Preschool Manager

LeighAcademiesTrust; Alkerden; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Free virtual GP service

MAT network collaboration

LAT benefits

Job summary

Leigh Academies Trust is seeking a Preschool Manager for Cherry Pips Nursery at Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard in Ebbsfleet Garden City. You will lead daily operations, oversee admissions, and ensure high-quality EYFS provision for our youngest learners.

This permanent, 37.5-hour role (Mon-Fri, 7:30am-3:30pm, term time plus one week) offers a competitive salary (£26,246 per annum) with progression opportunities and LAT benefits.

Qualifications

• A relevant Early Years qualification (Level 3 or above).
• Strong knowledge of the EYFS framework, child development and best practice in early education.
• Proven experience in leading or managing Early Years provision.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day running of the preschool, ensuring smooth operations and high-quality provision.
• Supervise, mentor and appraise staff, identifying training needs and modelling best practice.
• Maintain a warm, family-friendly environment and uphold EYFS standards.
• Oversee admissions, records, funding administration and occupancy levels.
• Ensure early identification and effective support for children with SEND, working with the SENCO and external agencies.
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead in the Principal's absence, ensuring a safe, compliant setting.
• Manage resources and maintain a clean, safe and engaging learning environment.

Skills

Leadership

Child development

EYFS knowledge

Communication

Education

Early Years qualification (Level 3+)

Job description

Competitive salary with progression opportunities + Local Government Pension Scheme + 24/7 access to a free virtual GP Service + collaborative MAT network + additional LAT benefits.

Cherry Pips Nursery, part of Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard, is seeking an experienced Preschool Manager to lead our thriving preschool provision. This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate Early Years practitioner to shape an exceptional, family‑centred environment and ensure high‑quality care and education for our youngest learners.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day‑to‑day running of the preschool, ensuring smooth operations and high‑quality provision.
• Supervise, mentor and appraise staff, identifying training needs and modelling best practice.
• Maintain a warm, family‑friendly environment and uphold EYFS standards.
• Oversee admissions, records, funding administration and occupancy levels.
• Ensure early identification and effective support for children with SEND, working with the SENCO and external agencies.
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead in the Principal's absence, ensuring a safe, compliant setting.
• Manage resources and maintain a clean, safe and engaging learning environment.

What We’re Looking For

• A relevant Early Years qualification (Level 3 or above).
• Strong knowledge of the EYFS framework, child development and best practice in early education.
• Proven experience in leading or managing Early Years provision.
• Excellent communication, organisational and leadership skills.
• A thorough understanding of safeguarding, including KCSIE.
• Confidence in working with children with SEND and collaborating with families and external professionals.

This is a permanent role working 37.5 hours per week (7.30am - 3.30pm, Monday to Friday), Term Time + 1 week. The actual salary is £26,246 per annum (£30,108 full‑time equivalent).

Working with us at Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard opened in September 2017, it has since grown to full capacity with children up to Year 6 as of September 2021. The academy is located in Ebbsfleet Garden City and features new facilities, including a nursery and a centre for children with speech, communication, and language needs.

The academy's core mission is to inspire children, deliver an inclusive education, create a safe and happy environment, and ensure all students feel valued. It focuses on challenging learning experiences to build resilient students and maintains a consistent approach to behaviour, safeguarding, and pastoral support.

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard received an 'Outstanding' rating from Ofsted in its November 2021 inspection, achieving the highest mark in all five areas: Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Management, and Early Years Provision.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding, Equality & Diversity

Leigh Academies Trust and all of our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This role involves regulated activity relevant to children, and it is a criminal offence for anyone barred from engaging in regulated activity with children to apply for this position.

We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process across all academies and business units, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates, and you can read more about our approach on our Careers site. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references and, where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

As a Trust, we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals, we all bring something unique to the role, regardless of any protected characteristics, which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. We are committed to providing equality and fairness throughout our recruitment and employment practices, and not discriminating on any grounds.