Kindergarten Development Lead
An Opportunity to Lead, Inspire and Grow
We are seeking an experienced early years professional to join Discover Outdoors and Nature’s Way Forest Kindergarten in a newly created leadership position that bridges high-quality practice, curriculum excellence and organisational development.
This role has been designed for an individual who is passionate about early childhood education and is ready to take the next step in their professional journey. It offers the opportunity to move beyond being a practitioner and instead influence the experiences of all children, families and practitioners within our kindergarten.
Working alongside the Directors and Senior Leadership Team, you will play a key role in shaping the future direction of the kindergarten through mentoring staff, developing curriculum practice, strengthening systems and supporting sustainable growth.
Position
Job Title: Kindergarten Development Lead
Hours: 35 hours per week
Working Pattern: 5 days per week, 7 hours per day
Contract: Permanent, Year-Round
Holiday Entitlement: 6 weeks paid holiday pro rata
Salary: £25,000 - £28,000
Purpose of the Role
To provide leadership across curriculum, quality and professional practice, ensuring every child experiences exceptional learning opportunities.
The successful candidate will support and mentor practitioners, lead continuous improvement initiatives, develop systems and processes, and work collaboratively with leadership to grow and strengthen the kindergarten for the future.
Key Areas of Responsibility
Quality & Curriculum Leadership
· Lead the development and implementation of a high-quality, child-centred curriculum.
· Support practitioners to plan meaningful learning experiences that reflect children's interests, needs and developmental stages, ensuring activities, environments and experiences promote all aspects of children's individual development.
· Monitor children's progress and cohort outcomes to evaluate curriculum effectiveness and ensure positive developmental outcomes across the kindergarten.
· Ensure practice consistently reflects EYFS requirements and best practice.
· Develop innovative approaches to outdoor learning and forest school pedagogy.
· Lead effective systems for observation, assessment and learning documentation, ensuring children's progress is accurately tracked and shared with families through termly reports, two-year checks and transition processes.
Staff Development and Mentoring
- Act as a mentor and coach for practitioners.
- Support staff to improve confidence, knowledge and professional practice.
- Deliver reflective practice sessions and curriculum development meetings.
- Oversee the effectiveness of the key worker system, supporting practitioners to build strong relationships with children and families and ensuring consistent, high-quality practice.
- Contribute to staff supervisions and professional development planning.
- Identify training needs and support career progression pathways.
- Champion a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement
- Lead quality improvement initiatives across the kindergarten.
- Support the review and development of policies and procedures.
- Contribute to self-evaluation and improvement planning.
- Monitor standards and ensure consistency of practice across the team.
- Support Ofsted readiness and ongoing compliance.
- Develop systems and processes that strengthen curriculum delivery, assessment, communication and overall quality of provision.
Growth and Development
· Support the strategic growth of the kindergarten.
· Lead and strengthen parent partnerships, ensuring communication with families is meaningful, consistent and supports children's learning and development.
· Coordinate parents' evenings, open days, family events and opportunities for parental engagement.
· Organise community visits, partnerships and curriculum enrichment opportunities that enhance children's experiences and connection with the wider world.
· Support admissions, transitions and family engagement processes.
· Build relationships with local schools and community partners.
· Contribute ideas that improve sustainability and long-term development.
Safeguarding, Health & Safety and Compliance
- Designated safeguarding lead DSL
- Promote a culture of safeguarding and child protection.
- Support compliance with EYFS, safeguarding and health and safety requirements.
- Ensure policies and procedures are understood and implemented consistently.
- Contribute to risk management and quality assurance processes.
What We Can Offer
This role offers far more than employment; it offers a professional pathway.
We are committed to supporting the successful candidate to achieve their long-term aspirations within early years education and leadership.
This includes:
- Funded professional development opportunities.
- Support towards Early Years Teacher Status (EYTT).
- Regular mentoring and leadership coaching.
- Opportunities to contribute to wider business development.
- Exposure to strategic leadership and organisational growth.
- The opportunity to shape and influence a unique and innovative outdoor early years provision.
- Future opportunities for increased leadership responsibilities as the organisation grows.
Ideal Candidate
We are looking for someone who:
- Has significant experience working with young children.
- Demonstrates strong understanding of child development and the EYFS.
- Is passionate about high-quality early years education.
- Enjoys supporting and developing others.
- Can think strategically as well as practically.
- Has strong organisational and communication skills.
- Is excited by the opportunity to influence quality across a whole setting.
- Wants to continue growing professionally and developing leadership skills.
This role would particularly suit an experienced childminder, room leader, deputy manager or senior practitioner looking to take the next step into educational leadership and quality improvement.
Pay: £25,000.00-£28,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee mentoring programme
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
