Deputy Nursery Manager

Kindred Nurseries; London Borough of Croydon; Remote; GBP 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Supportive culture

Career development

Work-life balance

Competitive pay and benefits

Award-winning family

Job summary

Kindred Nurseries is seeking an inspiring Deputy Manager to help lead our nursery, support the Nursery Manager, and inspire the team to deliver outstanding early years care and education.

You will work closely with staff to create a safe and stimulating learning environment, mentor Room Leaders and Practitioners, and ensure regulatory compliance while fostering strong relationships with families.

Qualifications

• Experience leading or supervising a team in an Early Years setting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organisational skills with attention to detail.
• Outstanding customer service skills.
• Good time management and ability to meet deadlines.
• Solid knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
• A full and relevant Early Years Level 3 Childcare Qualification (or higher).

Responsibilities

• Support the Nursery Manager, Third in Charge and Room Leaders to deliver outstanding early years care and education.
• Help create a safe, organised and stimulating environment for children to learn and thrive.
• Lead by example, modelling best practice in line with EYFS and regulatory requirements.
• Support, coach and inspire Room Leaders and Practitioners to reach their potential.
• Assist with induction, training and development of new colleagues.
• Monitor practice across the nursery and support continuous improvement.
• Build positive relationships with children, families and colleagues.
• Maintain accurate records and follow nursery policies and procedures.
• Deputise for the Nursery Manager when required.

Skills

Team leadership

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Customer service

Time management

EYFS knowledge

Education

Early Years Level 3 (or higher)

Job description

Join the Kindred Family – A Place to Grow, Thrive and Make a Difference

At Kindred, we’re passionate about giving children the very best start in life while creating a workplace where our people feel valued, supported and inspired.

Are you an inspiring early years leader who is passionate about supporting children, developing teams and delivering outstanding care and education? Join Kindred as a Deputy Manager and play a key role in leading a thriving nursery where children, families and colleagues can flourish.

Want to know what it’s really like to work at Kindred?

Visit our Why Work With Us page to explore our benefits, career development opportunities and discover why so many of our colleagues choose to grow their careers with us.

What You’ll Be Doing

As Deputy Manager, you’ll work closely with the Nursery Manager to support the day-to-day running of the nursery, inspire your team and ensure the highest standards of care and education are delivered every day.

You will:

• Support the Nursery Manager, Third in Charge and Room Leaders to deliver outstanding early years care and education.
• Help create and maintain a safe, organised and stimulating environment where children can learn, play and thrive.
• Lead by example, modelling best practice in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and regulatory requirements.
• Support, coach and inspire Room Leaders and Practitioners to achieve their full potential.
• Assist with the induction, training and development of new colleagues, welcoming them into the Kindred family.
• Monitor practice across the nursery and support continuous improvement.
• Build positive relationships with children, families and colleagues.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure nursery policies and procedures are consistently followed.
• Support the Nursery Manager in creating a positive culture where children, families and colleagues feel valued and supported.
• Deputise for the Nursery Manager where required.

What You’ll Need

Essential

• A full and relevant Early Years Level 3 Childcare Qualification (or higher).
• Experience of leading or supervising a team within an Early Years setting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Outstanding customer service skills.
• Good time management and the ability to meet deadlines.
• A sound knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Desirable

• Previous experience in a Deputy Manager or leadership role.
• Current Paediatric First Aid Certificate.
• Safeguarding and Child Protection training (full training will be provided).
• Current Food Hygiene Certificate.

Why You’ll Love Working at Kindred

At Kindred, we’re more than a nursery group – we’re a family.

• Supportive Culture: Built on strong relationships, teamwork and a genuine sense of belonging.
• Career Development: Access to structured training, leadership development and clear career progression opportunities.
• Work-Life Balance: Enjoy structured working hours and a supportive working environment.
• Competitive Pay & Benefits: Competitive salaries, regularly benchmarked, alongside a generous benefits package.
• Award-Winning Family: Join a company that values recognition, personal growth and team success.

What Happens Next?

• Initial video interview.
• Face-to-face interview, including a stay-and-play session (where applicable).
• Safer recruitment checks, including references, an enhanced DBS check and qualification verification.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

Kindred is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All successful applicants will be subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, references and qualification verification, in line with our safeguarding policy.

We review applications as they’re received and aim to respond within 2–5 working days.

We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you to the Kindred family.

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