Nursery Third In Charge

Abacus Ark; London Borough of Wandsworth; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4-Day Week

32 Days Annual Leave

Medical Cashback Plan

Training & Career Development

Progression opportunities

Company pension

Job summary

Abacus Ark Ltd. is seeking a Nursery Third In Charge (Health & Safety Lead) for its Clapham Junction site in London. This full-time role offers a 4-day working week and a strong focus on safety, compliance, and staff development.

The ideal candidate has a Level 3 CACHE/NVQ in Childcare (or higher) and prior room-leader experience in a nursery. You will lead with the Nursery Manager and Deputy, support curriculum delivery, and ensure safeguarding standards across the setting.

Qualifications

• Experience as a room leader in a nursery or early years setting.
• Strong safeguarding and health & safety understanding.
• Ability to lead a room and support colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Leadership support to Nursery Manager and Deputy.
• Health & Safety lead and compliance oversight.
• Curriculum and parent support responsibilities.
• Record keeping and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Teamwork

Communication

Safeguarding knowledge

Education

Level 3 CACHE/NVQ in Childcare or equivalent

Higher qualification in childcare or education

Job description

Full-time Permanent Level 3

Posted 26 Oct 2026

Description

Nursery Third In Charge (Health & Safety Lead)

Full-Time | 4-Day Week

Location: Clapham Junction

Join a family run nursery where you’re truly valued...

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Third in Charge to join our growing team. If you’re passionate about early years education and want to work somewhere that values your wellbeing and career development, we’d love to hear from you.

Why Join Abacus Ark Nursery?

• 4-Day Working Week - Work full-time hours across just 4 days and enjoy 3 days off every week for better work-life balance.
• 32 Days Annual Leave (Includes 8 Bank Holidays, 4 Personal Wellbeing Days)
• Medical Cashback Plan - Health Shield plan worth over £1,000 per year (including GP Anytime, health screening, health cash plans, MyGymDiscounts, SkinVision, online health assessments, massages, dental, optical and more)
• Training & Career Development - including specialised training and support/funding with enrolling onto further qualifications
• Progression opportunities within the company
• New site openings - further opportunities available

We invest heavily in our team with:

• Blue Light Card access with major high street stores/food/cinema/holiday/travel discounts (various discounts between 10-20% off)
• Long service rewards
• Mental health and wellbeing support
• Team social events and celebrations
• Company pension
• Supportive team culture and mentorship from experienced early years professionals
• Inclusive and positive working environment
• First aid and safeguarding training

TheThird in Charge (Health & Safety Lead)is a key member of the nursery leadership team, supporting theNursery Manager and Deputy Managerin running the nursery and acting as adesignated leader in their absencewhen required.AsHealth & Safety Lead, they are responsible for ensuringhigh standards of safety, compliance, and risk managementacross the nursery. They play a vital role indaily operational tasks, staff support, and parent communication, contributing to the smooth running of the nursery and high‑quality experiences for children.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership support
• Health & Safety lead
• Curriculum and parent support
• Compliance and record keeping

What we're looking for:

• Experience working as a room leader in a nursery role
• Level 3 CACHE/NVQ qualification in Childcare or equivalent
• Previous experience working within a nursery or early years settingRight to work in the UK
• Ability to obtain an enhanced DBS check (paid for by us)
• Ability to provide references
• Good understanding of safeguarding and health & safety requirements
• Someone passionate & enthusiastic about early years education
• Someone organised, proactive and confident in leading a room and supporting colleagues
• A strong communicator with excellent teamwork skills
• Committed to providing exceptional childcare and learning experiences
• Higher qualification in childcare or education

If you’re ready to progress your childcare career in a nursery that genuinely values and supports its staff, we’d love to hear from you!

Company Overview

Our mission is to empower every child with the essential tools they need to thrive from day one of school and to discover the joy of learning. We are dedicated to nurturing their Focus, Independence, Resilience, Social Understanding, and Trustworthiness, alongside introducing language, mathematics, and a wider understanding of the world. We seek to ensure children are not only ready to learn but also to shine. We believe in the boundless potential of every child and strive to ignite their passion for learning, helping them grow into confident, capable, and compassionate individuals.