Nursery Manager

The Old Station Nursery Group; Heyford Park; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free childcare for the first month

52% discount (based on hours)

Discretionary annual bonus

33 days holidays including bank hols +

Self-Space Mental Health Workshops

Career Development: The National Coleg

Perkbox discounts & wellbeing tools

Long-service awards & recognition

Volunteer day: 1 paid day off

Job summary

The Old Station Nursery Heyford is seeking a proactive Nursery Manager to lead and inspire a dedicated team, delivering exceptional care and education to children. You will foster a nurturing, stimulating environment and build strong partnerships with families while ensuring regulatory compliance.

Experience in an Early Years leadership role is essential, with a Level 3+ EYFS qualification. The role includes a 40-hour Monday-to-Friday week and safeguarding responsibilities at the Heyford site.

Qualifications

• You must hold a Level 3 Early Years qualification or above.
• Ideal candidate will have proven experience in an Early Years leadership role, ideally as a Nursery Manager, Deputy Manager, Assistant Manager, or in a comparable position.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and inspire your nursery team to deliver high-quality care and education with pride and energy.
• Create a nurturing and stimulating environment that supports children’s all-round development and meets individual needs.
• Build positive relationships with families, colleagues, and external agencies to ensure the best outcomes for children.
• Oversee nursery operations, including staff schedules, budgets, health and safety, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Act as a mentor, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and supporting the professional development of your team.
• Promote the ethos and values of The Old Station Nursery, ensuring they are deeply embedded in daily practice.
• Take responsibility for maintaining high standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and safety across the nursery.
• Confidently lead inspections and maintain accurate records to ensure compliance with the EYFS framework and Ofsted standards.

Skills

Leadership

EYFS knowledge

Staff mentoring

Communication

Education

Level 3 Early Years qualification or above

Job description

Are you ready to lead, inspire, and make a lasting impact on children’s lives? At Heyford, we’re seeking a passionate Nursery Manager to guide our team and deliver exceptional care and education. This is your opportunity to lead with pride, foster a nurturing environment, and create brighter futures for children, families, and your team.

To be considered for this role, you must hold a Level 3 Early Years qualification or above. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in an Early Years leadership role, ideally as a Nursery Manager, Deputy Manager, Assistant Manager, or in a comparable position .

Please note: we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Why You’ll Love Working With Us

We know our people make all the difference, so here’s how we make a difference for you:

• Childcare Perks: Free childcare for the first month and 52% discount (based on working hours) to support your family.
• Discretionary Annual Bonus: An additional performance-based reward, given at the company’s discretion, to recognise great work and team contribution.
• Holiday and Celebrations: 33 days of holiday (inclusive of national bank holidays and the Christmas closure week), plus your birthday off!
• Self-Space Mental Health Workshops: Short, practical sessions that help managers identify mental health concerns and confidently support their teams.
• Career Development: Access to The National College full of training and courses
• Exclusive Discounts & Wellbeing Support: Enjoy Perkbox discounts and wellbeing tools.
• Recognition & Rewards: Refer a friend or family for exciting bonuses and celebrate milestones with long-service awards.
• Volunteer Day: 1 paid day off per year to volunteer and give back to the community.

Pay: Competitive Salary, based on experience.

Working Hours: Monday to Friday - 40 hours per week.

Location: The Old Station Nursery Heyford, Camp Road, Heyford Park, Heyford, Oxfordshire, OX25 5BS

What being a Nursery Manager involves

As a Nursery Manager, you’ll:

• Lead, manage, and inspire your nursery team to deliver high-quality care and education with pride and energy.
• Create a nurturing and stimulating environment that supports children’s all-round development and meets individual needs.
• Build positive relationships with families, colleagues, and external agencies to ensure the best outcomes for children.
• Oversee nursery operations, including staff schedules, budgets, health and safety, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Act as a mentor, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and supporting the professional development of your team.
• Promote the ethos and values of The Old Station Nursery, ensuring they are deeply embedded in daily practice.
• Take responsibility for maintaining high standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and safety across the nursery.
• Confidently lead inspections and maintain accurate records to ensure compliance with the EYFS framework and Ofsted standards.

What You’ll Bring to the Role

• Proven experience in managing and inspiring teams within a childcare setting.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the EYFS framework and best practices in early years education.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to mentor, motivate, and drive a team towards excellence.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills to build positive partnerships with families and staff.
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with a passion for creating brighter futures for children.

About our Nursery

Our purpose-built Old Station Nursery Heyford provides a varied mix of structured and free-flow daily activities. Located in the growing Heyford Park village, our community nursery is located at the end of Camp Road on the former RAF airbase with ample parking.

The Old Station Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all applicants to share this commitment. All roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks, satisfactory references, and verification of your right to work in the UK and any essential qualifications. If successful, our recruitment and compliance team will guide you through every step of the onboarding process. We are an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be considered to ensure fairness and accessibility for all candidates.