Job Description

St Austell, Saint Austell PL25, UK Posted 19 hours ago 32,115.20 GBP / Year

Happy Days Nursery at St Austell (

Penrice

) is seeking a passionate and commercially astute Nursery Manager to lead our vibrant setting on a maternity cover basis--with the exciting opportunity to transition into a permanent roaming management role across our Cornwall estate.

About Us

At Happy Days, we believe every child deserves the best start in life. Our St Austell (Penrice) nursery is a purpose-built, welcoming environment where children thrive through our "Where Children Shine" curriculum. As part of a trusted and growing group of nurseries, we are committed to delivering exceptional care, education, and outcomes for children and families.

The Role

As Nursery Manager, you will be responsible for the overall leadership, quality, and commercial performance of the nursery. You will lead a dedicated team, ensure compliance with all statutory requirements, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.



This is a maternity cover position, with the potential to continue in a permanent peripatetic capacity--covering other Happy Days settings in the Cornwall area with leadership, quality assurance, and operational continuity.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the nursery team to deliver outstanding care and education in line with EYFS and Ofsted standards Champion our SHINE values--Support, Honesty, Inspiration, Nurturing, Empowerment--in all aspects of leadership Manage nursery occupancy, budgets, and commercial performance Build strong partnerships with parents, carers, and the local community Oversee recruitment, induction, supervision, and development of staff Ensure robust safeguarding, health & safety, and compliance practices Represent the nursery and the wider Happy Days group with professionalism and integrity

What We're Looking For

Level 3 Early Years qualification (or equivalent) Paediatric First Aid qualification Proven leadership experience in a nursery or early years setting Strong commercial acumen and ability to manage budgets and occupancy Excellent communication, organisational, and decision-making skills Deep understanding of EYFS, Ofsted, and statutory frameworks A collaborative, empathetic, and empowering leadership style

Rewarding Careers

Here at Happy Days we're building a workplace where our colleagues thrive.



We believe that when our colleagues feel valued, supported, and inspired, they can truly thrive--and so can the children in their care. That's why our employee reward and benefits programme is carefully curated to reflect our SHINE values: Support, Honesty, Inspire, Nurture, and Empower.



We offer a range of meaningful benefits designed to support your wellbeing, professional growth, and work-life balance. Our benefits aren't just perks--they're part of a culture that puts people first. They support us build a workplace where you're empowered to thrive every day and where you'll feel valued.

Salary 32,115.20

Quarterly paid performance related bonus

50% childcare discount

Blue Light Card Membership

Life Assurance

Christmas On Us - Up to 4 gifted days off during Christmas closedown

Health and Wellbeing services through SPARK

Ongoing professional development and career growth

A supportive, inclusive team culture

A chance to be part of a nursery where children are truly at the heart of everything we do

"Happy Days Nurseries are committed to the safety and well-being of the children in our care, as such the successful post holder will be required to undergo a robust vetting process, including an enhanced DBS Check and Reference History Checks"