Nursery Room Leader

Fennies Nurseries; Reading; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Referral bonus

Annual leave (20–25 days)

BUPA wellbeing

Free daily meals

Leadership forums

Job summary

Fennies is seeking an experienced Room Leader to head a dedicated early years room and deliver exceptional care and education in line with EYFS.

You'll lead day-to-day operations, inspire your team, plan engaging learning experiences, and build strong partnerships with families, while maintaining safeguarding and health & safety standards. A 4- or 5-day week is available and a generous bonus potential complements a salary of up to £35,000.

Qualifications

• Level 2 or 3 Early Years qualification (or above).
• Strong knowledge of EYFS, Birth to 5 Matters and child development.
• Experience of working in an early years setting, ideally as a room leader.
• A track record of delivering high standards of care and education.
• Experience of strong practice as a Key Person and in implementing safeguarding, health and safety, first aid and critical care policies.
• Strong organisational, communication and teamwork skills.
• GCSE Maths and English (Grade 4 /C or above); or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day running of your room, ensuring high-quality care and education
• Inspire and support your team to deliver outstanding early years practice
• Plan and implement engaging learning experiences in line with EYFS and Birth to 5 Matters
• Build strong partnerships with families and maintain open communication
• Act as a role model for best practice, supporting team development through guidance and feedback
• Maintain high standards of safeguarding, health and safety and compliance
• Monitor children’s progress and support their individual learning journeys

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Teamwork

Organisational skills

Education

Level 2 or 3 Early Years qualification

GCSE Maths and English (4/C or above)

Job description

Room Leader

• Salary: Up to £35,000 per year

• Bonus: Potential to earn a further £1,500 in bonus

• 4-day or 5-day working week available

Lead in our Explorer, Discover, Creator or Inventor rooms where children, educators and families thrive.

At Fennies, our Room Leaders play a key role in creating exceptional early years environments. You’ll lead your room with confidence, inspire your team and ensure every child receives outstanding care and education.

If you’re an experienced early years professional ready to take the next step in your leadership journey, this is your opportunity to have a meaningful impact.

Why join Fennies?

We believe great leaders deserve the right support, development and recognition.

Competitive salary and bonus

• Up to £33,000 annual salary

• Up to £1,500 performance-related bonus

• Comprehensive pension scheme

• £500 referral bonus

Career Development

• Targeted professional development programmes

• Mentoring and support

• Talent mapping to support your progression

Wellbeing and Lifestyle benefits

• 20 days annual leave, increasing by 1 per year of service (up to 25) plus bank holidays

• BUPA Wellbeing Support

• Free daily meals from the Fennies Café

A community of committed, high-achieving educators

• Regular leadership forums and networking

• Summer BBQs, Christmas events and company celebrations

• Recognition and reward through the Fennies Club long service awards

About the Role

As a Room Leader, you’ll lead your room to deliver exceptional early years education while creating a positive and inspiring environment for children and your team.

You will:

• Lead the day-to-day running of your room, ensuring high-quality care and education

• Inspire and support your team to deliver outstanding early years practice

• Plan and implement engaging learning experiences in line with EYFS and Birth to 5 Matters

• Build strong partnerships with families and maintain open communication

• Act as a role model for best practice, supporting team development through guidance and feedback

• Maintain high standards of safeguarding, health and safety and compliance

• Monitor children’s progress and support their individual learning journeys

This role offers the opportunity to grow your leadership skills while making a meaningful difference in children’s early experiences.

What we’re looking for

You’re a confident and caring early years professional who enjoys leading others and creating an inspiring learning environment.

You will have:

• Level 2 or 3 Early Years qualification (or above)

• Strong knowledge of EYFS, Birth to 5 Matters and child development

• Experience of working in an early years setting, ideally as a room leader role

• A track record of delivering high standards of care and education

• Experience of strong practice as a Key Person and in implementing safeguarding, health and safety, first aid and critical care policies.

• Strong organisational, communication and teamwork skills

• GCSE Maths and English (Grade 4 /C or above); or equivalent

Most importantly, you will bring energy, empathy and ambition to create a room where children and educators thrive.

Become part of the Fennies DNA

We’re family-owned and family-run; this guides our culture, our decision-making, and what it feels like to be part of our team. We have a strong sense of community, with connections that bring us together and the systems and processes that mean our educators can focus on what they do best. Quality matters to us - starting with our people and curriculum - through to our beautiful buildings and inspiring environments. We’re investing in Fennies, in our teams, and into the education we provide our children. Our People Promise inspires us to build the kind of culture that is ambitious, passionate and supportive. We provide the environment where you can:

• Be Yourself

• Come Together

• Be All In

• Go Further

If this sounds like you, or you just want to know more about what it means to be part of the Fennies family, make contact with us today for a chat.

Take your next steps with Fennies

Our friendly Talent team are here to answer any questions you may have about Fennies – call us to discuss the role, or if you’re just curious about what it’s like to work at Fennies, let us know, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions. Our Talent Recruitment team can be contacted by:

Diversity and Inclusion

At Fennies, we celebrate diversity and believe inclusive teams create stronger learning environments for children. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.

Safeguarding

Fennies is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check and provide proof of identity. In line with Safer Recruitment guidance, online searches (including social media) may be conducted for shortlisted candidates.