Lead Teacher & Manager - Devon

Institute for Outdoor Learning; Yelverton; On-site; GBP 27,552 - 34,440; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness Package

Cycle to Work Scheme

Company Events & Team Activities

28 days holiday, inclusive of bank hol

Stunning natural environment

Job summary

Tiny Wilds in Devon is seeking a confident Level 6 qualified lead teacher and manager to run the day-to-day operations of the outdoor nursery and educational provision located on a private estate near Dartmoor.

You will lead a small team, ensuring high standards of care and education while driving strategic and operational development across Tiny Wilds, Mighty Wilds, and Magic Mighties.

Qualifications

• Level 6 in Early Years or childcare with leadership experience
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or relevant primary experience desirable
• Proven leadership or management experience in education
• Experience leading a team and mentoring staff
• Strong understanding of EYFS and primary curriculum for ages 5-8
• Knowledge of safeguarding, Ofsted requirements, health & safety

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage day-to-day operation of the setting, ensuring safety and ethos
• Inspire a small team of four staff and supervise one Level 3 trainee
• Maintain high standards of care, safeguarding, and educational delivery
• Oversee curriculum planning across Tiny Wilds, Mighty Wilds, and Magic Mighties
• Keep accurate records in line with EYFS and Ofsted
• Mentor staff through in-class coaching and development
• Plan nature-based learning experiences outdoors and indoors
• Communicate effectively across the team and with families
• Build strong relationships with families and external professionals
• Coordinate enrolment, session changes, and resourcing across the setting
• Collaborate with the Beden estate team on land, buildings, and safety
• Contribute to ongoing development of the provision

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Outdoor education

EYFS knowledge

Team management

Education

Level 6 in Early Years or childcare

QTS or primary experience desirable

Tools

DBS check

Job description

Location: Yelverton, Devon
Salary: From £20 p/h
Closes: No closing date, urgent hire/ASAP

Role overview

An exciting opportunity for a Level 6 Qualified Lead Teacher and Manager is available at Tiny Wilds, a beautiful outdoor based provision, combining a vibrant nursery with an alternative home education setting located on an organic smallholding on the edge of Dartmoor.

This is a leadership role with both strategic and operational responsibility; overseeing the day-to-day running of the setting while maintaining high standards of care, education, and organisation across all groups.

Working Pattern: Monday to Thursdays or Friday 8.30 am - 5 pm, in Devon Local

Authority school term time.

Hourly Rate: starting from £20 per hour, depending on experience

Who we are

Tiny Wilds is a small, carefully developed educational setting based at Beden – a private 220-acre estate on the edge of Dartmoor. The estate brings together conservation-led land management, outdoor education, residential life, and creative enterprise, all shaped by a shared commitment to caring for the land thoughtfully and building something meaningful for future generations.

Within this setting, Tiny Wilds offers a distinctive approach to early years and alternative education. It operates across three groups: Tiny Wilds (ages 2–5), Mighty Wilds (ages 5–8), and Magic Mighties (ages 8–11), each designed to support children at different stages of development, while maintaining a consistent ethos across the provision.

The setting is rooted in the belief that children benefit from time, space, and meaningful connection to the natural world. Days are shaped by a balance of structure and flexibility, allowing children to explore, take risks, build resilience, and develop confidence through real experiences. This includes time spent in woodland, gardens, and wider estate environments, as well as opportunities to engage with animals, food growing, and the changing seasons.

The environment at Beden is central to how Tiny Wilds operates. Children have access to ancient woodland, SSSI-designated land, river landscapes, meadows, and organically managed animals. This is not a simulated outdoor space, but a real, working landscape that requires care, awareness, and responsibility from both staff and children.

Tiny Wilds sits within the wider Beden estate and is supported operationally by Holetown Limited. This means the setting works closely with the estate team on a daily basis; from maintenance and land use, to safety, infrastructure, and shared resources. As a result, clear communication, strong systems, and a collaborative approach are essential to ensuring everything runs smoothly.

Alongside its educational provision, Tiny Wilds has a strong community element. Relationships with families are central to the setting, with an emphasis on openness, trust, and shared understanding of each child’s experience. Parents are engaged not just through communication, but through participation, events, and the evolving life of the setting.

Tiny Wilds is intentionally small in scale and carefully managed. It is not designed for rapid expansion, but for thoughtful, steady development in line with the land, the community, and the needs of the children it serves. This allows the setting to remain responsive, personal, and grounded, while maintaining high standards of care and delivery.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for a confident, experienced leader who can take full ownership of the day-to-day running of the setting while maintaining its ethos and high standards.

The right person will be:

• A qualified (Level 6/QTS) teacher with leadership experience
• Calm, capable, and organised, with strong professional judgement
• Comfortable working in a dynamic outdoor environment
• Able to lead a small team with clarity, consistency, and care

This role requires someone who can balance:

• Warmth and creativity with structure and accountability
• Child-led learning with clear operational systems
• Independence with strong communication and teamwork

You will be responsible for ensuring the setting runs smoothly, consistently, and safely on a daily basis, while contributing to the continued development of the wider Tiny Wilds provision.

The role offers a blend of teaching and leadership, with time spent both working directly with children and overseeing the wider setting. You will lead within Tiny Wilds alongside a small team, while working closely with the leads of Mighty Wilds and Magic Mighties to ensure a consistent and joined-up approach across the provision. We are particularly interested in candidates who are open to a range of educational approaches from mainstream to alternative, national & international and who bring a thoughtful, reflective approach to teaching and learning.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the day-to-day operation of the setting, ensuring it runs smoothly, safely, and in line with its ethos
• Lead and inspire a small, passionate team of four staff, including one completing a Level 3 qualification under your supervision.
• Ensure the highest standards of care, safeguarding and educational delivery.
• Oversee curriculum planning across Tiny Wilds, Mighty Wilds, and Magic Mighties, ensuring consistency and progression
• Maintain clear, accurate, and up-to-date records in line with EYFS and Ofsted requirements
• Modelling excellent practice and supporting staff development through regular in class mentoring.
• Plan and deliver engaging, nature-based learning experiences both outdoors and indoors
• Ensure effective communication across the team, including handovers, updates, and shared responsibilities
• Build and maintain strong, professional relationships with families, supporting a positive and engaged community
• Liaise with external professionals, schools, and local authorities where required
• Organise events and opportunities for families to engage with the setting
• Administrating the enrolment process for new children, and session changes for existing children.
• Oversee resourcing and budgeting across the setting, ensuring efficient and considered use of materials
• Manage enrolment, attendance, and funding processes (including DCC provider portal)
• Work collaboratively with the Beden estate team to ensure safe and appropriate use of land, buildings, and resources
• Contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of the provision

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• Level 6 in Early Years or childcare
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or relevant primary experience desirable
• Proven experience in a leadership or management role within an early years or primary education setting
• Experience leading a team, including mentoring or supervising staff
• Strong understanding of EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) and primary curriculum for ages 5 - 8
• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation, Ofsted requirements, and health & safety in educational settings
• Current Clear Advanced DBS check
• Driving with full licence
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
• Clear, confident communication and decision-making ability
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage a dynamic workload
• High level of personal responsibility and accountability
• Calm and proactive approach to problem solving
• Resilience, adaptability, and a positive, professional attitude
• Energy, enthusiasm, stamina, patience, dedication, resilience and self-discipline
• Initiative, leadership, supervisory skills and team working abilities
• Imagination, creativity and a sense of humour
• Good judgement and an analytical mind
• A satisfactory health record and criminal record check
• Ability to maintain consistency, structure, and attention to detail
• Experience in alternative or non-traditional education settings
• Familiarity with nature-based, creative, or holistic learning approaches
• Knowledge and experience of supporting children with additional needs
• Experience developing or improving an educational setting
• Interest in land-based learning, sustainability, or outdoor education
• Health & Wellness Package
• Comprehensive BUPA Wellbeing Package with 24/7 support and access to scheduled counselling sessions
• 28 days holiday, inclusive of bank holidays
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Company Events & Team Activities
• Work in a stunning natural environment with hands-on, nature-based learning opportunities

Application Process