Deputy Nursery Manager

Ivy Resource Group; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Ivy Resource Group is recruiting a Deputy Nursery Manager in Gloucester. The role involves supporting the Nursery Manager, leading room-based practice, and driving quality improvement within a lively early years setting. The position supports staff development, safeguarding, and outstanding learning experiences for children.

The successful candidate will balance room leadership with broader nursery responsibilities and will contribute to a strong, collaborative leadership team.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a nursery room
• Ability to coach and develop staff
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and EYFS understanding

Responsibilities

• Lead and champion the nursery curriculum to be engaging and ambitious
• Embed nursery policies to maintain high standards
• Support the Nursery Manager with day-to-day operations
• Take responsibility for the nursery in the Manager's absence
• Drive continuous improvement with the management team
• Coach and mentor practitioners to build confidence and skills
• Monitor children's progress and plan next steps for learning
• Support staff with planning, observations and assessments
• Promote positive parent engagement and family involvement

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Level 3 EYFS

Job description

Deputy Nursery Manager

Location: Gloucester
Contract: Full time (4 days, 40 hours across the week)
Salary: Starting salary at £33,000 per annum

Are you passionate about delivering outstanding early years education and inspiring others to provide exceptional learning experiences? We are looking for an enthusiastic Deputy Manager in Gloucester to join our nursery leadership team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is committed to high-quality early years practice and has strong leadership skills.

Initially, this will be a room-based role with a strong focus on quality improvement, coaching and staff development. As occupancy grows, we anticipate the position becoming increasingly supernumerary, allowing more dedicated leadership time across the nursery.

What you'll be doing:

• Leading and championing the nursery curriculum, ensuring it is engaging, ambitious and responsive to children's interests and needs
• Implementing and embedding nursery policies and procedures to ensure consistency and high standards across the setting
• Supporting the Nursery Manager with the day-to-day operation of the nursery
• Taking responsibility for the nursery in the Manager's absence
• Working closely with the management team to drive continuous improvement and maintain high standards of practice
• Role modelling outstanding interactions, teaching and professional practice
• Coaching, mentoring and supporting practitioners to develop their skills and confidence
• Monitoring children's learning and development to ensure excellent progress and positive outcomes
• Supporting staff with planning, assessments, observations and next steps to ensure learning is purposeful and meaningful
• Helping to create inspiring learning environments that promote curiosity, exploration and independence
• Working in partnership with parents and carers to support children's learning journeys and promote strong family engagement
• Supporting compliance with safeguarding, welfare and statutory requirements
• Contributing to training, quality improvement initiatives and staff development across the nursery

We're looking for someone who is:

• An experienced early years professional with a strong understanding of child development and the EYFS
• Confident in supporting, coaching and developing colleagues
• A positive and inspiring role model who leads by example
• Organised, proactive and committed to achieving high standards
• An excellent communicator who builds positive relationships with children, families and colleagues
• Enthusiastic about continuous professional development and keeping up to date with best practice
• Comfortable balancing a room-based role with wider leadership responsibilities across the nursery

You will need:

• A full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification
• Experience of leading a room
• Experience of supporting and developing colleagues
• A good understanding of safeguarding, child development and the EYFS

This role is for 40 hours per week over 4 days, although we welcome discussions with candidates who would like to explore other working patterns. Please note that we are an all-year-round nursery.