Senior Nursery Practitioner

Family First Nursery Group; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Quarterly bonus

Childcare discount

27 days leave + birthday off

Career progression

Supportive leadership

Wellbeing programme

Refer a friend bonus

Well-resourced nursery

Job summary

Family First Nursery Group is seeking an experienced Nursery Manager for Coton Day Nursery near Cambridge. You will lead daily operations, uphold EYFS standards, and drive occupancy while building strong parent partnerships.

The role emphasizes developing a high-performing team, supporting staff wellbeing, and preparing for Ofsted inspections in a well‑established setting within a growing group.

Qualifications

• Full and relevant Level 3 Childcare qualification
• Previous Nursery Management experience
• Strong knowledge of EYFS and safeguarding
• Experience leading teams within Early Years
• Passion for delivering high-quality childcare and education

Responsibilities

• Leading, motivating, and developing your nursery team
• Ensuring EYFS and safeguarding compliance
• Building strong parent partnerships
• Driving occupancy and overall nursery performance
• Leading Ofsted preparation and inspections
• Supporting staff development and wellbeing
• Creating a positive, professional team culture

Skills

Nursery management

EYFS knowledge

Safeguarding knowledge

Team leadership

Childcare passion

Education

Level 3 Childcare qualification

Level 5 qualification in Leadership or Management

Job description

Nursery Manager Coton Day Nursery - Coton C of E Community Primary School, Whitwell Way, Coton, Cambridge, UK

Permanent -Full Time | 40 Hours Per Week £40,170 depending on experience + Quarterly Bonus Scheme worth £3,000 per year*

Are you an experienced Nursery Manager looking for a setting where you will feel trusted, supported and genuinely valued as a leader?

Small People is looking for a confident and experienced Nursery Manager to lead our well-established nursery and continue building a positive, high-quality environment for children, families and teams.

This role is ideal for a strong Early Years leader who enjoys developing teams, driving standards and creating a nursery culture where both children and teams thrive. You will be joining a stable nursery with supportive senior leadership, strong team foundations and the freedom to lead your setting with confidence.

Coton Day Nursery is a rural village setting with regular nature-based exploration beyond the nursery grounds. Rather than relying solely on its outdoor play area, children have opportunities to visit nearby parks and open fields, where they can observe wildlife, explore natural environments, and build confidence through outdoor learning.

If you take pride in running a happy, organised nursery and leading a team people genuinely enjoy being part of, we would love to hear from you.

What we offer:

• Quarterly bonus scheme worth up to £3,000 per year*
• 75% childcare discount
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and your birthday off
• Genuine progression opportunities within a growing group
• Supportive and approachable senior leadership team
• Employee wellbeing & assistance programme
• Refer a friend bonus up to £750
• Well-resourced nursery with a positive team culture

*Terms and conditions apply.

The role:

As Nursery Manager, you will lead the day-to-day running of the nursery while maintaining high standards across the setting. You will be responsible for:

• Leading, motivating, and developing your nursery team
• Ensuring EYFS and safeguarding compliance
• Building strong parent partnerships
• Driving occupancy and overall nursery performance
• Leading Ofsted preparation and inspections
• Supporting staff development and wellbeing
• Creating a positive, professional team culture

This is a hands-on leadership role where your experience, leadership style, and decision-making will make a genuine impact every day.

What we're looking for:

Essential:

• Full and relevant Level 3 Childcare qualification
• Previous Nursery Management experience
• Strong knowledge of EYFS and safeguarding
• Experience leading teams within Early Years
• Passion for delivering high-quality childcare and education

Desirable:

• Level 5 qualification in Childcare, Leadership, or Management
• Experience achieving Good or Outstanding Ofsted outcomes

We are committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. A Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate will be required for all posts. This post will be subject to enhanced checks as part of our Safeguarding Duty. Coton Day Nursery is part of the Family First Group where we take great care to treat everyone as a person, with equal rights and responsibilities to any other individual, whether they are an adult or a child. We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all children and families according to their individual needs. Discrimination on the grounds of gender, age, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, ethnicor national origin, or political belief has no place within the Family First Group.