Nursery Manager

About Early Years Ltd.; Leicester; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Holiday entitlement

Birthday off

Childcare discount

Professional development

Family leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Pension

Private medical insurance

Job summary

Busy Bees Leicester Oadby is seeking a Deputy Nursery Manager ready to progress into a full Nursery Manager role. You will take on leadership for a well-supported setting, guiding a dedicated early years team and maintaining high standards of care and safeguarding.

You will work with regional teams to drive occupancy and quality, with autonomy from day one and the support to grow professionally in a respected nursery network.

Qualifications

• Proven Deputy Nursery Manager with strong leadership.
• Strong EYFS and Ofsted knowledge.
• Experience supporting inspections and quality improvement.
• Ambition to progress to full nursery leadership.

Responsibilities

• Step into full Nursery Manager responsibility for a well-supported setting.
• Lead and develop a high-performing early years team.
• Ensure high standards of care, education, safeguarding and compliance.
• Drive continuous improvement in practice and outcomes for children.
• Take ownership of staffing, performance and day-to-day operations.
• Build relationships with families and the local community.
• Collaborate with regional leadership to support quality and occupancy goals.

Skills

Deputy Nursery Manager

Leadership

EYFS knowledge

Ofsted experience

Staff development

Education

NNEB / NVQ3

BTEC Nat Dip in Childcare

CACHE Dip in Childcare

Job description

Role Overview:

Nursery Manager (Development Opportunity for High-Performing Deputies) £35,000-£40,000,000 per annum DOE

About the benefits

• Up to 25% annual salary bonus
• Up to 33 days’ holiday (including bank holidays)
• Your birthday off – our gift to you!
• Substantial childcare discount
• Ongoing professional development & training
• Enhanced family leave & return-to-work bonus
• Menopause support, financial wellbeing tools, and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work scheme & easy-access pension plan
• Discounted private medical insurance
• Opportunities to travel internationally and explore best practices in early years education with our talent exchange programme
• Access to our Hive benefits platform – with exclusive retail discounts and wellbeing resources

And that’s just the beginning! Our Hive Wellbeing Hub also offers mental health support, a dedicated Celebrating You space to recognise your achievements, and a Grow With Us programme to fuel your career ambitions.

About the opportunity and why this role is different

• This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Deputy Nursery Manager who is ready to progress into a full Nursery Manager role.
• You will take full leadership responsibility for a nursery, supported by a strong regional team and central support teams.
• We are looking for someone who is already performing at a high level in a deputy role and is ready to step into broader ownership, decision-making, and leadership accountability.
• You will be trusted with autonomy from day one, supported by a strong regional and central structure designed to help you succeed, not micro-manage you.

About our Nursery

Busy Bees Leicester Oadby is rated "Good" by Ofsted and has a capacity of 52 children. Opened in 2000, our purpose-built nursery is designed on one level, creating a welcoming, friendly, and happy environment for children. The facility features three spacious rooms, providing ample space for play and learning. Free parking is available for staff.

Role Responsibilities:

Key responsibilities

• Step into full Nursery Manager responsibility for a well-supported setting
• Lead and develop a high-performing early years team
• Ensure high standards of care, education, safeguarding, and compliance
• Drive continuous improvement in practice and outcomes for children
• Take ownership of staffing, performance, and day-to-day operations
• Build strong relationships with families and your local community
• Work with regional leadership to support quality and occupancy goals

Required Qualifications:

About you

We are looking for a Deputy Manager who is ready for progression and can demonstrate:

• Strong, proven performance in a Deputy Nursery Manager role preferably supernumery
• Confidence leading rooms, staff, or key areas of a setting
• Solid understanding of EYFS and Ofsted expectations
• Experience supporting inspections or quality improvement work
• The ability to lead teams, influence practice, and manage responsibility
• A clear ambition to step into full nursery leadership

You may already be acting up into manager responsibilities or leading significant areas of your current setting.

Qualifications and Experience

• NNEB, BTEC Nat Dip, CACHE Dip in Childcare, or NVQ Level 3.
• Experience as a Nursery Manager or Assistant Nursery Manager.
• Strong leadership, organisational, and communication skills.
• A focus on delivering high-quality childcare and early education.