Pre-School Manager
JOB TITLE Orchard Pre-School Manager
GRADE Minimum Level 3-6
SALARY Dependent on qualifications and experience
START DATE 01 September 2026
WORKING HOURS 08:30-16:00 (Mon-Fri) 4 days per week, Term Time
RESPONSIBLE TO Chair of Pre-school committee
RESPONSIBLE FOR Senior Practitioner, Junior Practitioner, SENDCO
PURPOSE OF JOB To provide safe, high quality education and care for early years children. To fulfil legal and statutory requirements. To lead and manage staff on a day-to-day basis. To contribute to and to implement early years policies. To ensure that all statutory, legal and setting obligations are followed and met.
Safeguarding requirement: Orchard Pre-school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. It is a requirement of all staff that they share this commitment and follow the prescribed policy and procedures to continuously promote a culture of safeguarding across the whole organisation.
Main duties:
1. To take responsibility for drawing up long-term, medium-term and sessional curriculum plans which take into account the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), and to monitor the effectiveness of the setting’s curriculum; this may include working with external professionals.
2. To be responsible for providing a high quality of education and learning, ensuring that staff are properly deployed, and to offer appropriate stimulation and support to the children attending the setting.
3. To have an appropriate action plan in place which enables the setting to achieve and maintain a minimum good Ofsted rating at the next inspection.
4. To take responsibility for ensuring that performance management systems are in place and followed, e.g. induction, probation, supervision, team meetings, appraisals and objective setting.
5. To ensure that staff are appropriately supported to carry out their role effectively, including the Early Years SENDCO.
6. To draw up and to supervise the daily programme of activities and events.
7. To be responsible for implementing systems of observation and record keeping so that children’s progress and achievements are effectively and regularly assessed; to monitor the effectiveness of assessment procedures.
8. To organise the key person system and to effectively supervise staff on a daily basis; to be responsible for monitoring the quality of teaching; to participate in staff appraisals and to identify in-service training needs.
9. To ensure that the welfare and safety of children is promoted within the setting and that any child protection concerns are always acted upon appropriately and immediately.
10. To work closely with the pre-school administrator, having weekly scheduled meetings to review matters arising, exchange key information and review fininaces.
11. To liaise closely with parents/carers, informing them about the setting and its curriculum, exchanging information about children’s progress and encouraging parents’ involvement.
12. To ensure that Orchard Pre-school is a safe environment for children, staff and others, that equipment is safe, standards of hygiene are high, safety procedures are implemented at all times and fire drills are regularly practised.
13. To liaise with The Committee, Ofsted services and other professionals as necessary and ensure that all legal and statutory requirements are implemented, and to provide reports as required.
14. To implement any recommendations made following regulatory inspections.
15. To contribute to and implement all the setting’s policies and procedures including those relating to anti-bribery at work, confidentiality, equality and diversity, food safety, health and safety, register and signing out procedures, safeguarding, setting hygiene and whistleblowing. This is not an exhaustive list of the setting’s procedure.
16. To manage the petty cash system and to ensure that any systems for income collection or invoicing are followed.
17. To attend any conferences, training events or meetings, as identified by the committee and to keep up-to-date with current good practice.
18. To ensure that accurate and up-to-date record keeping systems are in place, e.g. children’s records of progress and any behavioural and development reports, any safeguarding issues, health and safety issues, notes taken at staff supervision meetings, details of targets set and of any performance concerns discussed.
19. To ensure that the setting complies with the General Data Protection Regulation and that staff receive appropriate training and guidance.
20. To undertake any other reasonable duties as directed by the committee in accordance with the setting’s business plan/objectives.
This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties and the post holder will be required to undertake any other reasonable duties discussed and directed by the line manager. The post holder is also expected to be flexible and adaptable in their approach to fulfilling their duties.
Person specification
Essential criteria:
1. At least two years’ proven experience of working in an early years care and education setting or at least two years’ other suitable experience.
2. Level 3 early years education and childcare qualification or equivalent, and a commitment to obtaining a level 4 qualification.
3. Ability to ensure that the setting achieves and maintains at least a good Ofsted rating.
4. Sound understanding of child development, and of children’s needs.
5. Ability to plan and implement a pre-school curriculum, taking into account the SEN Code of Practice, child protection procedures and equal opportunities considerations.
6. Demonstrable and detailed knowledge of current legislation relevant to the early years.
7. Understanding of the Prevent Duty in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, as it relates to early years settings.
8. Ability to comply with the requirements placed on the setting by the EYFS.
9. Ability to work with parents and families to encourage their involvement.
10. Ability to effectively market the setting to maximise occupancy levels and fee income.
11. Ability to effectively lead and manage a team of adults, including conducting performance management processes e.g. induction, supervision meetings, appraisals and setting objectives.
12. Demonstrate a commitment to continuously promoting a culture of safeguarding.
13. Commitment to equal opportunities and an understanding of equality and diversity issues.
14. Ability to write clear reports.
15. Knowledge of data protection and information management practices and their application within the setting.
Desirable criteria:
1. Level 4 or above early years education and childcare qualification or degree.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and does require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check. Applicants must be prepared to disclose any convictions they may have and any orders which have been made against them.
Pay: £24,420.00-£28,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
