Nursery Manager

Kids Planet Day Nurseries; Thornton; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Nursery Manager Bonus Scheme

Life Insurance

Free meals

KP Academy training

Enhanced parental leave

Wellbeing & rewards

Long service awards

Birthday day off

Pension plan

Enhanced holiday allowance

Central support team

80% Childcare Discount

Job summary

Kids Planet Thornton is seeking a Nursery Manager to lead day-to-day operations, ensuring high-quality care and education aligned with EYFS and Ofsted. You will mentor the team, maintain a professional culture, and build strong relationships with families and external agencies to support each child's development.

The role is a fixed-term maternity cover with enhanced training, benefits and a focus on safeguarding and staff development.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a nursery or early years team.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding and EYFS requirements.
• Proven ability to develop staff and sustain Ofsted readiness.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day running of the nursery and care/education delivery.
• Lead, mentor and support the nursery team to a high standard.
• Build strong relationships with families and external agencies for child development.

Skills

Senior leadership

Safeguarding knowledge

Excellent communication

Education

Level 3 Early Years qualification

GCSE Maths or equivalent

Job description

What if your next job meant more than just work, what if it meant shaping futures, every day? Ensure all your application information is up to date and in order before applying for this opportunity. Kids Planet is a proud family-run business, we do things with heart and we're passionate about giving every child the best possible start. No two settings are the same, but all of them are built around our shared values: care, curiosity, and a genuine love for early years.

Join Kids Planet Thornton as a Nursery Manager! This is a Fixed-term contact covering Maternity Leave. We're now looking for a Nursery Manager to join our team, someone who's ready to get stuck in, spark imaginations, and help children thrive.

Why Kids Planet Thornton?

• Good parking and good transport links
• Forest school
• Low staff turnover
• Great Place to Work Certified 2025/26
• Ranked #1 UK Best Workplaces for Women 2025
• Crowned NMT's Large Nursery Group of the Year, for the second year running
• 80% Childcare Discount - T&Cs apply

What We'll Offer Our Nursery Manager

• An exclusive Nursery Manager Bonus Scheme to reward your leadership and impact.
• Life Insurance cover and access to a health plan.
• Free breakfast, lunch, and healthy snacks to fuel your day!
• Accredited training through our awesome KP Academy and bespoke training platform.
• Enhanced leave for maternity, paternity, fertility, and adoption because family matters.
• Wellbeing goodies, staff rewards, and fun events all year round.
• Long service awards to celebrate your commitment.
• Take the day off on your birthday, it's all about you!
• Competitive salary, pension plan and enhanced holiday allowance.
• Friendly central support team always on hand to help.

How You'll Make a Difference As a Nursery Manager

• By managing the day-to-day running of the nursery, ensuring the delivery of high-quality care and education in line with the EYFS, Ofsted requirements, and the nursery's policies and procedures.
• Through leading, mentoring, and supporting the nursery team, promoting a positive, collaborative, and professional culture while ensuring staff development and performance are maintained to a high standard.
• By building and maintaining strong, trusting relationships with families and external agencies, supporting each child's development and wellbeing, and ensuring the nursery is always prepared for Ofsted inspections.

What a Nursery Manager Needs

• Must be at least Level 3 qualified in a UK recognised early years qualification.
• Excellent understanding of EYFS.
• Extensive knowledge of safeguarding children.
• Senior leadership experience within a nursery setting.
• In line with legal regulations, you must hold a GCSE (or equivalent) in Maths or gain it within 2 years of starting.

Sound like the place for you?

We are unable to offer any kind of visa sponsorship for this role.

We embrace everyone. Our goal is to create a truly inclusive culture and diverse workforce. We break down barriers so you can be your authentic self and flourish!

Kids Planet is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of children and young people. An enhanced DBS check will be required for this role. We expect all staff and volunteers to uphold this commitment, and safeguarding training is a fundamental part of every role. All colleagues are required to complete regular training to ensure they understand and fulfil their responsibilities. A Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate is mandatory for all positions, and this role will be subject to enhanced checks as part of our safeguarding duties.