Quality Manager - South West England
Responsible to: Head of Region
Field based and will work cross functionally
Salary: From £45,000
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Role Overview
Due to continued growth, we are seeking an Early Years Quality Manager to work alongside operational team, supporting multiple nurseries across the region. This is a field-based role working cross-functionally to drive high-quality care, education, and inclusive practice.
The role carries significant responsibility, including conducting regular nursery visits, implementing strategic initiatives, and contributing to the delivery of outstanding care and education that meets the needs of children and families.
As a Quality Manager, you will inspire and motivate teams across multiple sites, bringing strong knowledge of Ofsted standards and the Early Years Inspection Framework (England) and/or the National Minimum Standards (Wales). You will play a key role in embedding best practice in teaching and learning, ensuring high-quality environments, and maintaining strong compliance and safeguarding cultures.
Main Areas of Responsibility
As a Quality Manager, you will play a critical role in driving excellence across our early years settings. You'll be responsible for ensuring high standards of care, education, and compliance, while inspiring and guiding teams to continually improve and innovate.
Quality of Learning
- Conduct regular nursery visits to observe practice, complete environmental audits, and identify areas for improvement.
- Support teams to embed the Future Ready Curriculum and effective planning, observation, and assessment processes.
- Provide hands-on coaching, mentoring, and role modelling to enhance practitioner performance and confidence.
- Support Nursery Managers to develop and implement Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs) aligned to organisational priorities.
- Ensure that those nurseries on targeted improvement plans work with the Quality and Training Team to sustain improved results.
- Contribute to the performance management of Nursery Managers, supporting sustained improvement across all operational areas.
- Hold regular meetings with Nursery Manager to feedback on observations/training needs
Compliance and Safeguarding
- Ensure policies, procedures, and statutory requirements are implemented and adhered to at all times.
- Ensure Nursery Managers complete internal audits and maintain compliance with the EYFS/NMS, safeguarding, health and safety, and wider legislation.
- Clearly define and uphold statutory welfare requirements in line with regulatory guidance.
- Uphold and promote robust safeguarding practice to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children.
Relationship Development and Cross-Site Collaboration
- Build and sustain strong professional relationships across nurseries, promoting collaboration and consistency of practice.
- Facilitate regional and age-phase network meetings (e.g. babies, toddlers, preschool, SEND leads).
- Identify support needs and implement buddying or peer-mentoring arrangements for Room Managers and emerging leaders.
- Promote a culture of trust, shared accountability, and reflective practice.
SEND / ALN and Inclusive Practice
- Support settings to identify, assess, and meet the needs of children with SEND (England) and ALN (Wales).
- Work alongside Nursery Managers and SENCOs/ALNCOs to ensure effective graduated response processes.
- Promote inclusive environments, reasonable adjustments, and adaptive teaching approaches.
- Support partnership working with parents, local authorities, and external professionals.
- Champion inclusive leadership and consistency of SEND / ALN practice across sites.
Recruitment and Workforce Support
- Provide recruitment support where required, including acting as a second interviewer or note taker.
- Support managers experiencing recruitment challenges with interview planning, coordination, and safer recruitment practice.
- Coach managers in values-led recruitment and workforce planning.
Quality Engagement and Innovation
- Support regional and group-wide quality initiatives, including themed improvement focuses or practitioner challenges.
- Contribute to site-wide and regional competitions and engagement activities aligned to quality and values.
- Champion a culture of continuous improvement, celebration, and professional pride.
Operational and Strategic Support
- Support the onboarding of new nursery sites and managers.
- Provide operational support to existing sites, including temporary cover during periods of absence.
- Report to the Head of Region on visit findings, audit outcomes, and improvement actions.
- Contribute to strategic initiatives and support achievement of the KPI target of 25% Strong Standards/outstanding across the portfolio.
- Carry out occasional staff meeting training when required, outside of work hours
Personnel Requirements
- Strong communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
- Confident, collaborative decision-maker.
- Proven experience leading and managing teams.
- In-depth knowledge of early years legislation and regulation.
- Ability to produce high-quality written reports and action plans.
- Resilient, adaptable, and committed to equal opportunities.
Skills and Experience
- Strong knowledge of the EYFS (England) and/or National Minimum Standards (Wales).
- Experience managing or supporting multiple childcare settings.
- Level 3 or higher early years qualification.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding and health and safety requirements.
- Excellent coaching, mentoring, and training skills.
- Ability to build effective relationships with local authorities, inspectors, and families.
Location and Travel
- Field-based role supporting settings across a region.
- Full UK driving license essential.
Safer Recruitment
This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and at least two satisfactory references.
