Nursery Manager - Japanese-English Bilingual Preschool
Location: Miyabi Gakuen Preschool, London Wasps, Twyford Avenue, Acton, London W3 9QA
Salary: £38,000 to £45,000 actual annual salary, depending on experience and qualifications
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Hours: Monday to Friday, approximately 8:00am to 4:00pm, with a 30-minute unpaid break
Start date: As soon as possible, subject to satisfactory safer-recruitment checks
A distinctive early-years leadership opportunity
Miyabi Gakuen is a Japanese-English bilingual preschool for children aged two to six in West London.
We combine the creativity and child-centred learning of the English Early Years Foundation Stage with Japanese educational values, including kindness, cleanliness, respect, empathy, responsibility and consideration for others.
We are seeking an experienced, highly organised and emotionally intelligent Nursery Manager to lead the preschool’s daily operation and help us maintain consistently excellent standards of education, care, safeguarding and family experience.
This is a genuine leadership position with responsibility for the preschool’s day-to-day educational and operational performance. The Nursery Manager will work closely with the Preschool Director, who will initially retain responsibility for wider business strategy, finance and organisational development.
The role
The Nursery Manager will take ownership of daily practice, staff leadership, safeguarding, regulatory compliance, curriculum quality and parent relationships.
You will lead a bilingual and culturally diverse team, establish clear expectations and ensure that agreed actions are followed through consistently.
The successful candidate must combine warmth and approachability with professional authority, sound judgement and the confidence to address difficult issues when necessary.
Japanese-language ability is highly desirable but not essential. We particularly welcome applicants with experience of Japanese culture, bilingual education or international early-years settings. Applicants of all nationalities are welcome.
Key responsibilitiesLeadership and daily operations
- Lead the safe, calm and effective daily operation of the preschool
- Maintain appropriate staff-to-child ratios and qualification requirements
- Organise staff deployment, rotas, breaks and cover
- Establish clear expectations and model high professional standards
- Lead staff meetings, supervision sessions, appraisals and performance discussions
- Support staff recruitment, induction, training and professional development
- Identify and address weak or inconsistent practice
- Maintain clear communication between Japanese-speaking and English-speaking colleagues
- Provide regular operational, safeguarding and quality reports to the Preschool Director
- Ensure the setting is properly prepared, organised and resourced each day
- Oversee admissions, settling-in arrangements and children’s transitions
Safeguarding and compliance
- Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, or undertake the required training
- Promote a strong safeguarding culture throughout the preschool
- Ensure concerns are recognised, recorded, reported and acted upon appropriately
- Maintain compliance with the current EYFS statutory framework and relevant Ofsted requirements
- Ensure staff understand safeguarding, Prevent, whistleblowing and professional boundaries
- Maintain accurate safeguarding, suitability, attendance and compliance records
- Oversee procedures for accidents, incidents, medication, illness and emergencies
- Maintain effective risk assessments, health and safety systems and emergency procedures
- Support safer recruitment and ongoing staff-suitability processes
- Maintain continuous readiness for Ofsted inspection
Curriculum and quality
- Lead the delivery of an ambitious, inclusive and developmentally appropriate EYFS curriculum
- Ensure Japanese and British educational approaches are integrated meaningfully
- Monitor teaching, adult-child interactions and the quality of children’s experiences
- Oversee planning, observations, assessments and children’s next steps
- Monitor children’s progress, including their English-language development
- Ensure phonics and communication development are delivered effectively
- Support appropriate provision for children with SEND
- Work effectively with the SENCO, families and external professionals
- Identify priorities for improvement and monitor their implementation
- Help the preschool develop consistently outstanding practice
Children and families
- Ensure every child feels safe, respected, included and understood
- Build trusted and professional relationships with parents and carers
- Communicate sensitively about children’s progress, wellbeing and development
- Respond calmly and appropriately to questions, concerns and complaints
- Support parent visits, open days and admissions activity
- Monitor attendance, retention and the overall family experience
- Maintain confidentiality and appropriate professional boundaries
- Support Miyabi’s parent-engagement activities and wider preschool community
Essential requirements
Applicants must have:
- A full and relevant Level 3 early-years qualification, or higher, recognised by the Department for Education
- At least two years’ suitable experience working in an early-years setting
- Substantial recent experience in an EYFS nursery or preschool
- Leadership experience as a Nursery Manager, Deputy Manager, Assistant Manager, Room Leader or comparable early-years leader
- Strong and current knowledge of the EYFS statutory framework
- Strong safeguarding knowledge and the confidence to respond appropriately to concerns
- Experience supervising, supporting and developing staff
- Excellent spoken and written English
- Strong organisation, communication and record-keeping skills
- Confidence in challenging poor practice and conducting difficult conversations professionally
- A calm, reliable and consistent leadership style
- Eligibility to work in the UK
- Willingness to complete all required safer-recruitment and suitability checks
Overseas qualifications must be formally assessed where required and cannot automatically be assumed to meet the Department for Education’s full and relevant qualification requirements.
Desirable experience
It would be beneficial to have:
- Japanese-language ability
- Knowledge of Japanese culture or education
- Experience in a Japanese, bilingual or international educational setting
- A Level 5 or higher early-years qualification
- Previous Nursery Manager or Deputy Manager experience
- Designated Safeguarding Lead training and experience
- A current paediatric first-aid qualification
- SENCO experience or relevant training
- Experience preparing for or participating in an Ofsted inspection
- Experience improving staff performance and educational quality
- Experience supporting admissions, occupancy and parent retention
What we offer
- £38,000 to £45,000 actual annual salary for a term-time position
- Salary paid monthly across 12 months
- A permanent Monday-to-Friday leadership role
- A distinctive Japanese-English bilingual educational environment
- Support from the Preschool Director
- Ongoing professional development and termly training
- Team social opportunities
- Childcare discount, subject to availability and the applicable policy
- Free on-site parking
- Gym membership, subject to the applicable arrangements
- Language and cultural learning opportunities
- The opportunity to influence the development of a distinctive and growing preschool
How to apply
Please submit your current CV and a supporting statement explaining:
- Your early-years leadership and management experience
- Your understanding of safeguarding responsibilities
- An example of how you have improved practice in an early-years setting
- Any experience you have of Japanese culture, language, bilingual education or international settings
- Why you would like to join Miyabi Gakuen Preschool
Applications that do not demonstrate the required early-years qualification and relevant leadership experience may not be shortlisted.
Suitable applicants may be interviewed before the advertised closing date. The vacancy may close early if a suitable appointment is made.
Safeguarding and equal opportunities
Miyabi Gakuen Preschool is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
Appointment will be subject to a structured safer-recruitment process. This will include identity and qualification checks, employment-history checks, satisfactory references, an enhanced DBS check with the appropriate barred-list information where legally permitted, right-to-work checks and a wider assessment of the candidate’s suitability to work with children.
An enhanced DBS check is only one part of the suitability process and does not replace references, qualification verification, employment-history checks or professional judgement.
Miyabi Gakuen Preschool welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates of all backgrounds.
Pay: £38,000.00-£45,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Gym membership
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
- Store discount
- UK visa sponsorship
Work Location: In person
