Job Description – Room Lead (2–4 Year Old Room)
Job Title: Room Lead (2–4 Year Old Room)
Department: 2–4 Year Old Room
Reports to: Nursery Manager
Location: Little Munchkins Nursery and Preschool
Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday, all year round, working on a rota basis:
- 8:00am – 4:30pm
- 9:00am – 5:30pm
Job Purpose
To lead the daily operation of the 2–4 Year Old Room, ensuring the highest standards of care, education and safeguarding are consistently delivered. The Room Lead is responsible for embedding the nursery's curriculum, leading and inspiring the room team, maintaining an outstanding learning environment, monitoring children's progress and ensuring excellent practice is consistently demonstrated throughout the room.
The Room Lead will act as a positive role model, supporting practitioners to continually improve their practice while ensuring the room operates safely, efficiently and in line with all nursery policies and procedures.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership and Management
- Lead, organise and manage the day-to-day running of the 2–4 Year Old Room.
- Lead by example, consistently demonstrating outstanding practice and professionalism.
- Support, coach and mentor practitioners to develop their confidence, knowledge and skills.
- Delegate responsibilities appropriately whilst maintaining oversight of all room practice.
- Carry out regular peer observations and provide constructive feedback to support staff development.
- Ensure staffing ratios are maintained at all times.
- Promote positive teamwork, communication and morale within the room.
- Report any concerns or issues promptly to the Nursery Manager.
- Assist with induction and training of new employees within the room.
Children's Care and Wellbeing
- Provide exceptional care, education and supervision for all children.
- Ensure every child's individual needs are recognised, respected and met.
- Promote children's emotional wellbeing, independence and confidence.
- Build warm, trusting relationships with children and their families.
- Ensure safeguarding procedures are followed without exception.
- Maintain the highest standards of health, hygiene and safety.
Teaching and Learning
- Lead the implementation of the nursery's curriculum within the room.
- Ensure the setting's curriculum is fully embedded into everyday practice and consistently delivered by every member of the team.
- Monitor the quality of teaching and learning to ensure consistently high standards.
- Plan engaging, challenging and developmentally appropriate activities.
- Ensure every interaction is purposeful and supports children's learning.
- Create an enabling environment that promotes curiosity, independence and exploration.
- Ensure learning opportunities are maximised throughout the day, including free play, routines, outdoor learning, snack times, meal times and transitions.
- Support practitioners in delivering high-quality teaching through coaching and modelling best practice.
Observation, Assessment and Planning
- Oversee the quality and completion of observations, assessments and planning across the room.
- Monitor children's progress to ensure next steps are accurate and consistently implemented.
- Ensure learning journals and assessment records are completed to a high standard.
- Identify children requiring additional support and work with the Nursery Manager and outside agencies where appropriate.
- Monitor assessment information to ensure children are making good progress.
Communication and Language Development
- Promote high-quality interactions throughout the room.
- Ensure practitioners consistently use rich vocabulary and extended language to support children's communication and thinking.
- Model excellent communication skills and encourage sustained shared thinking.
- Support children's confidence through meaningful conversations and responsive interactions.
Environment
- Ensure the learning environment is safe, welcoming, stimulating and reflects children's interests and developmental needs.
- Maintain high presentation standards throughout the room.
- Ensure resources are organised, accessible and promote independent learning.
- Regularly review and enhance continuous provision.
Parent Partnerships
- Develop positive and professional relationships with parents and carers.
- Share children's progress, achievements and next steps effectively.
- Respond professionally to questions or concerns.
- Support settling-in procedures and transitions.
Compliance
- Ensure the room complies with EYFS requirements, safeguarding guidance and nursery policies.
- Complete room risk assessments and ensure actions are implemented.
- Monitor daily safety checks.
- Ensure accident, incident and medication records are completed accurately.
- Maintain confidentiality at all times.
Team Responsibilities
- Conduct regular room meetings to communicate expectations and share good practice.
- Support staff performance through coaching and day-to-day guidance.
- Work closely with the Nursery Manager to implement nursery improvement priorities.
- Attend staff meetings, supervisions and training.
- Encourage a culture of continuous improvement and reflective practice.
Professional Responsibilities
- Maintain professionalism and confidentiality at all times.
- Uphold the nursery's vision, values and standards.
- Take responsibility for your own continuous professional development.
- Carry out any other reasonable duties requested by the Nursery Manager or Directors.
Person Specification
Essential
- Level 3 Early Years qualification (or recognised equivalent).
- Previous experience working within an early years setting.
- Experience leading or supervising a team.
- Excellent knowledge of the EYFS.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
- Excellent communication and organisational skills.
- Ability to motivate, coach and inspire others.
- Commitment to delivering outstanding care and education.
Desirable
- Paediatric First Aid qualification.
- Food Hygiene certificate.
- Experience preparing for Ofsted inspections.
- Experience supporting children with SEND.
Key Expectations
The Room Lead will:
- Lead the room to the highest possible standard every day.
- Ensure outstanding care, education and interactions are consistently delivered.
- Fully embed and monitor the nursery curriculum.
- Ensure planning, observations and assessments are completed to an exceptional standard.
- Support every child to make excellent progress through accurate next steps.
- Lead, support and develop practitioners through coaching and positive role modelling.
- Monitor the quality of practice across the room and address any concerns promptly.
- Maintain a safe, stimulating and inspiring learning environment.
- Build strong partnerships with families.
- Contribute to the nursery's continuous improvement and be fully prepared for Ofsted inspections.
- Demonstrate professionalism, reliability, accountability and a commitment to excellence in every aspect of the role.
Pay: £13.60 per hour
Benefits:
- Childcare
- Company events
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
