Nursery Manager

JR United Kingdom; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nursery in Portsmouth is seeking a dedicated Nursery Manager to oversee daily operations, ensure compliance with educational standards, and support staff development. This pivotal role involves fostering a nurturing environment for children. The candidate should have a strong background in childcare and management, with a commitment to safeguarding and best practices.

Benefits

27 days annual leave plus birthday off

75% off nursery fees

Confidential employee assistance helpline

Tailored learning and development opportunities

Onsite parking

Company pension

Qualifications

• Over 2 years of experience in nursery settings.
• Over 1 year of management experience.
• Strong understanding of EYFS statutory framework.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with EYFS requirements.
• Manage staff and ensure effective training.
• Promote positive relationships within the nursery environment.

Skills

Knowledge of EYFS

Team Management

Child Development

Self-Evaluation

Education

Full and relevant Level 3 Childcare qualification

Level 5 qualification in Childcare and/or Management

Job description

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Rooted in belonging, growing out potential and finding magic in every moment; we unlock the uniqueness of every individual.

Woodberry Day Nursery Peartree

Nursery Manager

Hours - 40 hours

Salary £Competitive

Our Peartree setting is located on Peartree Avenue, between Bitterne and Woolston. It's a purpose-built day nursery with spacious gardens, backing onto woodland. Each room has its own access to the garden allowing the children to free flow in their play.

The garden boasts a range of equipment, a mud kitchen, a giant sand pit, barn and tracks and a petrol pump for bikes and trikes as well as the more typical resources. Our Peartree setting caters for children from 3 months to 5 years old but can also support older children for holiday care.

We are currently seeking a Nursery Manager to join our team and support the overall management of the nursery. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to play a pivotal part in ensuring the smooth running of daily nursery life, supporting the team, and contributing to the development of inspiring learning experiences for our young children.

Why Peartree?

At Peartree, we take pride in creating an environment that encourages both children and staff to grow, develop, and thrive. At Peartree, the child is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that every child is unique, capable, and full of potential — and our role is to nurture that potential through responsive, respectful, and individualised care and education.

By joining our team, you’ll be part of a setting that champions:

? A Child-Led Learning Environment

We follow each child’s interests, rhythms, and developmental needs, allowing them to explore, question, and create at their own pace. No rigid routines — just rich, meaningful experiences that honour the whole child.

? Respectful Relationships

We build strong, trusting bonds with children and their families. Educators are seen as partners in a child’s learning journey, offering guidance rather than instruction, and always listening first.

? Creativity and Curiosity at the Core

Our curriculum is flexible, open-ended, and inspired by real-world exploration, sensory play, nature, and inquiry. Whether indoors or out, we create environments that spark imagination and deep learning.

Why Join Us?

At Family First, we value our team members and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Annual Leave: Starting at 27 days, plus a paid day off for your birthday and bank holidays
• Childcare Employee Discounts: 75% off nursery fees for our team member’s
• Health & Wellbeing: Confidential employee assistance helpline available
• Development: Tailored learning and development opportunities to support your career growth
• Referral Programme- Refer a friend and receive a bonus up to £750. Check terms and conditions.
• Onsite parking
• Company Pension

As Nursery Manager, you will:

• Understand and ensure that the requirements of the statutory framework for the EYFS are met throughout the nursery.
• Ensure that company policies and procedures are embedded, applied, and adhered to by all.
• Facilitate inspections by regulatory bodies and implement any recommendations.
• Embed effective key person approach to enable children to form secure attachments and identify training or development needs for staff.
• Ensure that all children receive stimulating and purposeful experiences, environments and resources which are appropriate to their age and stage of development.
• Promote a culture of self-evaluation and reflective practice throughout the nursery.
• Manage any complaints or concerns raised in a thorough and timely manner and inform senior management.
• Maintain accurate records and accounts relating to children and staff on EyMan system and on file.
• Participate in all activities related to nursery publications, advertising, public relations, the web site, and other marketing activities designed to promote the nursery.
• Promote positive relations with an approachable manner and time to listen to your team.

*Duties and responsibilities in this job description are not exhaustive or restrictive, changes and other duties relevant to this post may be added.

As Nursery Manager, you will need:

• Essential: Full and relevant Level 3 Childcare qualification
• Essential: Over 2 year experience in Nursery settings
• Essential: Strong knowledge of the statutory framework for the EYFS and regulatory requirements
• Essential: Over 1 year of management experience
• Desirable: Level 5 qualification in Childcare and/or Management and Leadership
• Desirable: Experience of successfully passing an Ofsted inspection at a Good or Outstanding level

We are committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. A Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate will be required for all posts. This post will be subject to enhanced checks as part of our Safeguarding Duty.

The Woodlands Daycare is part of the Family First Group where we take great care to treat everyone as a person, with equal rights and responsibilities to any other individual, whether they are an adult or a child. We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all children and families according to their individual needs. Discrimination on the grounds of gender, age, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, ethnic or national origin, or political belief has no place within the Family First Group.