Deputy Nursery Manager- Maternity Cover

Kindred Nurseries; Kettering; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development opportunities

Work-life balance

Competitive pay and benefits

Job summary

Kindred Nurseries is seeking a Deputy Manager to support the Nursery Manager in daily operations, lead a dedicated team and ensure high standards of care and education for children. You’ll model best practice, support staff development and safeguard requirements while delivering strong EYFS compliance.

You’ll build positive relationships with families, monitor practice, and help create a welcoming, organised environment that supports children to learn, play and thrive every day.

Qualifications

• Experience leading or supervising a team in an Early Years setting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organisation and attention to detail in a busy nursery.
• Sound knowledge of EYFS and regulatory requirements.
• Commitment to safeguarding and high-quality care.

Responsibilities

• 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 for learning and play.
• 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 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.
• Support Nursery Manager in creating a positive culture and deputise when required.
• Ensure ongoing compliance and contribute to a high-performing team.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strong communication

Organisational skills

EYFS knowledge

Time management

Education

Early Years Level 3 Childcare Qualification (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.

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

• 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.

More than 9 out of 10 of our colleagues would recommend Kindred as a great place to work.

What Happens Next?

Our recruitment process may include:

• 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.

Ready to Start Your Kindred Journey?

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.

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.