Room Leader - Maternity Cover

Bright Horizons; Tandridge; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare discount

Enhanced parental leave

20 days annual leave plus holidays

Pension

Wellbeing benefits including virtualGP

Career development programme

Job summary

Bright Horizons Caterham Burntwood Lane Day Nursery and Preschool is seeking a Room Leader for a maternity cover role from November 2026 to November 2027 in Caterham, Surrey. You will lead a dedicated team in our preschool room, focusing on delivering high-quality early years education and safeguarding.

Applicants should hold a Full and relevant Level 3 or above Early Years qualification and have prior Early Years experience.

Qualifications

• Full and relevant Level 3 or above Early Years qualification.
• Previous experience in an Early Years setting, ideally as Room Leader, Nursery Nurse, or similar.
• Passion for creating fun and inclusive learning environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a room team to deliver exceptional care and education.
• Promote child welfare, health and safety, and safeguarding within the room.
• Maintain strong partnerships with parents and professionals to meet each child’s needs.
• Deliver EYFS activities and support milestone development.

Skills

EYFS knowledge

Safeguarding

Communication skills

Education

Level 3 Early Years

Job description

Nursery – Bright Horizons Caterham Burntwood Lane Day Nursery and Preschool

Job Type - MAT Cover - Nov 2026-Nov 2027

Salary – From £32,864 per annum (dependant on qualification/s and experience)

Location – Caterham, Surrey

Are you looking to work for an organisation whose culture is driven by our HEART principles – Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork? Where you can be yourself, feel supported, and help to make a difference to the next generation? Somewhere you can say: “I did that.”

We’re looking for an experienced Room Leader to join our Caterham Burntwood Lane, situated close to Whyteleafe South and Caterham Train stations. This position will be based in our pre school room and is a maternity cover position starting in November 2026 for 12 months.

Our light and colourful nursery rooms are full of toys and activities to explore, helping the children gain independence and allowing their imaginations and personalities to guide them.

Our Benefits

• From £32,864 per annum
• Childcare discount of 50% for first child
• Enhanced parental leave
• 20 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and paid Christmas closure. Ability to also purchase additional leave*
• Pension
• Financial and wellbeing benefits including 24/7 virtual GP appointments, early access to wages, and more
• Professional development programme access for every stage of your career, including access to a careers coach
• Shift options: 40 hours over 4 or 5 days

*Subject to T&Cs

The Role

As a Room Leader, you will lead, mentor, support, and inspire a team to deliver exception care and education, to help all children within the room to develop and meet their individual milestones. You will promote and ensure child welfare, health and safety, and safeguarding, and maintain strong partnerships with colleagues, parents, and other professionals to meet each child’s needs.

What we’re looking for

• Full and relevant Level 3 or above Early Years qualification
• Previous experience working within an Early Years setting – ideally as a Room Leader, Nursery Nurse, Nursery Practitioner, Early Years Educator or similar
• Passion for creating fun and inclusive learning environments
• Strong understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
• Strong knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding, Child Protection, and the wider legislative requirements for working with children
• Ability to develop trust and strong working partnerships with both colleagues and parents/ carers
• Ability to use a variety of communication techniques with both children and adults

Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants.