Nursery Manager

Grandir UK Limited; Colchester; On-site; GBP 35,568 - 45,760; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days annual leave including bankH

Bank holidays included

Flexible working options

£500 refer a friend bonus

Company pension scheme

Sick pay from day 1

Life assurance

Great Place to Work

Job summary

Pippins Montessori Day Nursery and Forest School near Colchester is seeking a Nursery Manager to lead a dedicated team in a thriving, nature‑inspired setting. You will oversee high-quality early years provision, staffing, regulatory compliance and occupancy targets in a warm, child‑centred environment.

The role offers a supportive, flexible atmosphere with extensive benefits including generous annual leave, pension, life assurance and wellbeing initiatives, plus opportunities for progression

Responsibilities

• Promote high standards of quality within the nursery in respect of the environment, resources and experiences offered to children
• Ensure that all children attending the nursery receive rich and stimulating experiences appropriate to their age and stage of development
• Responsible for all administrative duties associated with the nursery, such as maintaining children’s records, ordering equipment, maintaining inventories, and keeping personnel records
• Facilitate inspections by regulatory bodies and implement any recommendations
• Be responsible for ensuring the nursery remains compliant in respect of suitably trained staff with relevant first aid qualifications
• Agree and deliver occupancy targets
• Recruit, induct, support, train and appraise all staff to ensure delivery of high-quality childcare practice
• Ensure that all staff develop and maintain friendly and professional relationships with parents and carers

Job description

Whites Farm, Station Rd, Colchester CO6 2QF, UK

Nursery Manager

Pippins Montessori Day Nursery and Forest School (Part of Grandir UK)

Salary £35,568 to £45,760 (depending on experience and qualifications with regular pay reviews)

Join a supportive, child focused nursery offering strong benefits, flexible working and genuine career progression.

Why You’ll Love Working at Pippins Montessori Day Nursery and Forest School

At Pippins, you will be part of a welcoming and supportive team who genuinely care about one another. We create a positive working environment where everyone feels valued, respected and supported to grow.

Core Benefits

• 33 days annual leave including bank holidays, with 3 days used during the Christmas shutdown period
• Christmas and New Year shutdown
• Flexible working options available
• £500 refer a friend bonus
• Company pension scheme with employer contributions
• Statutory Sick Pay from day 1
• Life assurance for employees aged 18 to 65
• Certified Great Place to Work, voted for by our current colleagues

About Our Nursery

Set on a working farm in White Colne, our Montessori nursery and Forest School offers a unique, nature-inspired environment for children aged 3 months to 5 years, supporting independence and a love of discovery.

Ofsted

Rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, we provide high-quality early years education in carefully designed spaces, including a cosy under-2s room and Montessori classroom. Our small, homely setting is loved by families.

Outdoor Learning

Outdoor learning is central to our approach, with two accessible outdoor areas and a dedicated Forest School in nearby meadow and woodland, offering hands‑on experiences in all weathers.

Location

Located in the village of White Colne near Colchester, we are easily accessible, with nearby train stations at Marks Tey and Chappel & Wakes Colne.

What will you be doing

• Promote high standards of quality within the nursery in respect of the environment, resources and experiences offered to children
• Ensure that all children attending the nursery receive rich and stimulating experiences appropriate to their age and stage of development
• Responsible for all administrative duties associated with the nursery, such as maintaining children’s records, ordering equipment, maintaining inventories, and keeping personnel records
• Facilitate inspections by regulatory bodies and implement any recommendations.
• Be responsible for ensuring the nursery remains compliant in respect of suitably trained staff with relevant first aid qualifications
• Agree and deliver occupancy targets
• Recruit, induct, support, train and appraise all staff to ensure delivery of high-quality childcare practice
• Ensure that all staff develop and maintain friendly and professional relationships with parents and carers

Enhanced Family and Wellbeing Benefits

• Maternity and adoption leave paid at 100 percent for the first 12 weeks
• Paternity leave paid at 100 percent for 4 weeks
• Parental bereavement leave up to 4 weeks paid
• Compassionate leave up to 2 weeks paid
• Miscarriage leave up to 2 weeks paid
• Wellbeing Day, an extra day off just for you
• The Grand Event, up to an additional week of annual leave to attend a significant life event after 2 years’ service

Even More Benefits

• Employee benefits portal with hundreds of retail discounts including ASOS, gym memberships, cinema, M and S and major supermarkets
• 24 hour remote GP appointments
• Medical cashback for dental treatment, physiotherapy and alternative therapies
• Recognition, rewards and team celebrations throughout the year, with May dedicated to celebrating our teams
• Tailored in house training and genuine progression opportunities
• Sustainability focus with Carbon Literacy trained teams and Eco Schools accreditation

Grandir UK is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. An enhanced DBS check is required for this role and will be carried out by our approved third party provider.

We are an equal opportunity employer and recruit based on merit. To support our recruitment process, we may use AI‑assisted tools for tasks such as application screening and reference checks. These tools help us manage applications efficiently, and all hiring decisions are made by our team.