Nursery Deputy Manager

Fennies Nurseries; Reading; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance-related bonus

Pension scheme

Referral bonus

Childcare discount

Wellbeing support

Free daily meals

Annual leave

Job summary

Fennies Nurseries is seeking a Deputy Nursery Manager in Reading to support the Nursery Manager in leading a thriving early years environment. You will lead a passionate team to deliver outstanding care and education, while maintaining regulatory standards and operational excellence.

The role emphasizes safeguarding, team development, and strong partnerships with families and the community, with a clear path to leadership growth and impact on children’s learning journeys.

Qualifications

• Level 3 Early Years qualification or above.
• Strong knowledge of EYFS and Birth to 5 Matters.
• Experience in an early years setting in a senior practitioner or room leader role.
• Track record of high standards of care and education.

Responsibilities

• Support the day-to-day leadership and smooth running of the nursery.
• Inspire and guide educators to deliver outstanding early years practice.
• Maintain high standards of safeguarding, health and safety and compliance.
• Build strong partnerships with families and the local community.
• Coach and mentor the team to support development and feedback.
• Help prepare for Ofsted inspections and maintain regulatory standards.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Communication

Safeguarding

H&S knowledge

EYFS knowledge

Education

Level 3 Early Years qualification

GCSE Maths & English

Job description

• Potential to earn a further £3,800 in bonus

• Salary: up to £47,000
• Potential to earn a further £3,800 in bonus

Support the leadership of a nursery where children, educators and families thrive.

At Fennies, our Deputy Nursery Managers play a vital role in creating exceptional early years environments. Working closely with the Nursery Manager, you'll help lead a passionate team, maintain outstanding standards of care and education and support the development of both children and educators.

If you're an experienced early years professional ready to take the next step in your leadership journey, this is your opportunity to have a meaningful impact.

Why join Fennies?

We believe great leaders deserve the right support, development and recognition.

Competitive salary and bonus

• Up to £47,000 annual salary
• Up to £3,800 performance-related bonus
• Comprehensive pension scheme
• £500 referral bonus*

Childcare discount and support

• Up to 60% discount on childcare

Leadership Development

• Personalised Clifton Strengths leadership coaching
• Dedicated learning and development programmes
• Mentoring and support from regional leadership
• A full central support team to enable you to focus on exceptional quality of care and education

Wellbeing And Lifestyle Benefits

• Up to 33 days of annual leave
• BUPA Wellbeing Support
• Free daily meals from the Fennies Café

A community of committed, high-achieving educators

• Regular leadership forums and networking
• Summer BBQs, Christmas events and company celebrations
• Recognition and reward through the Fennies Club long service awards

About The Role

As Deputy Nursery Manager, you'll support the Nursery Manager in leading the nursery and ensuring exceptional standards of care, education and operational excellence.

You Will

• Support the day-to-day leadership and smooth running of the nursery
• Inspire and guide educators to deliver outstanding early years practice
• Maintain high standards of safeguarding, health and safety and compliance
• Build strong partnerships with families and the local community
• Support team development through coaching, mentoring and feedback
• Help prepare for Ofsted inspections and maintain regulatory standards
• Contribute to continuous improvement across educational quality, team engagement and nursery performance

This role offers the opportunity to develop your leadership skills while making a meaningful difference in childrens' learning journeys.

What We're Looking For

You're a confident and passionate early years professional who enjoys helping teams succeed and children flourish.

You Will Have

• Level 3 Early Years qualification (or above)
• Strong knowledge of EYFS, Birth to 5 Matters and child development
• Experience of working in an early years setting, ideally in a senior practitioner or room leader role
• A track record of delivering high standards of care and education
• Experience of strong practice as a Key Person and in implementing safeguarding, health and safety, first aid and critical care policies.
• Strong organisational, communication and leadership skills
• GCSE Maths and English (Grade 4 /C or above); or equivalent

Most importantly, you will bring energy, empathy and ambition to create a nursery where children and educators thrive.

Become part of the Fennies DNA

Education

We're family-owned and family-run; this guides our culture, our decision-making, and what it feels like to be part of our team. We have a strong sense of community, with connections that bring us together and the systems and processes that mean our educators can focus on what they do best. Quality matters to us – starting with our people and curriculum, through to our beautiful buildings and inspiring environments. We're investing in Fennies, in our teams, and into the education we provide our children. Our People Promise inspires us to build the kind of culture that is ambitious, passionate and supportive. We provide the environment where you can:

• Be Yourself
• Come Together
• Be All In
• Go Further

Diversity and Inclusion

At Fennies, we celebrate diversity and believe inclusive teams create stronger learning environments for children. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.

Safeguarding

Fennies is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check and provide proof of identity. In line with Safer Recruitment guidance, online searches (including social media) may be conducted for shortlisted candidates.

• T&Cs apply in relation to referral bonus eligibility