Come and grow with us at Seasons Nursery at Great Ballard.
Nestled at the heart of Great Ballard School, set within 30 acres of stunning South Downs National Park countryside near Chichester, our nursery is a truly special place to work. Children have access to beautiful, carefully resourced indoor learning spaces, their own dedicated forest school area, and the wider grounds of the school including established woodland and gardens.
This is not a corporate nursery. It is a small, nurturing community built on strong relationships, genuine values and a deep belief in what early years education can be.
We are looking for an exceptional Nursery Manager to lead our setting and help us build something we are all genuinely proud of.
The Opportunity
As Nursery Manager, you will hold full operational, strategic and compliance responsibility for the nursery. You will be the primary leader on site, working in close partnership with our Founder and Director to embed our child-led outdoor curriculum, maintain exceptional standards of care and education, and build a strong, happy team.
Your Day to Day
- Leading the overall direction, culture and day to day operations of the nursery
- Embedding our Montessori-inspired, child-led outdoor curriculum across the setting
- Building strong relationships with the Great Ballard School community and external agencies
- Holding overall responsibility for Ofsted readiness, safeguarding and compliance
- Leading recruitment, onboarding, supervision and appraisal for all staff
- Managing budgets, resources and staffing in line with occupancy and growth
- Acting as Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy DSL
- Leading nursery tours and welcoming new families into the setting
- Ensuring robust procedures are in place for the management of children's allergies, medication and dietary requirements
- Ensuring compliance with data protection legislation and safe storage of all records
This is not an exhaustive list. At Seasons we are a small, passionate team and there will always be opportunities to get involved, contribute ideas and help shape the nursery as it grows.
You Will Bring
- A Level 3 qualification in Early Years or above is essential, with significant experience in nursery leadership.
- A Level 5 or higher level qualification in Early Years leadership or management is desirable
- A thorough knowledge of the EYFS, Ofsted requirements and safeguarding legislation
- A genuine passion for outdoor, child-led learning and the Montessori approach
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, support and develop a team
- Excellent communication skills with staff, families and external partners
- A calm, confident approach to managing compliance, challenge and change
What You Can Expect From Us
- £16.00 to £18.00 per hour, dependent on experience and qualifications (2026/27 pay year)
- 30 days annual leave
- Workplace pension (NEST)
- Paid overtime or time off in lieu (TOIL)
- Professional coaching and ongoing CPD
- Regular 1:1s and direct access to senior leadership
- Paid annual Christmas team celebration day
- Genuine opportunities to shape the culture and practice of a growing organisation
About Seasons Nurseries
Seasons Nurseries is a values-led early years organisation committed to delivering exceptional, nature-based, child-led care and education. We are growing, and we are building something we are genuinely proud of.
That means investing in our team, listening carefully, and creating a workplace where people want to stay and grow.
This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. Seasons Nurseries is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
To apply or for an informal chat, please contact Frannie Blunden on 07708 763746 or at [email protected]
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £16.00-£18.00 per hour
Experience:
- Management: 1 year (required)
- Nursery: 2 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- level 3 or equivalent (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
