Nursery Team Leader

Childbase Partnership Ltd; Hitchin; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Work-life balance

Childcare savings

Partner benefits

Wellbeing support

Career development

Job summary

Childbase Partnership Ltd in Hitchin is seeking a Team Leader for our Highbury Lodge Day Nursery to lead a room-based team caring for 3-5 year olds. You'll ensure high-quality learning through the EYFS, plan engaging activities, and support staff to deliver outstanding care.

You’ll be a qualified early years professional with safeguarding commitments, strong collaboration, and a proactive approach to development.

Qualifications

• Qualified early years professional with a Level 3+ EY qualification and experience in an EY environment.
• Knowledge of the EYFS and ability to plan and implement high quality, engaging activities.
• Strong safeguarding commitment and ability to observe, assess and support children's well-being.
• Collaborative leadership to empower the team and deliver outstanding care.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement high-quality, engaging activities that promote learning through play.
• Observe, assess and record children’s progress as part of the Key Person approach.
• Lead and empower a team to deliver outstanding care and to realise full potential.
• Collaborate with colleagues to build strong, positive relationships and effective teamwork.

Skills

EYFS knowledge

Team leadership

Safeguarding

Education

DfE level 3+ early years qualification

Job description

Job Introduction

Join Childbase Partnership and be part of something extraordinary.

Role: Team Leader (room-based) | 3-5 year olds.

Location: Highbury Lodge Day Nursery | Hitchin | SG4 9RW.

Contract: Permanent | 40 hours/week | 52 weeks/year.

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

Salary: £33,150.20-£36,836.80 per annum (pro-rata) | £15.94-£17.71 per hour.

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.

Why join us?

• Generous annual leave: 23 days paid leave per annum (pro-rata), rising to 28 days with length of service, 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 up to 75% for parents, and 40% for grandparents, depending on your contracted hours.
• Exclusive partner benefits: Long-service rewards, qualification bonuses and retail discounts.
• Wellbeing support: Free meals, 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 been working in an early years environment for the last couple of years or more.
• You are skilled in creating opportunities for learning: Your knowledge of the EYFS will enable you to work as a Key Person, planning and implementing high quality, engaging activities that promote learning through play; observing, assessing and recording children’s progress.
• You are an advocate for safeguarding: You always ensure every child feels safe, valued, and happy and their well‑being is promoted.
• You are a collaborative leader: You enjoy working in partnership with others, effectively communicating and building strong and positive relationships, and can empower your team to deliver outstanding care and to achieve their full potential.

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.