Third in Charge - 12 Month Maternity Cover

Bright Horizons; Greater London; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £34,132.80 p.a.

50% childcare discount

Enhanced parental leave

20 days annual leave + bank holidays

Pension

Wellbeing benefits & 24/7 virtual GP

Career development programme

Job summary

Bright Horizons in Greater London is seeking a Third in Charge to lead and mentor a nursery team, delivering exceptional care and education for every child. You will promote safeguarding, health and safety, and build strong partnerships with families and professionals.

When required, you will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead and support occupancy growth during a 12-month maternity cover. The role requires full EYFS Level 3 qualifications and prior leadership experience in an Early Years

Qualifications

• Must have full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification.
• Experience in an Early Years setting, ideally as Third in Charge/Room Leader/Educator.
• Strong decision-making with leadership experience.
• Solid safeguarding and child-protection knowledge and legislation.
• Ability to build trust and partnerships with colleagues and parents.
• Excellent communication with children and adults.
• Fixed-term maternity cover for 12 months.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team to deliver exceptional care and education.
• Promote child welfare, health and safety, and safeguarding.
• Maintain strong partnerships with parents, colleagues, and professionals.
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead when required.
• Engage with Local Authority to support practice across all areas.

Skills

Decision making

Building relationships

Communication

Safeguarding knowledge

Education

Level 3 Early Years qualification

Job description

As a Third in Charge, you will lead, mentor, support, and inspire a team to deliver exception care and education. 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. When required, you will also act as Designated Safeguarding Lead at the nursery, promote the nursery to support retention and ongoing occupancy growth, and engage with the Local Authority to understand the local offering and support practice across all areas of the nursery.

• Full and relevant Level 3 or above Early Years qualification
• Previous experience working within an Early Years setting - ideally as a Third in Charge, Room Leader, Early Years Educator or similar
• Confident decision maker, with previous experience providing support and leadership to others
• 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
• This position is a fixed term maternity cover position for 12 months

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.

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."

Our Benefits

• £34,132.80 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
• Subject to T&Cs