Head of Education:
Location: The Grove Montessori
Salary: £38,000 per annum
Reporting: Education department
Who we are?
Join Our Outstanding and Award Winning Team at Treehouse Nursery Schools, The Grove Montessori!
Treehouse Nursery School in East London is delighted to announce an exciting opportunity for passionate and skilled Montessori teacher. As a UNICEF rights-respecting nursery committed to fostering personal, emotional and social growth, we’re seeking a professional who shares our vision to join our team.
At Treehouse, we are proud to be a Rights Respecting Nursery School, embedding the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into every aspect of our practice. We nurture children’s understanding of their rights, ensuring they feel valued, heard, and empowered within a supportive and inclusive environment.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for an experienced, passionate and highly motivated Head of Education to join The Grove Montessori. This is an exciting opportunity for a confident early years professional with strong EYFS knowledge, excellent leadership skills and a commitment to delivering high-quality care, education and safeguarding practice.
The successful candidate will lead the implementation of education across the nursery, support staff development, oversee the prepared environment and act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead. Working closely with the Nursery Manager and Deputy Manager, you will help ensure consistency, excellence and a child-centred approach throughout the setting.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading the delivery of high-quality education in line with the EYFS and Ofsted requirements.
- Supporting, mentoring and supervising Montessori Teachers and Assistants.
- Overseeing curriculum planning, observations, assessment and learning experiences across the nursery.
- Maintaining beautifully prepared Montessori environments, including indoor and outdoor provision.
- Supporting children with additional needs in partnership with the SENCO, families and external professionals.
- Building positive relationships with parents and promoting the nursery’s Montessori philosophy.
- Ensuring high standards of compliance, safeguarding, quality assurance and professional practice.
About you:
- Strong knowledge and experience of Montessori pedagogy and early years education.
- Confident leadership and team development skills.
- Excellent understanding of safeguarding, child protection and EYFS requirements.
- Experience supporting curriculum planning, assessment and the prepared environment.
- A warm, professional and child-centred approach.
- Strong communication skills with staff, families and external agencies.
- Relevant early years and Montessori qualifications are desirable.
What We Offer:
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A collaborative and inspiring work environment.
- Extra wellness days after 6 months of no sick leave
- A CPD and a culture fully committed to evidence-based teaching and learning development.
- An opportunity to work alongside motivated and passionate colleagues in a positive, purposeful, and ambitious nursery setting.
- Access to leadership mentoring programme tailored for aspiring staff taking on leadership roles.
- Holiday allowance of 33 days. We also pay you 3 additional days when the nursery is closed during Christmas and New Year.
- Day off on your Birthday Leave
- Access to a dedicated employee well-being committee and an active employee forum with assigned representatives.
- 24/7/365 Confidential Counselling Helpline - Freephone support available anytime, day or night — whenever you need someone to talk to.
- Medical Information & Guidance - Quick access to reliable health information to help you make informed decisions.
- Legal & Financial Information Support - Practical guidance on everyday legal and money matters — helping you feel more confident and in control.
- Family Coverage Included Partners and dependants in full-time education are covered too* — giving your household extra peace of mind.
- Critical Incident Support - Immediate telephone support following traumatic or high-impact workplace events.
- Online Help & Expert Advice - On-demand support for real-life challenges including debt, bereavement, family issues, alcohol/drugs, tax, childcare, and more.
- 1-to-1 Financial Coaching (3 x 30 minutes) - Speak directly with a financial adviser to review your situation and build a clearer financial plan.
- Occupational Health Support - Expert occupational health guidance to help you meet your legal responsibilities with confidence and care.
- Virtual GP Access - Fast, clinically governed GP appointments — reducing wait times and improving access to care.
- Wisdom Wellbeing App + 1,000+ Discounts - A powerful wellbeing app packed with exclusive savings, mood tracking, breathing techniques, expert content and preventative wellness programmes — all in your pocket.
- Day 1 Stress Intervention - Early clinical support from day one to reduce stress-related absence and help prevent long-term sick leave.
- Manager Support & Consultancy - Dedicated support for managers to strengthen leadership, improve performance and support career development.
- Eldercare & Childcare Support - Support and advice to help you manage caring responsibilities and family needs.
- Life & Leadership Coaching - Personalised coaching sessions designed to support both personal wellbeing and professional development.
- Up to 10 Counselling Sessions Per Issue, Per Year - Access structured support via telephone, video, online chat or face-to-face sessions (face-to-face included).
- Attend networking dinners and charity events.
- Be part of a vibrant social calendar designed to foster team spirit and community.
This is a full time permanent role, offering stability and the chance to grow in an exceptional nursery environment. If you’re ready to be a part of something greater and help us continue our important work, we’d love to hear from you.
Our Commitment to Safeguarding:
At Treehouse Nursery Schools, the safety and well-being of children are our top priority. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS clearance and satisfactory references.
Ready to Grow with Us?
If you're passionate about Montessori education and want to be part of a dedicated team, we encourage you to apply!
