Deputy Nursery Manager

Childbase Partnership Ltd; Hitchin; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Work-life balance

Family childcare savings

Exclusive partner benefits

Wellbeing support

Career development

Job summary

Childbase Partnership Ltd in Hitchin is seeking a Deputy Nursery Manager (supernumerary) to lead and empower the early years team at Highbury Lodge Day Nursery. You will work with the Nursery Manager to ensure excellent care, compliance and high standards of learning across all ages.

The role demands a Level 3+ early years qualification, strong leadership and safeguarding commitment, and flexibility to cover varied shifts.

Qualifications

• Qualified early years professional with a DfE approved qualification at level 3 or above.
• Experience leading a team in an early years setting.
• Strong commitment to safeguarding and child welfare.

Responsibilities

• Achieve occupancy targets and manage budget in partnership with Nursery Manager.
• Recruit, retain and develop a capable team.
• Uphold the nursery's reputation within the community.

Skills

Leadership

Team development

Safeguarding

Collaboration

Education

DfE approved early years qualification (level 3+)

Job description

Job Introduction

Join Childbase Partnership and be part of something extraordinary.

Role: Deputy Nursery Manager (supernumerary).

Location: Highbury Lodge Day Nursery | Hitchin | SG4 9RW.

Nursery capacity: 83 places.

Contract: Permanent | 37.5 hours/week | 52 weeks/year.

Working pattern: Varied shifts Monday-Friday between 07:00-18:30 | Choose a 4 or 5 day week.

Salary: £35,178-£40,033.50 per annum (pro-rata).

Responsible to: Nursery Manager.

We’ve been delivering childcare excellence since 1989. Within our 44-day nurseries, Head Office, and Training Academy, EduBase, our ethos is simple: we all belong, we all matter, and we all contribute. We believe in ‘careers, not jobs’, supporting one another to grow and succeed.

Why join us?

• Generous annual leave: 25 days paid leave per annum (pro-rata), rising to 28 days with length of service, plus paid bank holidays.
• Work-life balance: Up to a further 20 paid days off each year through our Partnership Reward Days incentive; take your leave or sell the days you accrue, tax-free.
• Family childcare savings: If you have children or grandchildren, there's the potential for you to benefit from generously discounted childcare at Childbase Partnership nurseries, with savings of up to 75% for parents, and 40% for grandparents, depending on your contracted hours.
• Exclusive partner benefits: Long‑service rewards, qualification bonuses and retail discounts.
• Wellbeing support: Free meals, mental health and occupational health support, flu jabs, eye care vouchers and a free will‑writing service.
• Career development: Team inset days, access to online training and apprenticeships through our academy.

About Us

• We are employee‑owned: Every colleague is a partner with a voice, who helps drive our success; when we do well, we each receive an annual tax‑free dividend.
• We are number 1: Ranked top of the Nursery World league tables for our Ofsted outcomes.
• We are community driven: Supporting causes close to our hearts, we’ve raised more than £3.5 million for charity.
• We are environmentally responsible: Building a greener tomorrow our nurseries all hold Green Flag awards and are powered by 100% renewable energy.

About You

• You are a qualified early years professional: You hold a DfE approved early years qualification at level 3 or above and are currently working in a leadership capacity in an early years environment, ideally as a Third-in-Charge, Assistant Manager or Deputy Manager.
• You are passionate about developing your team: You have experience of building and retaining a knowledgeable and happy workforce, using positive role modelling and performance review processes to guide colleagues to deliver outstanding early years practice, promoting the best outcomes for children’s learning.
• You are an advocate for safeguarding: You always will ensure the well‑being of the children and your colleagues is promoted at all times.
• You are collaborative: In partnership with the Nursery Manager, you will achieve occupancy, budget, recruitment and retention targets, implement our corporate plan and uphold the nursery’s reputation within the community, resuming full responsibility of the nursery in the absence of the manager.

We are an inclusive employer and we welcome applicants of all ages and backgrounds. We’re committed to FREDIE (fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, and engagement) and will consider any reasonable adjustments required. If you meet the essential criteria for this role, your application will be automatically shortlisted for review by our Recruitment Team who will determine if an interview is the next step.

Applicants must currently reside within a commutable distance of the nursery and hold suitable Right to Work in the UK; VISA sponsorship is not available. Safer recruitment checks apply, which include an Enhanced DBS check. If you’re not early years qualified, visit our Careers Page to explore other opportunities.