Job Description

Forest School Managers

To manage the overall operations of the Forest School provision by establishing a clear strategic vision and leading staff development, ensuring the programme remains safe, well-organised, and fully compliant.

Responsibilities

Expectations

Manage the overall operations of the Forest School provision, setting out a clear vision and overseeing staff development.

Demonstrate strong organisational and time management skills to manage all tasks and administrative duties promptly, ensuring deadlines are consistently met and priorities are effectively managed.

Manage time well to finish all jobs on time and to a high standard

A consistent and composed manager who remains calm under pressure, ensuring effective decision-making.

Communicate clearly, positively, and respectfully, always maintaining a professional tone

Oversee the training and development of staff

Oversee staff supervisions and appraisals, conducting a proportion of these.

Carry out joint observations with effective feedback to develop staff's learning and development

Strategic overview of safeguarding

Ensure that staff are trained, and that there is always a DSL on site

policies are adhered to and procedures are followed to safeguard children from harm.

Carry out audits

Strategic Overview of Policy and Procedure

Work closely with leadership to ensure policies and procedures are effectively implemented across all areas of the FS

Ensure consistent application of procedures to maintain high standards across the nursery.

Provide guidance and support to staff to help them follow best practice in daily operations

Strategic overview of Health and safety

Ensure the Forest School and indoor environment provides a safe, secure, and healthy environment for children, staff, parents, and visitors.

Maintain a strategic understanding of all health and safety legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and ensure full compliance.

Oversee the implementation of policies and risk assessments across all areas of the nursery

Oversee a comprehensive risk assessment process, ensuring risks are identified, recorded, and managed effectively.

Review and approve room, activity, and outdoor area risk assessments to ensure they are proportionate and current.

Monitor patterns of incidents/accidents or near-misses to identify trends and address potential hazards proactively.

Ensure Compliance and Monitoring

Ensure that all aspects of nursery operation comply with:

EYFS statutory requirements

Local authority health and safety standards

Fire Safety and Evacuation Procedures

Fire drills are carried out regularly

Recording of fire drills and actions required.

Checking fire alarms and smoke alarms.

Emergency lighting.

Fire extinguisher checks.

Lock down procedures

Evacuating children off site

To manage QuickBooks receipts in a timely manner and meet all deadlines

Capture receipts

Review and Categorise Receipts

Match Receipts to Transactions

Attach Receipts to Transactions

Managing occupancy

Continued planning, monitoring, and adjustment to ensure that the number of children enrolled matches available capacity, staffing levels, and legal requirements. Occupancy is maintained and any gaps are reported

Track enquiries and waiting lists

-- keep detailed records of prospective families, start dates, and preferred schedules.

Monitor trends

-- seasonal patterns, local population changes, or marketing effects.

Offer places strategically

-- fill available sessions while maintaining ratio compliance.

Confirm and record attendance patterns

-- full-time, part-time, or flexible bookings.

Schedule staff according to occupancy

-- ensure ratios are met without overstaffing.

Use bank staff

to handle fluctuations.

Plan for absences and holidays

so occupancy isn't compromised

Compliance and Reporting

Maintain accurate registers

and occupancy records for inspections.

Ensure ratio and place compliance

at all times.

Report occupancy statistics

to Operating board and Trusties as required.

Continuous Improvement

Review occupancy data

to identify trends and bottlenecks.

Gather parent feedback

on session times and availability.

Refine forecasting and scheduling

to improve efficiency

To Ensure the efficient marketing and promotion of the Forest School

Promote vacancies

-- through social media, local advertising, open days.

Encourage re-enrolment

-- during school holidays increasing sessions.

Build strong parent relationships

to improve retention rates and encourage sibling spaces

To build strong relationships with the community

To manage Early Years (EY) funding

Effectively ensure financially stability and compliance with local authority requirements. Understand policy.

Understand Funding Entitlements

Be familiar with the entitlements:

Universal Entitlement: 15 funded hours for all 3-4-year-olds.

Extended Entitlement (30 hours): For eligible working parents.

Two-Year-Old Funding: For families meeting certain criteria.

EYPP (Early Years Pupil Premium) and Disability Access Fund (DAF) where applicable.

Verify Children's Eligibility

Collect eligibility codes

from parents (e.g., 30-hour codes).

Validate codes

on the government's

Eligibility Checking System through Sentinel

Reconfirm codes termly

(parents must do this every 3 months).

Record evidence

of eligibility (keep securely for audit).

Submit monthly claims

Manage Funding Claims

Submit headcount data

by the LA deadline each term (Autumn, Spring, Summer).

Record funded hours

accurately -- include stretched offers (e.g., 48 weeks instead of 38).

Keep attendance registers

and ensure hours claimed match attendance.

Check remittance advice

from the LA once payments are received.

Communicate with Parents

Provide a Parent Declaration Form

-- must include:

Child's details, funded hours, and attendance pattern.

Start date and confirmation of eligibility.

Parent signatures and date.

Explain funding clearly

:

Which hours are funded.

Any charges for extras (meals, nappies, late fees, etc.).

What happens if eligibility changes.

Handle Changes During the Term

Update records if:
A child leaves, increases, or decreases sessions.

Eligibility changes mid-term.

Notify the LA

promptly

To effectively manage one off billing and checking of invoices and meet all deadlines

Monthly bill checking

cross-check hours vs. payment

problem solve any issues

Report backs any inaccuracies to admin

Send out one off bills for children attending additional days

To ensure that all correspondence is answered quicky and effectively

Emails to be answered in a timely manner to ensure the smooth running of the forest school

To oversee hygiene kitchen to protect from foodborne illness and to comply with environmental health and childcare regulations.

Understand Legal and Regulatory Requirements

Comply with local authority and Food Standards Agency (FSA)

regulations. Ensure all kitchen staff are trained in

Food Hygiene Level 2 (or higher)

. Register your nursery kitchen with the local Environmental Health Department. Keep up to date with

Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB)

or equivalent guidelines.

Oversee and carry out regular checks and audits for:

Cleaning and sanitising duties.

Temperature checks. Waste disposal and stock rotation.

Oversee that cleaning and Sanitising Procedures are in place

Ensure daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning schedule are maintained for:

Food preparation surfaces. Sinks, taps, and splashbacks. Fridges, freezers, and ovens. Utensils, chopping boards, and equipment. Floors, bins, and storage areas. Ensure that

food-safe cleaning products

are being used and are labelled and stored separately. Keep

cleaning logs

signed and dated after each task.

Manage Personal Hygiene of Staff

Ensure that staff:

wear

clean uniforms, aprons, and hair coverings

.

Jewellery is removed (except plain wedding bands).

cuts are covered with

blue waterproof plasters

.

All illnesses (especially diarrhoea or vomiting) and exclude affected staff per policy.

Clear communication

Oversee the liaison with cook to ensure that the number of children correlates to the food portions. All allergies and intolerances are communicated in a timely manner.

Oversee the effective use of rotas for staff

I

nvolve leads in rota drafts to ensure practicality.

Ensure rotas provide adequate staff coverage in line with EYFS ratios for each age group. Plan schedules in advance, considering staff availability, qualifications, and sessional needs. Balance staff hours fairly while maintaining operational efficiency

.

Consult with staff about preferences, part-time patterns, and leave requests where possible. Encourage open communication to accommodate reasonable requests without disrupting ratios. Make staff available, where possible, to support at other Rainbow settings.

To oversee the effective management of risks

Forest school promotes being outdoors in all weather, but there are times when it is necessary to move indoors. This will be based on a risk assessment and could include:

Severe weather or unsafe weather -high winds, electrical storms, heavy snow ice, where it is unsafe or children can't get warm. Actions should be put in place to warm up

Severe heat - where children show signs of heat exhaustion

The site has become unsafe, trees and structures have become unsafe Flooding makes access danagerous
Intruders on site

Establish a clear plan that all staff are aware of the procedures

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 38,000.00-42,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Additional leave Company events Company pension Employee discount On-site parking Private medical insurance
Application question(s):

Do you have 3 years plus managerial experience in Childcare? Do you value & understand the importance of outdoor education in Early Years?
Education:

Diploma of Higher Education (required)
Work Location: In person