Deputy Manager

Fennies Day Nurseries; Maidenhead; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading childcare provider in Maidenhead seeks a Nursery Deputy Manager who will ensure high standards of care and operational excellence. This role involves leading a dedicated team, building strong relationships with families, and driving continuous improvement aligned with the nursery's values. The ideal candidate will have a Level 3 Early Years qualification and knowledge of relevant frameworks. This position offers a competitive salary and a range of benefits including performance bonuses and extensive well-being support.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Performance bonuses up to £750 quarterly

Staff childcare discounts up to 60%

Access to well-being benefits

Up to 33 days of annual leave

Qualifications

• Excellent knowledge of 'Birth to 5 Matters' and typical child development stages.
• Sound understanding of the EYFS.
• Implementation of safeguarding and confidentiality systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the nursery with integrity and ensure high standards of care.
• Champion collaboration with families and colleagues.
• Drive continuous improvement and align with nursery's mission.

Skills

Knowledge of Birth to 5 Matters

Child development stages

Understanding of EYFS

Safeguarding

First Aid

Education

Full and relevant L3 or above Early Years qualification

Minimum grade 4/C in Maths and English GCSE or equivalent

Job description

Job Title: Nursery Deputy Manager
Location: Maidenhead
Salary: Up to £40,000, with the potential to earn a further £3000 in bonuses
Hours: 41.25 hours
Reports to: Nursery Manager

What You’ll Be Doing

• Be All In: You bring deep commitment to leading the nursery with integrity, ensuring high standards of care, safeguarding, and operational excellence across every area of practice.
• Come Together: You champion collaboration, building strong relationships with families, colleagues, and the wider community, and building a culture of trust, transparency, and shared purpose.
• Be Yourself: You lead with confident self‑awareness, recognising your influence, supporting others with empathy, and creating an environment where individuality is respected and nurtured.
• Go Further: You demonstrate strategic ambition by driving continuous improvement, leading performance, and aligning the nursery with Fennies’ mission, values, and long‑term vision.
• Competitive Pay & Perks: Salaries that match or outshine our competitors, a comprehensive pension scheme, and exclusive staff childcare discounts of up to 60% when you enrol your children at Fennies.
• Leadership Community: Join the place where you belong; regular manager meetings to discuss, innovate, and socialise, with tailored learning and development sessions, mentoring, and coaching to help you grow as a leader.
• Career Development: Targeted development plans, approachable managers, and bespoke guidance from our educational experts and specialists to support your professional journey.
• Personalised Induction: A structured onboarding experience including 1:1 Clifton Strengths coaching to help you identify and build on your unique strengths as a manager.
• Well‑being Support: Access to well‑being benefits, including our BUPA support team, team incentives, and up to 33 days of annual leave to help you recharge and thrive.
• Celebration & Connection: Enjoy events that bring us together; summer BBQs in the sunshine and a Christmas party to remember!
• Performance Recognition: £750 quarterly performance bonuses to reward your commitment and impact.
• Daily Dining: The Fennies Café offers a great range of choices to replace your daily lunchbox, completely free.
• Fennies Club: Celebrate your length of service with thoughtful recognition, including gift cards and commemorative plaques, as part of our commitment to honour your dedication.

What You Bring

• Excellent knowledge of 'Birth to 5 Matters', typical child development stages, and a sound understanding of the EYFS.
• Full and relevant L3 or above Early Years qualification.
• Have a minimum grade 4 or grade C in Maths and English GCSE (or equivalent).
• The correct implementation, audits, and requirements for the key person, safeguarding, health & safety, and confidentiality systems are met.
• How to safely administer medication, First Aid, and critical care policies.
• The preparations and responsibilities before Ofsted visits.
• How to derive the solution for resolving issues and complaints as per Fennies' policies and procedures.
• How to achieve the KPIs in your setting and ensure they are in line with Fennies' mission statement.

Diversity & Inclusion

At Fennies, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued. A diverse workforce brings a wealth of perspectives, driving innovation and excellence. We are proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Fennies Nurseries is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced criminal record check, and proof of identity will be required. In line with Safer Recruitment and Keeping Everyone Safe, we also carry out online searches for all shortlisted candidates, including Google and Social Media checks. Any relevant information found may be discussed during the interview process.