Third In Charge / Room Leader

Bright Horizons; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare discount 50%

Bonus up to £1,500

Enhanced parental leave

20 days annual leave + holidays

Pension

Wellbeing benefits

Career development

Job summary

Bright Horizons Elm Grove Day Nursery and Preschool in Kingston upon Thames is recruiting a Third in Charge to lead and inspire a team across our care and education settings. You will promote child welfare, health and safety, and safeguarding, while building strong partnerships with colleagues and parents.

You may act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead and collaborate with Local Authority to support nursery practice.

Qualifications

• Level 3+ Early Years qualification required.
• Experience in an Early Years setting; Third in Charge or similar preferred.
• Confident decision maker with experience leading others.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and understanding of child protection regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, support and inspire a nursery team to deliver high-quality care and education.
• Promote child welfare, health and safety, and safeguarding across the nursery.
• Develop trust and strong partnerships with colleagues and parents/carers; engage with Local Authority when needed.
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead and support retention and occupancy growth.

Skills

Leadership

Decision making

Partnership building

Safeguarding

Education

Early Years qualification Level 3+

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

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." We're looking for a Third in Charge to join our Bright Horizons Elm Grove Day Nursery and Preschool.

Our Benefits

• Childcare discount of 50% for first child
• Competitive bonus of up to £1,500, awarded in line with Ofsted inspection outcomes
• 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