Nursery Manager

Allscreens Nationwide Ltd; St Albans; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days leave

Reward Days

Childcare discounts

Wellbeing support

Online training

Job summary

Childbase Partnership is seeking a qualified Nursery Manager for Grasshoppers Day Nursery in St Albans. You will lead a large early years setting, applying EYFS principles to deliver high-quality care and learning.

This permanent role offers 37.5 hours per week across 52 weeks, with varied shifts Mon-Fri 07:00-18:30 and options for a 4- or 5-day week. You will mentor staff, safeguard children, and work with the Area Manager to achieve occupancy and quality targets.

Qualifications

• Qualified early years professional with Level 3+ EYFS qualification.
• Recent experience managing a large early years setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-quality EYFS practice to promote children's learning.
• Mentor and coach staff to deliver outstanding outcomes.
• Ensure safeguarding and welfare of children at all times.
• Meet occupancy, financial and staff retention targets with Area Manager.

Skills

EYFS knowledge

Leadership

Mentoring & coaching

Safeguarding

Education

DfE approved early years qualification (level 3+)

Job description

Join Childbase Partnership and be part of something extraordinary.

Role: Nursery Manager.

Location: Grasshoppers Day Nursery | St Albans | AL1 4PL.

Nursery capacity: 64 places.

Contract: Permanent | 37.5 hours/week | 52 weeks/year.

Working pattern: Varied shifts Monday-Friday between 07:00-18:30 | Choose a 4 or 5 day week.

Responsible to: Area Manager.

We’ve been delivering childcare excellence since 1989. Within our 44-day nurseries, Head Office, and Training Academy, EduBase, our ethos is simple: we all belong, we all matter, and we all contribute. We believe in ‘careers, not jobs’, supporting one another to grow and succeed.

• Generous annual leave: 30 days paid leave per annum (pro-rata), plus paid bank holidays.
• Work-life balance: Up to a further 20 paid days off each year through our Partnership Reward Days incentive; take your leave or sell the days you accrue, tax-free.
• Family childcare savings: If you have children or grandchildren, there's the potential for you to benefit from generously discounted childcare at Childbase Partnership nurseries, with savings of 75% for parents, and 40% for grandparents, depending on your contracted hours.
• Exclusive partner benefits: Long-service rewards, qualification bonuses, retail discounts, enhanced maternity/paternity entitlement and pension contributions matched at 5%.
• Wellbeing support: Free meals, private health insurance, mental health and occupational health support, flu jabs, eye care vouchers and a free will-writing service.
• Career development: Team inset days, access to online training and apprenticeships through our academy.

About us

• We are employee-owned: Every colleague is a partner with a voice, who helps drive our success; when we do well, we each receive an annual tax-free dividend.
• We are number 1: Ranked top of the Nursery World league tables for our Ofsted outcomes.
• We are community driven: Supporting causes close to our hearts, we’ve raised more than £3.5 million for charity.
• We are environmentally responsible: Building a greener tomorrow our nurseries all hold Green Flag awards and are powered by 100% renewable energy.

About you

• You are a qualified early years professional: You hold a DfE approved early years qualification at level 3 or above and have current (or very recent) experience of managing a large early years setting.
• You are passionate about inspiring others to reach their full potential: You have experience of leading by example, using your exceptional understanding of the EYFS alongside your experience of mentoring and coaching early years colleagues to effectively guide your team to deliver outstanding practice that promotes the best outcomes for children’s learning.
• You are an advocate for safeguarding: You always ensure the well-being of children and your team is at the forefront of your practice, your communication and your leadership.
• You are collaborative: In partnership with your Area Manager and Regional Director, you will effectively deliver against our corporate plan, meet occupancy, financial and staff retention targets and demonstrate exemplary customer care skills as you maintain the nursery’s strong reputation.

We are an inclusive employer and we welcome applicants of all ages and backgrounds. We’re committed to FREDIE (fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, and engagement) and will consider any reasonable adjustments required. If you meet the essential criteria for this role, your application will be automatically shortlisted for review by our Recruitment Team who will determine if an interview is the next step.

Applicants must currently reside within a commutable distance of the nursery and hold suitable Right to Work in the UK; VISA sponsorship is not available. Safer recruitment checks apply, which include an Enhanced DBS check. If you’re not early years qualified, visit our Careers Page to explore other opportunities.