Growing Places Nursery is looking to recruit a passionate, highly motivated, and experienced Nursery Deputy Manager to join our friendly and dedicated team.
This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic Early Years professional who is ready to take the next step in their career or further develop their leadership skills within a supportive, child-centred environment.
About the Role
As Deputy Manager, you will work closely with the Nursery Manager to support the day-to-day running, management, and development of the nursery. You will play a key role in ensuring the highest standards of care, education, safeguarding, and wellbeing are maintained while supporting, motivating, and inspiring the staff team.
We are looking for someone who is passionate about delivering outstanding early years education, building positive relationships with families, and creating environments where children can flourish through curiosity, exploration, and investigation.
Responsibilities of the Deputy Manager
- Support the Nursery Manager in the effective day-to-day operation and development of the nursery.
- Lead, motivate, and support staff to maintain consistently high standards of care and education.
- Promote a positive, nurturing, and stimulating environment that supports every child's individual learning journey.
- Role model best practice and support staff through coaching, mentoring, reflective practice, and professional development.
- Assist with occupancy management, staffing levels, staff costs, and the effective use of nursery resources and equipment.
- Support the administration and management of the nursery, including maintaining records using computerised management systems.
- Build strong partnerships with parents, carers, local schools, children's centres, and other professional agencies.
- Encourage effective two-way communication with families while always maintaining confidentiality.
- Support observation, assessment, planning, and tracking processes to ensure children's individual needs are met and their progress is effectively monitored.
- Help create engaging, well-planned learning environments with open-ended resources that encourage curiosity, exploration, and independence.
- Support staff in recording children's progress, planning next steps, and maintaining high-quality documentation.
- Participate in staff meetings, room meetings, and company network meetings, contributing to the ongoing development of the nursery.
- Ensure all safeguarding, health and safety, cleanliness, housekeeping, and hygiene standards are maintained.
- Assist with opening and closing procedures and ensure company policies and procedures are followed consistently.
- Contribute to the nursery's action plans, ethos, vision, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Keep up to date with current early years legislation, research, and best practice, sharing knowledge and ideas with the team.
What We're Looking For
The successful candidate will have:
- A relevant Early Years qualification (Level 3 or above).
- Previous experience in a senior childcare, room leader, third in charge, or leadership role.
- A strong understanding of the EYFS, safeguarding, and current early years legislation.
- Excellent communication, organisational, and leadership skills.
- Experience supporting staff development and leading by example.
- The ability to build positive relationships with children, families, colleagues, and external professionals.
- A flexible, proactive, and positive approach to work.
- A genuine passion for supporting children's learning, development, and wellbeing.
Why Join Growing Places?
- Competitive Salary
- Performance related pay
- Additional day off for your birthday
- Discounted childcare
- Ongoing professional development and training
- Access to specialist support and expertise, including SEN, outdoor learning, physical development and Atelierista practice
- Long service rewards – e.g. increased holiday entitlement, after 5 years' service
- Free lunch, homemade by our cook
If you are an enthusiastic Early Years professional who is ready to make a positive impact and help lead a dedicated team, we would love to hear from you.
Apply today and become part of the Growing Places family.
Safer recruitment
Growing Places is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect this commitment and include enhanced DBS checks, reference checks, identity verification, and suitability assessments.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Where applicable, candidates must disclose all spent and unspent cautions and convictions, unless protected under DBS filtering rules.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £30,000.00-£39,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
Education:
- A-Level or equivalent (required)
Experience:
- Childcare: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person
