Nursery Third in Charge
Finkley Nurseries
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Finkley Down Farm Nursery in Andover is seeking a confident Third in Charge to support the Nursery Manager and Deputy, helping lead day-to-day operations with hands-on leadership across the setting.
You'll play a key role in staffing, parent enquiries, safeguarding and occupancy while guiding the team and maintaining high EYFS standards in a busy nursery environment.
Qualifications
- Level 3 or above Early Years qualification
- Strong knowledge of the EYFS
- Previous experience leading a room/team within Early Years
- Good safeguarding knowledge
- Confidence supporting and guiding other practitioners
- A proactive, solution-focused approach
Responsibilities
- Assist the Nursery Manager and Deputy in day-to-day running of the setting
- Coordinate staffing, ratios, rotas and deployments across the nursery
- Support staff development, inductions and supervisions
- Handle parent enquiries, show rounds and enrolments
- Maintain high standards across all seven areas of learning (EYFS)
- Support safeguarding duties and keep accurate records
- Contribute to occupancy growth and open days
- Ensure health, safety and compliance procedures are followed
Skills
Education
Job description
Location: Andover: Finkley Down Farm Nursery
Hours: Full-Time – 38 or 40 hours per week over 4 days
Pay: Up to £14.50 per hour
We don’t mean to brag... but we’re kind of a big deal!
Finkley Down Farm Nursery and preschool is part of the Attraction Nurseries family — a growing childcare group passionate about creating incredible early years experiences for children, families and our teams.
We believe nursery should be full of adventure, curiosity, laughter and opportunities to learn — and behind every amazing nursery is an equally amazing team.
Our ethos says it all:
Happy Children. Happy Parents. Happy Staff.
We’re looking for someone ready to take that next step into nursery management and become an important part of our leadership team.
That’s where you come in...
We’re looking for a confident and ambitious Third in Charge to work alongside our Nursery Manager and Deputy Manager, helping lead the day‑to‑day running of the nursery.
Think of this role as the bridge between room leadership and nursery management.
You’ll still be visible, hands‑on and involved with the children and team, but you’ll also start taking greater responsibility across the whole nursery.
From supporting staffing and rotas to handling parent enquiries, safeguarding, show rounds, quality checks and helping keep the nursery running smoothly — you’ll get real management experience while being supported by an established leadership team.
If you’re already a strong room leader or find yourself thinking “I’m ready for more”... this could be exactly what you’re looking for.
- Work alongside the Nursery Manager and Deputy Manager with the day‑to‑day running of the setting
- Step up and take responsibility when members of the management team are unavailable
- Help coordinate staffing, ratios, rotas, breaks and deployment across the nursery
- Support the management team with daily priorities and operational tasks
- Help ensure every room is running effectively and maintaining high standards
- Be a visible, approachable member of the nursery leadership team
- Spot problems, find solutions and help keep the day running smoothly
You’ll start getting involved in the business side of running a successful nursery too.
- Respond to parent enquiries professionally and confidently
- Support prospective families from their initial enquiry through to joining the nursery
- Conduct nursery show rounds and showcase what makes us special
- Support the Manager and Deputy with enrolments and settling‑in arrangements
- Help maintain positive relationships with existing families
- Support open days, nursery events and local marketing initiatives
- Understand the importance of occupancy and help the management team grow the nursery
- Support high‑quality EYFS practice throughout the nursery
- Help Daily Leads and Practitioners with planning, observations and assessments
- Monitor room environments and ensure all seven areas of learning are represented
- Support effective key person practice
- Work alongside the SENCO to ensure children receive the right support
- Complete learning walks and quality checks
- Share ideas, challenge practice positively and celebrate what’s working well
- Maintain strong knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures
- Support the DSL and management team with safeguarding responsibilitiesRecognise, record and report concerns appropriately
- Support staff who raise safeguarding concerns
- Ensure safeguarding procedures are being followed throughout the nursery
- Help maintain accurate safeguarding records
- Continue developing your knowledge so you’re confident making decisions when it matters
- Lead by example and set high standards for the team
- Support and coach Practitioners, Apprentices and Daily Leads
- Help induct and welcome new team members
- Provide positive, constructive feedback
- Support Peer Observations of Practice (POPs) and learning walks
- Contribute to staff meetings, supervisions and development conversations
- Help create a culture where people feel supported, valued and accountable
You’ll help the management team make sure the nursery isn’t just fun — it’s safe, organised and compliant too.
- Complete and review daily risk assessments and safety checks
- Monitor hygiene, food safety and infection control standards
- Ensure emergency procedures are understood and followed
- Identify maintenance or safety concerns and elevate them appropriately
- Support fire drills, lockdown procedures and other emergency practices
- Help keep the nursery ready for internal audits and Ofsted inspections
Our parents trust us with the most important people in their world.
You’ll help make sure they feel that trust every day.
- Build strong, professional relationships with parents and carers
- Support with parent questions, concerns and feedback
- Communicate confidently through Famly and face‑to‑face
- Support new families during settling‑in periods
- Work professionally with external agencies and other professionals
- Help create the warm, welcoming atmosphere we want every family to experience
There’s some admin too... we can’t make everything glamorous!
You’ll support with:
- Daily and weekly nursery checklists
- Rotas, registers and staffing
- Famly records and communications
- Planning and quality trackers
- Health & safety documentation
- Safeguarding records
- SEN, planning and paperwork time
- Nursery events and communications
Being organised is going to be your superpower.
Maybe you’re already a Daily Lead or experienced Room Leader.
You love leading your room, but you’re ready to understand what happens beyond those four walls.
This role gives you the opportunity to:
Gain genuine nursery management experience
Work directly alongside your Nursery Manager and Deputy
Learn about occupancy, enquiries and show rounds
Develop your safeguarding leadership
Support and influence the whole nursery team
Get involved with compliance and Ofsted preparation
Develop your confidence making management decisions
Prepare yourself for your next step into Deputy Management
You won’t just be given a new title.
We want to teach you how to become a great nursery leader.
Up to 34 days holiday, plus your birthday off
Opportunities to increase your pay through our WOW Moments, Planning & Checklists programme
Attendance bonuses
A paid volunteer day to support a charity of your choice
50% childcare discount
Free uniform & DBS
Referral rewards of up to £750
Free family entry to Finkley Down Farm and Solstice Play!
Health Assured wellbeing support
Access to 100+ online training courses
You’re someone who...
Naturally takes the lead
Can see the bigger picture, not just what’s happening in your own room
Is organised and loves getting things done
Can make decisions and use their initiative
Supports colleagues while still holding high standards
Communicates confidently with parents and professionals
Keeps calm when the nursery gets busy
Wants to learn more about the management side of Early Years
And most importantly...
You’re ready for your next challenge.
- Level 3 or above Early Years qualification
- Strong knowledge of the EYFS
- Previous experience leading a room/team within Early Years
- Good safeguarding knowledge
- Confidence supporting and guiding other practitioners
- A proactive, solution-focused approach
Through mentoring, leadership experience and training, we’ll help you build the skills you need to take that next step.
You’ll have more responsibility, more influence and more opportunities to develop — while still having the support of your Nursery Manager and Deputy Manager around you.
Attraction Nurseries is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. All offers of employment are subject to enhanced DBS checks, satisfactory references and safer recruitment procedures.
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