Job Summary
We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Playgroup Manager to oversee our 2026-2027 year of playgroup.
This is a maternity cover role position, covering our playgroup manager whilst on maternity leave.
This role involves managing daily operations, ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for children, and supporting staff and parents. The ideal candidate will possess strong management skills, a passion for early childhood education, and experience working with young children.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone committed to fostering a positive learning atmosphere within a childcare setting.
The role holder will work in partnership with the deputy lead practitioner to ensure the smooth running of the setting.
This role is comprised of four main components:
1. Playgroup Practitioner - Providing direct childcare within sessions.
2. Manager - Leading and organising the team.
3. Administrative - Carrying out relevant administrative duties alongside a playgroup administrator
4. Liaison - working alongside the Cramond Kirk halls staff and the Cramond Playgroup committee alongside playgroup administrator
1. Playgroup Practitioner – Providing direct childcare within sessions
● Manage the daily running of the playgroup including devising, planning and offering resources to provide a safe, high-quality environment for the care and well- being of children. Ensuring adult to child ratios are met.
● Ensure the set up of the playgroup at the beginning of the session and ensure that all resources are tidied away at the end.
● To provide children choice in their daily activities whilst in playgroup.
● Carry out, implement and maintain risk assessments and policies relevant to playgroup tasks.
● Have positive and constructive interaction with parents, including assisting in meeting and greeting parents and provide feedback to them at the end of sessions and at other times as appropriate.
● Ensure children are treated individually, with sensitivity and respect.
● Have an awareness of cultural, social and religious diversity.
● To manage snack purchase.
2. Management – Leading and organising the team
● Manage and supervise all staff, volunteers and students on a day-to-day basis.
● Conduct staff appraisals with chairperson and identify training needs for yourself and your team. Also, attend an appraisal for yourself with the voluntary management committee once during the year.
● To attend and organise in-service training courses and any council/care inspectorate meetings as required.
● Organise the weekly staff rota, timesheets, holiday requests, report sickness.
● Manage, and develop staff.
● Organise any DBS checks for all staff, committee members and volunteers.
● To proactively resolve any concerns held by yourself or other employees e.g. over children, parents or the safety of equipment, preserving confidentiality as necessary.
3. Administrative – carrying out relevant administrative duties, jointly with, and through directing the administrative assistant.
● To prepare the annual returns for the Care Inspectorate.
● To ensure all mandatory records are kept up to date and accurate including key documents like the register of attendance and the accident and incident book. Also, any emergency contact and medical forms where required.
● Preparing the register, waiting list, attendance overview.
● Recording extra ad hoc sessions and reporting these to the treasurer to process.
● Order any stationery, resources and toys as required.
● Respond to phone calls and emails in a timely manner.
● Email newsletters, announcements via email to parents.
● Maintain Parents’ WhatsApp group and Email Group
● Co-ordinate Fundraising activities with Staff, Committee and External Parties
● Manage playgroup waiting list
● To keep confidential any information regarding the children, their families or other staff which is learned as part of the job.
● Complete other administrative roles such as annual insurance, memberships to EYS and the Care inspectorate portal etc
4. Liaison – Working alongside the Cramond Kirk Hall staff and the Cramond Playgroup committee and other 3rd parties as required
● Report at playgroup Committee meetings and liaise and work with the Committee as required.
● Provide regular forecasting to the Voluntary Management Committee on children numbers.
● Help support the recruitment and enrolment of the voluntary management committee.
● Liaise with 3rd parties to deliver playgroup services, such as the Kirk Hall, Event supply firms. Build and maintain good relationships.
Education
● Candidates will hold the relevant qualifications for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) as a Practice Manager, or be willing to work towards these within a conditioned timeframe from appointment (i.e. Holds, or is working towards, SVQ Level 4, or equivalent such as a PDA level 9 in childcare)
Experience
● Proven management and leadership skills within an Early Education and Childcare environment.
● Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of child development and early years learning.
● Experience in planning and delivering both indoor and outdoor play and learning resources.
● Confident in the use of technology; experience with word processing and spreadsheet packages is desirable.
Requirements
● Adhere to Cramond Playgroup policies and Early Years Scotland codes of conduct.
● Work to Health and Social Care Standards and use Scottish Government national guidelines to plan and provide for children’s care, learning and development.
● Register with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) as Practice Manager and adhere to the Code of Practice for Social Services Workers and the Care Inspectorate.
● Abide by the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme.
The successful applicant will demonstrate
● Warm, respectful, and enthusiastic attitude towards children.
● A friendly, approachable manner when dealing with staff, parents, and children.
● Flexibility to work out with core hours when required.
● Manage working hours and liaison with parents and partners within working hours (8am - 6pm)
● Good timekeeping and attention to detail.
● An understanding of the importance of treating children with sensitivity and respect.
● Awareness of issues relating to child protection and safeguarding.
● Excellent communication and organisational skills.
● Strong interpersonal and teamworking skills.
● Good administrative skills, with confidence in using digital tools.
● A willingness to undertake ongoing training and professional development.
The successful candidate will play a vital part in supporting families during this transitional period while ensuring the highest standards of childcare are maintained.
Pay: £20,000.00-£24,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
