Nursery Deputy Manager

Bright Horizons Early Education & Preschool; Farnham; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare discount

Bonus up to £1,500

Enhanced parental leave

25 days annual leave

Pension

Wellbeing benefits

Career development

Job summary

Bright Horizons Farnham Day Nursery and Preschool is seeking a Deputy Manager with a Level 3+ Early Years qualification. You will lead a team, oversee safeguarding, and contribute to nursery growth while maintaining excellent education and care standards.

Based in Farnham, this role focuses on delivering high-quality care, staff development, and strong partnerships with families, Local Authority collaborators, and other professionals.

Qualifications

• Full and relevant Level 3 or above Early Years qualification.
• Experience in an Early Years leadership role.
• Experience with regulatory inspections leading to Good/Outstanding outcomes.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and child protection understanding.
• Ability to build trust with colleagues and parents.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire the nursery team.
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead and oversee safeguarding policies.
• Support occupancy growth and budget management.
• Build strong partnerships with parents and professionals.
• Contribute to succession planning and staff development.

Skills

Level 3 Early Years

Leadership experience

Safeguarding knowledge

Communication skills

Team mentorship

Education

Level 3+ EY qualification

Job description

Nursery – Bright Horizons Farnham Day Nursery and Preschool

Salary – Starting from £32,513 per annum (dependent on qualification/s and experience)

Location – Farnham

Are you looking to work for an organisation whose culture is driven by our HEART principles – Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork? Where you can be yourself, feel supported, and help to make a difference to the next generation? Somewhere you can say: “I did that.”

We’re looking for a Deputy Manager with a Level 3+ qualification in Early Years to join our Bright Horizons Farnham Day Nursery and Preschool.

Our Benefits

• Childcare discount of 75% for first child*
• Competitive bonus of up to £1,500, awarded in line with Ofsted inspection outcomes
• Enhanced parental leave
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and paid Christmas closure. Ability to also purchase additional leave*
• Pension
• Financial and wellbeing benefits including 24/7 virtual GP appointments, early access to wages, and more
• Professional development programme access for every stage of your career, including access to a careers coach
• Subject to T&Cs

The Role

As a Deputy Manager, you will lead, mentor, support, and inspire a team to deliver exception care and education. You will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, overseeing day to day running of the nursery and management of safeguarding and child protection policies. You will contribute to succession planning, training, and supporting team professional development plans, maintain strong partnerships with colleagues, parents, and other professionals (such as the Local Authority), and support the commercial success of the nursery through retention, occupancy growth, and maintaining budgets.

What We’re Looking For

• Full and relevant Level 3 or above Early Years qualification
• Experience within an Early Years leadership role (ideally as a Deputy Manager, Assistant Manager, Third in Charge or similar)
• Experience of participating with a regulatory inspection, leading to a ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ outcome
• Confident decision maker, with previous experience providing support and leadership to others
• Strong knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding, Child Protection, and the wider legislative requirements for working with children
• Ability to develop trust and strong working partnerships with both colleagues and parents/ carers
• Ability to use a variety of communication techniques with both children and adults

Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants.

Proud to be a Great Place to Work for 20 years.

INDSH