Internal- Nursery Deputy Manager

Tops Day Nurseries; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit sharing

Nursery discount

Birthday off

Wellbeing day

Annual leave

Blue Light Card discounts

Health support

Career development

Job summary

Tops Day Nurseries Ltd. is seeking an Internal Nursery Deputy Manager to support daily operations at our Bournemouth setting. You will work closely with the Nursery Manager to ensure a safe, stimulating, and educational environment for children aged 3 months to preschool.

The role requires leadership experience, a Level 3 EYFS qualification, and strong knowledge of EYFS and Ofsted requirements. Enjoy generous benefits and opportunities for progression within the UK’s largest employee-owned

Qualifications

• Level 3 Early Years Qualification is required.
• Experience in a leadership or supervisory role.
• Strong knowledge of EYFS and Ofsted regulations.
• Proven experience managing teams and working closely with parents.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a unit and assist nursery specialists in delivery of care and education.
• Ensure opportunities, activities and resources meet children's age/stage development and external requirements.
• Communicate with parents about fees and manage invoicing, payments and reporting on targets.
• Support staff training, development and performance; mentor and coach staff.
• Support the Nursery Manager in their absence and help manage the setting.
• Commit to safeguarding all children in the nursery and your direct care.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

EYFS knowledge

Ofsted regulations

Budgeting/fees handling

Education

Level 3 Early Years Qualification

Job description

Internal- Nursery Deputy Manager

Location:Bournemouth, Dorset, United KingdomDorset

Job type: Full TimePermanent

Salary:£31,824 to £33,696

Contracted Hours:40 hours per week

Why Join Tops Day Nurseries?

At Tops Day Nurseries, we're more than just a childcare provider. We're the UK's largest employee-owned childcare group, which means our colleagues have a genuine voice in how we work and a share in our success.

We're looking for a Deputy Manager to support the running of Tops Muscliffin Bournemouth. If you're an experienced Deputy manager or looking to take your first steps into nursery management, we'd love to hear from you.

About the Role

A Nursery Deputy Manager plays a key role in supporting the Nursery Manager to oversee the daily operations of a nursery or childcare setting. They ensure that the nursery provides a safe, stimulating, and educational environment for children.

About the Nursery

Tops Muscliff Nursery is a 59-place day nursery and preschool in a quiet residential area close to local schools and green spaces. We provide Early Education and Care for children aged 3 months to preschool, with flexible hours (7:30-18:30, closed bank holidays). Our eco-friendly, open-plan nursery offers a warm, home-from-home environment where children are encouraged to explore, play, and learn at their own pace. A broad curriculum is enriched with Forest School, cooking school, yoga, Boogie Mites, meditation, and regular outdoor trips to local woodlands and parks. We support confident, independent learners through fun, hands-on experiences and a strong focus on wellbeing and healthy habits

Why You’ll Love Working with Us

We want our colleagues to feel valued and share in the success they help create. Benefits include:

• Annual company profit share and a Nursery Manager bonus scheme, subject to scheme terms and eligibility.


• Up to 60% childcare discount at Tops Day Nurseries.


• Your birthday off and an additional wellbeing day.


• Generous annual holiday allowance.


• Discounts and rewards through Blue Light Card and Each Person, including shopping, travel, gyms and cinema.


• Health and wellbeing support, including help with NHS prescriptions, optical care and dental treatment.


• Opportunities for learning, career development and progression.

We're also proud to have received the 2026 King's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development and to have been recognised as a World's Happiest Workplace 2025.

As an employee-owned organisation, you'll have the opportunity to contribute ideas, influence how we work and share in our collective success.

Find out more about our benefits on our careers website.

What does the role involve?

• Responsible for overseeing a unit and assisting specialists in the nursery, such as Behaviour management representatives, SENCo, H&S rep, Equal opportunities etc.


• Ensure that suitable opportunities, activities and resources are provided for all the children relevant to their age/stage and development needs to the requirements of external organisations.


• Communicate with parents to ensure that all fees are paid and that parents are satisfied with the provision of care provided. You will also know how to operate a fees system including invoicing, collecting money, banking and reporting on financial targets.


• Ensure that all staff are supported in their training and development and their job satisfaction. Ensure that all staff are mentored /coached appropriately.


• Support the Nursery Manager and to manage the setting in Managers absence


• To be committed to the safeguarding of all children in the nursery and your direct care

What are we looking for?

• A minimum of a Level 3 Early Years Qualification is required.


• Experience in a leadership or supervisory role


• Strong knowledge of EYFS and Ofsted regulations


• Proven experience managing teams and working closely with parents

Safeguarding and safer recruitment

• Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility at Tops Day Nurseries. As this role involves regulated activity with children, the successful candidate must hold, or be willing to obtain, an enhanced DBS check and register it with the DBS Update Service. If you do not already have a suitable check, you will be responsible for the associated cost.


• You’ll also need to successfully complete our safer recruitment process, including satisfactory references and background checks, and meet the eligibility requirements for working in regulated activity with children.

Interested?

• If you're ready to lead a nursery, support a fantastic team and make a real difference to children and families, we'd love to hear from you.


• Come and grow with us at Tops Day Nurseries. Your voice matters, your ideas make a difference, and you share in our success.