Nursery Deputy Manager

Falmouth University; Penryn; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Penryn seeks a qualified Deputy Manager for its nursery. The role involves supporting leadership, creating learning environments for children aged 1 to 5, and ensuring compliance with safeguarding policies. Ideal candidates should have a Level 3 qualification, leadership experience, and excellent communication skills. The position is full-time with benefits including pension contributions and generous holiday allowances.

Benefits

Employer Pension Contribution up to 10%

28 days + 8 days bank holiday

Life Assurance

Subsidised Sports Centre Membership

Enhanced Maternity / Paternity Pay

Qualifications

• Experience working in early years and leadership.
• Ability to contribute creative ideas for the nursery.
• Confident in day-to-day nursery responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Support nursery manager and take over when necessary.
• Create stimulating learning environments for children.
• Adhere to safeguarding policies and ensure ratios are met.

Skills

Leadership skills

Knowledge of Early Years provision

Communication skills

Confidentiality sensitivity

Ability to create learning environments

Education

Level 3 qualification in childcare

Job description

About The Role

Are you looking to progress your childcare career? Little Wonders Day Nursery is currently recruiting for a Level 3 or higher qualified Deputy Manager to become part of our friendly team at our nursery based on our Penryn Campus. This role is a full-time position with the opportunity to grow your childcare career with additional training opportunities. The deputy manager will be there to support the manager of the nursery, and be able to take over in their place when necessary. In addition, you will at times be working within rooms, supporting staff and developing relationships with all children and parents.

What you'll be doing: Your responsibilities will include working to create stimulating learning environments for all ages, making rotos and registers for each room weekly, supporting staff through development and training, working within rooms to get to know the children in our care, adhering to all safeguarding policies and ensuring ratios are met throughout the nursery.

Why join us? The nursery is set within the heart of the community and offers exceptional childcare and learning opportunities for children aged 1 to 5 years. We are an experienced, welcoming team who provide a first class nursery service to staff and students of the Universities, alongside the local community. We can offer management training, updates on Early Years subjects and level 4 and 5 Early Years training.

About You

Our ideal candidate will have experience of working in early years and leadership. You will be happy to get involved with the day to day running of the nursery and childcare provision, while working alongside our manager in running the nursery. We are looking for someone who is friendly, approachable and can contribute new, creative ideas to help develop and enhance the setting. The ideal candidate would have the following skills / experience:

• A relevant Level 3 qualification and current knowledge of Early Years provision.
• Evidence of excellent leadership skills.
• Confident to take responsibility for the day to day running of the nursery.
• An awareness of the importance of dealing with confidential issues with sensitivity.
• An ability to communicate clearly with children, parents and staff.
• Understanding the need for and ability to keep formal records and write formal reports, etc.

Due to the nature of this role, the successful candidate will be required to undertake an Enhanced with Regulated Activity Disclosure and Barring Service check. For further details on the skills / experience required for this role, please see the full job description above. This post is offered on a 37.5 hour a week, full time, permanent contract working across Monday-Friday, with some flexibility for business need. The closing date for the position is Sunday 11 January 2026.

About Us

Falmouth Exeter Plus manages and delivers services at Falmouth, Penryn and Truro Campuses on behalf of Falmouth University and the University of Exeter. Working closely with the Falmouth & Exeter Students' Union (The SU) and the wider, universities partnership we support Higher Education learning and living, ensuring that the interests of all campus users are at the heart of everything we do.

It is a fast moving environment where agility and a positive approach to change and enhancement are central to our progress. Our mission is 'to deliver world-class shared professional services to help our partners achieve their global ambitions'. As an employer of choice we can offer the successful candidate for this role a range of benefits, including:

• Employer Pension Contribution up to 10%.
• 28 days + 8 days bank holiday.
• Life Assurance
• Subsidised Sports Centre Membership (Gym & Fitness Classes)
• Enhanced Maternity / Paternity Pay
• Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme (Tusker)
• Salary Sacrifice Cycle Scheme
• Salary Sacrifice Home & Tech Scheme
• Vivup Lifestyle Discounts

Alongside these benefits we offer a first class working environment across our campuses with all the facilities you would expect from working across two leading Universities. Falmouth Exeter Plus welcomes and encourages job applications from people of all identities and backgrounds, particularly those under-represented and / or marginalised, as it is important we have a diverse range of candidates to consider.