Nursery Deputy Manager

Bright Horizons Early Education & Preschool; St. Day; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare discount

Enhanced parental leave

Bonus up to £1,500

25 days annual leave

Pension

Wellbeing benefits

Professional development

DBS pre-employment checks

Job summary

Bright Horizons Portswood Day Nursery and Pre School in Portswood, Southampton, is seeking a Deputy Manager to lead a team and deliver exceptional care and education.

You will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, oversee daily operations, support staff development, manage safeguarding policies, and contribute to occupancy growth and budgets.

The role requires a Level 3+ Early Years qualification, leadership experience, and a commitment to safeguarding, with a welcoming, inclusive employer.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in Early Years settings
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and compliance
• Effective team management and staff development
• Good communication with children, families, and colleagues

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and inspire the nursery team to deliver high-quality care and education.
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead and oversee safeguarding policies.
• Support succession planning, training, and professional development.
• Contribute to occupancy growth, retention, and budget management

Skills

Leadership experience

Safeguarding knowledge

Team management

Communication skills

Education

Full and relevant Level 3 or above Early Years qualification

Job description

Nursery – Bright Horizons Portswood Day Nursery and Pre School

Salary – Starting from £32,513.00 per annum (dependent on qualification/s and experience)

Location – Portswood, Southampton

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 to join our Portswood nursery.

Our Benefits

• Childcare discount of 75% for first child*
• Enhanced parental leave
• Competitive bonus of up to £1,500, awarded in line with Ofsted inspection outcomes
• 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.