Job Description

Nursery Manager

Little Crickets Forest School

Our increasingly popular Little Crickets Forest School is located in the historic grounds of Dean Park Cricket Pavilion. It provides a wonderfully unique and truly exciting opportunity to grow and develop our nursery and we are incredibly lucky to call these expansive grounds our home. There is so much potential to welcome more families and build on the future of Little Crickets and we are looking for someone with a real passion for Forest School learning who can actively promote and celebrate all it has to offer!

As a dedicated and experienced Nursery Manager, leading our well-established, enthusiastic team, this role is ideal for someone with strong leadership skills, a passion for early years education, and a commitment to outdoor, nature-based learning. The successful candidate will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the nursery, ensuring the delivery of high-quality care and education within a Forest School setting.

The successful candidate will, ideally, hold a Forest School qualification (Level 3) or possess a strong willingness to undertake Forest School training as a priority.

Little Crickets Forest School is closely aligned with Park School and Nursery and Dean Park Day Nursery, with all three settings overseen by the Head of Park School. This collaboration offers a strong, supportive network and shared values across our provision, ensuring consistency and high standards throughout.

The Role

As Nursery Manager, you'll:

Lead the day-to-day running of the setting, ensuring high standards of care and education. Champion the Forest School approach, embedding it across all areas of practice. Manage, support, and inspire a small, dedicated team of practitioners. Build strong partnerships with families and the wider community. Oversee safeguarding, health & safety, and compliance with EYFS and Ofsted requirements.

How to apply:

Please submit your CV to

hr@parkschool.co.uk

Salary: 35K-38K

Working Hours: 40-hours per week on a rota basis.

Qualifications and Experience: minimum three years' experience in an Early Years setting and one years' leadership experience. Must hold an approved EYFS qualification at Level 3 or above and a suitable level 2 qualification in maths.

Early applications are advised as the Nursery reserves the right to appoint at any stage during the application process.

Park School and Little Crickets Forest School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. All posts are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and all successful applicants will undergo safeguarding screening including an enhanced DBS and Barred List check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Line Manager

Mrs Nadia Ward, Head of Park School

Leads -

All Nursery Practitioners and Admin team staff.

Overview

To manage the efficient running of the LCFS setting, co-ordinating the staff on a day-to-day basis and overseeing the learning, development and care of the children.

To develop and oversee the provision of an excellent early years education, providing a stimulating and engaging learning environment for all children.

To be responsible for the oversight and implementation of the EYFS ensuring that the nursery is compliant with the legal and statutory requirements therein.

To champion the Forest School approach, embedding it across all areas of practice.

To be the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the setting.

Pupils & Parents

To ensure that curriculum planning is in line with the learning and development requirements of the EYFS and supports each child to work towards their full potential.

Ensure that the curriculum is sharply focussed to build upon what children already know and can do, and ensure this process is clearly and consistently evidenced.

To monitor the effectiveness of the Nursery curriculum.

To hold overall responsibility for maintaining records of assessment and to monitor the effectiveness of assessment procedures.

To organise a highly effective keyworker system and to supervise staff on a daily basis.

To be responsible for monitoring the quality of learning and to participate in staff supervisions, to identify in-service training needs and actively promote staff development.

To ensure pupil records are properly maintained, e.g. daily attendance register and accident and incident and safeguarding logs.

To implement all Nursery policies and procedures.

To ensure that the Nursery is a safe environment for children, that equipment is safe, standards of hygiene are high, and health and safety procedures are implemented at all times.

To liaise closely with parents/carers, informing them about the Nursery and its curriculum, exchanging information about children's progress. To encourage parental involvement and participation in the review and evaluation of the service.

Work with the SLT Team and the Communications & Events Co-ordinator to offer a full and thriving calendar of events both for existing parents and for prospective parents.

Staff

To take responsibility for leading the Nursery staff team, inspiring, motivating and supporting them.

To carry out staff appraisal and regular supervision meetings.

Work to always ensure a positive team culture. Encourage team social events, staff well-being and team spirit.

Put in place robust performance management systems to support practitioners and to promptly address any performance issues.

Ensure that staff present a positive professional image of the Nursery at all times.

To ensure that staff are properly deployed and offer appropriate stimulation and positive opportunities for children to learn and develop.

Marketing & Development

Work to maximise revenue through the efficient selling of nursery places according to Group Ts&Cs.

Monitor and be aware of pupil numbers and key metrics including sessions sold and % capacity sold.

Actively work to promote the Nursery and its provision in the local area with the support of the Communications & Events Co-ordinator

Regulatory & Legal

Keep up to date with Ofsted requirements and areas of focus. Monitor all areas of the Nursery provision to ensure that the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage are fully always met.

To liaise with the relevant professionals in the Local Authority and beyond to ensure that all legal and statutory requirements are implemented; to provide reports as required.

To oversee all aspects of compliance and risk in an outdoor setting.

Financial

Have an understanding of the Nursery business, revenue and costs and work with the SLT to ensure value from costs incurred and promote profitability.

Qualifications & Experience

Minimum three years' experience in an Early Years setting and one years' leadership experience. Must hold an approved qualification at Level 3 or above and a suitable level 2 qualification in maths.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 35,000.00-38,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company events Company pension Discounted or free food Free parking On-site parking Sick pay
Work Location: In person