Level 3 Early Years Childcare qualification (required)
Work Location: In person
