Deputy Head of Nursery & Pre-School

Lancing College; Worthing; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Lancing College in Worthing seeks a Deputy Head of Nursery & Pre-School to lead and develop the EYFS environment. You will oversee curriculum delivery, safety, and inspection readiness, while supporting staff and engaging with parents and the wider school community.

The post requires a Level 3 EYFS qualification, substantial Early Years experience, and strong leadership and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Level 3 qualification in Early Years Education/Childcare (or above).
• Solid understanding of EYFS, safeguarding and ISI standards.
• Significant experience in an Early Years setting.
• Experience guiding or supervising staff.

Responsibilities

• Ensure a safe, caring, stimulating EYFS environment indoors and outdoors.
• Deliver play-based EYFS curriculum and monitor child progress.
• Act as keyperson for a group of children and oversee keypersons.
• Lead safeguarding, safety, compliance and inspection readiness (ISI).
• Engage with parents, conduct tours and support admissions.
• Support wraparound and holiday provisions and admin duties.

Skills

Passion for children

Safeguarding welfare

EYFS knowledge

Leadership ability

Strong communication

Organisational skills

IT skills

First Aid awareness

Education

Level 3 EYFS qualification

Tools

Tapestry familiarity

Job description

Job Title: Deputy Head of Nursery & Pre-School Reporting to: Head of Nursery & Pre-School and Head

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

Safeguarding, Safety & Compliance

• Toalwaysprovide a safe, caring, stimulating educational environment, both indoors and outdoors.
• To ensure the highest standards of safety and security within the Nursery and Pre-School.
• To ensure care, maintenance and security of equipment and toys within the Nursery and Pre-School.
• To adhere to the school and Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) policies with special reference to learning support, safeguarding and child protection, and equal opportunities policies, and to help promote inclusion in the Nursery and Pre-School.
• To support theteam,deliveran appropriateplay-basedEYFS curriculum that enables children to make individual progress and to support other staff in doing so.
• To ensure the Nursery and Pre-School meets all Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspection requirements and is always inspection ready.
• To provide simple first aid when necessary.

Curriculum, Teaching & Learning

• To promotehigh standards, progression,continuityand quality of learning.
• To have a solid understanding of the EYFS curriculum and plan and deliver stimulating, varied,play-basedactivities across all areas of learning.
• Toobservechildren as individuals and in groups andmonitorbehaviour, progress and possible developmental needs, utilising specialistknowledgeand experience.
• To help plan activities which ensure each child is working towards their next steps in learning.
• To act as akeyperson for a group of children, monitoring, assessing,recordingand reporting on their development, ensuring their needs are met and overseeing allkeypersons.
• To set targets and next steps for key children and to write termly reports for key children and to oversee those completed by otherkeypersons.
• To ensure children’s online learning journals are up to date.

Leadership & Staff Management

• Todeputisefor the Head of Nursery and Pre-School.
• Tobe responsible forany tasks delegated by the Head of Nursery and Pre-School.
• To attend Nursery and Pre-School meetings, whole schoolmeetingsand INSET training days as necessary for professional development.

Parent Engagement, Communication & Admissions

• To ensure that first impressions are professional and lasting for parents and prospective parents and that these aremaintainedthroughout the day.
• To conduct tours for prospective parents, providing key information about the Nursery and Pre-School and ensuringtimelyand professionalfollow-up.
• To liaise closely with parents/carers, informing them about the Nursery and Pre-School and its curriculum, exchanging information about children’sprogressand encouraging parents’ involvement.
• To lead parent meetings with parents of children in key groups.
• To support strong Pre-School to Reception progression by supporting a range of transition activities and events across the academic year.
• To attend all LPW Open Mornings torepresentand lead tours of the Nursery and Pre-School to prospective families.
• To support the Head of Nursery andPre-Schoolwith marketing activity, including capturing and sharingappropriate videoand photographic content for use across communication channels such as social media.

Trips, Events & Promotion

• To promote the work and image of theschoolby alwaysmaintaininghigh standardsof personal appearance and adopting a friendly, professional approach to parents, members of the public and the wider community.
• Toassistwith the planning and coordinating of trips and local outings,usingthe Evolve program (training will be provided).
• To keep up to date with current good practice.

Wraparound Care & Holiday Club

• To work flexibly, providing cover for both term-time Wraparound and Holiday Club.
• To assist with the planning and delivery of an appropriate play-based stimulating and varied programme of activities, varying these to suit the age of users.
• To ensure that in Holiday Club the arrival and departure of children is properly recorded andmonitored.

Administration & Other Duties

• Toassistin day-to-day administration and record keeping, following school policies and guidelines.
• To undertake any other reasonable duties as directed by the Head.

Skills and Qualifications

• A genuine passion for working with young children and a commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
• Hold a Level 3 qualification in Early Years Education/Childcare (or above).
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the EYFS Statutory Framework, safeguarding requirements, and ISI regulatory standards.
• Significant experience working within an Early Years setting.
• Experience providing guidance, support, or supervision to other members of staff.
• Ability to support the Head of Nursery and Pre-School with the day-to-day operational management of the nursery.
• Experience monitoring children’s learning, development, and outcomes across the setting.
• Ability to promote high standards of teaching, learning, and care.
• Experience building effective relationships with parents, carers, and external professionals.
• Strong organisational, administrative and IT skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Holds, or is willing to obtain, a current Paediatric First Aid certificate and Food Hygiene certificate.
• Ability to lead the nursery and pre-school in the absence of the Head of Nursery and Pre-School.
• Previous experience in a supervisory, room leader, deputy or management position within an Early Years setting.
• Experience supporting recruitment, induction, training, or staff development.
• Knowledge of the Children Act, ISI requirements and Health and Safety legislation relevant to Early Years settings.
• Experience contributing to inspections, audits or quality improvement initiatives.
• Familiarity with digital systems used for record-keeping and administration, such as Tapestry.

This job description sets out the main duties at the time it was drawn up. Such duties may vary occasionally but without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed, and the candidate will be required to carry out any reasonable requests required by their Line Manager.