What skills and experience we're looking for
Do you want to make a difference in the lives of young children?
Join our team as a Trust Nursery Manager!
Are you a passionate and dedicated early years professional with a proven track record of delivering high-quality childcare? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, stimulating environment and have a natural ability to lead and inspire? If so, this is an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Trust Nursery Manager. This is a brand new role in the Trust.
About the Role:
As a Trust Nursery Manager, you will be responsible for the development and daily management of the nursery, ensuring a high standard of learning, development and care for children aged 0-5 years. This is an opportunity to shape a nurturing environment where children can thrive. You'll be supported by a network of professionals and will report to the Director of Nurseries.
What you will do:
• Lead and inspire: Manage, supervise, and support nursery staff, fostering a positive and collaborative team environment.
• Create a stimulating environment: Plan an appropriate play-based Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, both indoors and outdoors, that enables children to make individual progress.
• Ensure compliance and quality: Maintain the highest standards by ensuring the nursery meets Ofsted requirements, relevant regulations and guidelines at all times.
• Champion child development: Take responsibility for planning which ensures each child is working towards the early learning goals.
• Develop staff: Conduct staff appraisals and supervisions, identifying training needs.
• Build partnerships: Liaise closely with parents/carers, and work in partnership with senior management to continually improve the nursery.
• Drive improvement: Lead on nursery improvement and engage with regular coaching and monitoring of the provision.
• Promote safety and welfare: Actively promote the safety and welfare of all children.
• Manage resources effectively: Oversee the purchase and maintenance of nursery equipment and resources within the allocated budget.
• Ensure seamless transitions: Work in partnership with the wider community to ensure smooth transitions of children from the nursery to Reception Class.
• Be an ambassador for the nursery and school, and maintain a positive image of its aims and objectives.
What you'll bring:
• Essential Qualifications: Minimum Level 3 qualification in Early Years deemed full and relevant, Paediatric First Aid, Food Hygiene Certificate, GCSE grade ‘C’ or above in Maths and English, and up-to-date safeguarding training.
• Experience: A minimum of 2 years recent experience working in a preschool or nursery setting, ideally already in a senior practitioner or room leader role.
• Knowledge and Skills: Excellent working knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and current Ofsted statutory guidance.
• Proven abilities: You will have the ability to write reports and keep clear and accurate records, as well as an excellent understanding of the importance of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
• Personal Attributes: You should be reliable, enthusiastic, flexible, calm and caring, with the ability to perform under stress, and a genuine passion for and belief in the potential of every child
• Communication: You must have excellent verbal and communication skills with children and parents, and must be able to speak fluent English
What the school offers its staff
What we offer:
• This is a brand new role for the Trust, and gives you the chance to be involved in our Nursery from it's inception.
• An opportunity to lead a dedicated team in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• A chance to make a real difference in the lives of young children.
• Regular opportunities for professional development and training
LEO Academy Trust champions continuous professional development and delivers a programme of in house CPD. We also work with a range of partners to offer accessible training for all staff.
We believe in the importance of succession planning, and that we are well placed to support you in your next challenge. We offer opportunities to work across different academies within the Trust, and a commitment to promotion opportunities, encouraging ‘home grown’ talent.
Further details about the role
Please be aware:
• This role can only be worked in the UK from the location provided and not from overseas.
• For this role the Trust would not consider sponsoring a Certificate of Sponsorship/visa. Please note we are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.
• Feedback will only be provided upon request if you attend an interview.
• In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidelines, the Trust will use internet searches, including social media searches to perform pre- employment checks on candidates in the course of recruitment. The Trust will act in accordance with its data protection and equal opportunities obligations.
• Employees working in any role that requires them to communicate with pupils, parents, guardians, staff and / or members of the community, must be able to speak fluent English to enable the effective performance of the role and to ensure that they are able to abide by their safeguarding responsibilities.
• LEO Academy Trust is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a supportive and inclusive working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills. Applications are invited from all members of the community. We do not discriminate against staff on the basis of age; race; sex; disability; sexual orientation; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; religion, faith or belief (Equality Act 2010 protected characteristics). The principles of non-discrimination and equality of opportunity also apply to the way in which staff and Trust treat visitors, volunteers, contractors and former staff members.
• Shortlisting will be undertaken as applications are received, with successful candidates contacted for the next stage in the selection process. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as the Trust reserves the right to remove the advert when a successful candidate is appointed.
Commitment to safeguarding
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. All employees of the Trust are deemed to be in regulated activity with children and as such, all offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, and for this role, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed amongst other checks as appropriate. All shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a declaration regarding offences and have references requested (unless agreed otherwise), prior to the interview.