Be there from day one
We are opening a brand new 27-place nursery in Surrey Quays and we are looking for a Deputy Manager to help us build it from the ground up.
This is not a role where you inherit someone else's routines. You will join before the doors open, working alongside the Nursery Manager to set up the rooms, shape the daily rhythm, induct the team and welcome our very first families. Everything about how this nursery feels will be something you had a hand in.
We are a small independent setting - two rooms, 12 places for under 2s and 15 for children aged 2 and over. Small enough that you will know every child and every parent by name.
What you will be doing
- Deputising for the Nursery Manager and taking full charge of the setting in their absence
- Leading practice across both rooms, modelling high-quality interactions and coaching the team to do the same
- Overseeing planning, observation and assessment so every child's next steps are understood and acted on
- Acting as a key point of contact for parents, from settling-in visits through to transitions
- Supporting safeguarding practice as part of the setting's designated safeguarding team
- Monitoring ratios, room organisation and daily staffing
- Supporting the induction, supervision and development of practitioners and apprentices
- Helping prepare the setting for its Ofsted registration visit and first inspection
What we are looking for
Essential:
- Full and relevant Level 3 qualification in Early Years or above
- At least two years in an early years setting, including some leadership or room leader responsibility
- Strong working knowledge of the EYFS, including the safeguarding and welfare requirements
- Confident with observation, assessment and planning for individual children
- Warm, calm and genuinely good with parents
- Eligible to work in the UK and willing to undergo an Enhanced DBS check with children's barred list
Desirable:
- Level 4 or 5 qualification, or working towards one
- Designated Safeguarding Lead training
- Paediatric First Aid certificate
- Experience of a nursery opening or of Ofsted registration
- Experience supporting children with SEND
What we offer
- Funded training, including Level 4/5 and safeguarding
- A genuine say in how a new nursery is built
- Surrey Quays and Canada Water stations a short walk away, with Jubilee line and Overground links
How to apply
Apply with your CV. We will be in touch to arrange an informal chat, followed by a site visit and a formal interview including a practical task.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are subject to an Enhanced DBS check with children's barred list, satisfactory references covering the last fiveyears, verification of qualifications and identity, and a full employment history with any gaps explored. Shortlisted candidates should expect online searches to be carried out as part of our recruitment process. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.
Pay: £17.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
