Nursery Manager

The Old Station Nursery Group; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free childcare

52% discount

Discretionary annual bonus

Holiday and birthday off

Mental health workshops

Career development via NationalCollege

Perkbox discounts

Long-service awards

Volunteer day

Job summary

The Old Station Nursery Group is seeking a Nursery Manager in Maidstone to lead a dedicated team and deliver exceptional care and education. You’ll guide operations, budgets, and compliance, while supporting staff development and maintaining high standards.

Ideal candidates will have EYFS expertise, a Level 3 qualification, and a background in nursery leadership. Hours are 38–40 per week, with a pay rate of £18.51 per hour, based on experience, across opening hours.

Qualifications

• Hold a Level 3 Early Years qualification or above.
• Proven experience in an Early Years leadership role, ideally as Nursery Manager, Deputy Manager, Assistant Manager, or similar.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and inspire your nursery team to deliver high-quality care and education.
• Create a nurturing and stimulating environment for children’s development.
• Build strong relationships with families and external agencies to secure best outcomes.
• Oversee nursery operations, including staff rotas, budgets, health and safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Mentor the team and drive continuous improvement while embedding the nursery’s ethos.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Early Years knowledge

Education

Level 3 Early Years qualification

Job description

Join Our Team as a Nursery Manager!

Are you ready to lead, inspire, and make a lasting impact on children’s lives? At Maidstone, 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: 33days 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: £18.51per hour, based on experience.
Working Hours:38-40 hours per week across opening hours of 7.30am-6.30pm Monday to Friday
Location:Townsend Montessori Nursery Maidstone,Priory Road,Maidstone,Kent,ME15 6NL

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

Set in the heart of Maidstone, Kent, our beautiful period nursery building is home to more than 80 children each day. With three outdoor spaces and five rooms, we’re a popular and loved nursery for local Kent families. Inside our nursery, every corner is designed to inspire curiosity and foster growth. Bright and spacious interiors welcome children into a world of learning and play, filled with vibrant colours and cosy corners that encourage exploration and creativity. Townsend Montessori Nursery Maidstone is located is the town centre with great public transport links. The setting is located just off the A249 on Priory Road. Parking is available in the car park on Mill Street.

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.

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