Job Description

Deputy Manager (Welsh Medium) - Children's Day Nursery

Location:

Bettws, Newport, Wales

Salary:

28,000 per annum

Hours:

Full-time, 40 hours per week

About Hafan Hael Bettws

Hafan Hael Bettws

is a thriving Welsh medium children's day nursery, passionate about providing a nurturing, stimulating, and fully bilingual environment where every child can flourish. We believe in fostering a love for the Welsh language and culture from an early age, alongside delivering exceptional care and early years education in line with the Curriculum for Wales and Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) regulations. We're looking for a passionate and experienced Deputy Manager to join our dedicated team and help us continue to deliver high-quality, Welsh-medium provision.

The Role

As Deputy Manager, you'll be a vital part of our leadership team, directly supporting the Nursery Manager in the daily operation and strategic development of the nursery. This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll be instrumental in ensuring the highest standards of care, education, and Welsh language immersion. You'll achieve this by directly leading, mentoring, and supporting our practitioners within the rooms, ensuring exceptional practice across all age groups. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of early years practice, and a fluent command of the Welsh language.

Key Responsibilities

Direct Room Leadership & Practitioner Support: Deputise for the Nursery Manager in their absence, taking full responsibility for the effective running of the nursery, with a primary focus on the quality of practice within the rooms. Directly lead, supervise, and mentor all practitioners within the nursery rooms, ensuring high standards of child-centred care and education are consistently maintained. Conduct regular observations and provide constructive feedback to staff, supporting their professional development and promoting a culture of continuous improvement. Lead daily briefings and team discussions, ensuring effective communication and collaboration amongst the room teams. Support the Nursery Manager in the recruitment, induction, and ongoing development of all nursery staff.

Welsh Medium Provision Excellence

You will be our Welsh language champion and ensure the consistent and natural use of the Welsh language throughout the nursery, actively promoting a fully immersive bilingual environment for children and staff. Oversee the development and delivery of the Welsh medium curriculum, ensuring it aligns with the Curriculum for Wales and effectively promotes children's language acquisition and cultural understanding. Provide direct guidance and support to staff in developing their Welsh language skills and confidence in using Welsh in their daily practice. Actively promote Welsh culture through engaging songs, stories, and activities.

Childcare & Education Quality

You will lead by example in providing high-quality, child-centred care and education, ensuring the individual needs of all children are met. Oversee and support the effective planning, delivery, and assessment of engaging and developmentally appropriate activities for all age groups. Act as a key person for a group of children, observing their progress, maintaining accurate records, and fostering strong relationships with their families. Ensure all safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures are rigorously adhered to, acting as a Designated Safeguarding Lead in the absence of the manager.

Compliance & Operational Oversight

Work collaboratively to ensure the nursery consistently meets and exceeds all requirements set by Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW), Estyn and other relevant statutory bodies. Assist the Manager during CIW inspections and support the implementation of any recommendations effectively at the room level. Oversee the maintenance of accurate records and documentation related to child progress, staff development, and key worker responsibilities.

Partnership Working:

Develop and maintain strong, positive relationships with parents/carers, ensuring open communication regarding children's progress and well-being. Liaise effectively with external professionals, such as speech and language therapists, health visitors, and Early Years Additional Learning Needs, as required.

Essential Requirements

Fluent in Welsh (oral and written) - essential for this Welsh medium role.

A full and relevant

Level 3 childcare qualification

(e.g. CCPLD L3, or equivalent recognised by Social Care Wales). Demonstrable experience in a

supervisory or direct leadership role within a children's day nursery setting

, with proven ability to lead and support a team of practitioners. Thorough knowledge and understanding of the Curriculum for Wales, National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare, and CIW regulations. Up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organisational skills. A compassionate, patient, and enthusiastic approach to working with children and families. Ability to work effectively as part of a team and demonstrate strong leadership. High standard of It skills including use of App based childcare monitoring software and experience in completing registers and returns for Flying Start, Childcare Offer for Wales and NMRU
Desirable Skills/Qualifications

Level 4 or 5 qualification in leadership and management within early years (e.g., City and Guilds Level 4 Preparing for Leadership and Management in Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development). Experience of working with children with additional learning needs. Current 12 hour Paediatric First Aid Certificate Playwork L3
Benefits

Competitive salary and opportunities for professional development. Opportunities to work within other nurseries within the group. Supportive and collaborative team environment. Opportunity to make a real difference in children's early years and their Welsh language journey. Free uniform (optional for managerial staff), staff discounts, pension scheme, paid training opportunities, additional paid time off over Christmas shutdown period.
To Apply

If you are a dedicated and experienced early years professional with a passion for the Welsh language and a desire to directly lead and support a thriving nursery team, we encourage you to apply! Please submit your CV to hello@pitterpatterplay.com by Midday on 11 June 2025.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. Early applications are encouraged

Pitter Patter Play Ltd t/a Hafan Hael Bettws is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. This position is subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: From 27,456.00 per year

Benefits:

Additional leave Company events Company pension Employee discount Employee mentoring programme Language training provided
Schedule:

10 hour shift 8 hour shift Monday to Friday No weekends
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 11/06/2025
Reference ID: PPP/2805
Expected start date: 07/07/2025