Deputy Nursery Manager

Bright Horizons Early Education & Preschool; Elmbridge; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare discount

Parental leave

Annual leave

Pension

Wellbeing benefits

Careers coach

Shift options

Job summary

Bright Horizons Hinchley Wood Day Nursery and Preschool in Esher, Surrey, is seeking a Deputy Manager to lead a dedicated team, ensuring excellent care and education for children. The role includes safeguarding responsibilities, staff development, and partnership with parents.

You will contribute to occupancy growth and budgeting while working 40 hours over 4 or 5 days, with strong commitment to safeguarding. DBS checks apply.

Qualifications

• Full and relevant Level 3 or above Early Years qualification.
• Experience in an Early Years leadership role.
• Experience with regulatory inspections leading to Good/Outstanding.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team to deliver high‑quality care and education.
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead and oversee safeguarding policies.
• Contribute to succession planning, training, and development plans.
• Support retention, occupancy growth, and nursery budgeting.

Skills

Early Years leadership

Regulatory inspection experience

Safeguarding knowledge

Decision making

Partnership building

Education

Level 3 or above Early Years qualification

Job description

Nursery – Bright Horizons Hinchley Wood Day Nursery and Preschool

Salary – From £34299.20 per annum (dependent on qualification/s and experience)

Location – Esher, Surrey

Are you looking to work for an organisation whose culture is driven by our HEART principles – Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork? Where you can be yourself, feel supported, and help to make a difference to the next generation? Somewhere you can say: “I did that.”

We’re looking for a Deputy Manager to join our Hinchley Wood nursery, offering 40 hours over a 4 or 5 day working week.

Our Benefits

• Childcare discount of 75% for first child
• Enhanced parental leave
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and paid Christmas closure. Ability to also purchase additional leave*
• Pension
• Financial and wellbeing benefits including 24/7 virtual GP appointments, early access to wages, and more
• Professional development programme access for every stage of your career, including access to a careers coach
• Shift options: 40 hours over 4 or 5 days
• Subject to T&Cs

The Role

As a Deputy Manager, you will lead, mentor, support, and inspire a team to deliver exception care and education. You will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, overseeing day to day running of the nursery and management of safeguarding and child protection policies. You will contribute to succession planning, training, and supporting team professional development plans, maintain strong partnerships with colleagues, parents, and other professionals (such as the Local Authority), and support the commercial success of the nursery through retention, occupancy growth, and maintaining budgets.

What We’re Looking For

• Full and relevant Level 3 or above Early Years qualification
• Experience within an Early Years leadership role (ideally as a Deputy Manager, Assistant Manager, Third in Charge or similar)
• Experience of participating with a regulatory inspection, leading to a ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ outcome
• Confident decision maker, with previous experience providing support and leadership to others
• Strong knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding, Child Protection, and the wider legislative requirements for working with children
• Ability to develop trust and strong working partnerships with both colleagues and parents/ carers
• Ability to use a variety of communication techniques with both children and adults

Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants. Please note, due to our sector all roles are subject to an Enhanced DBS.

Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants.