Salary: £50,000 per annum + KPI Bonus

Hours: 45 hours per week

Holidays: 45 days holiday a year

A family-run group of boutique nurseries, recognised for creating enabling

environments where children feel seen, nurtured, and empowered to grow into independent,

confident, curious young learners.

You will be responsible for delivering high-quality, safe, inclusive childcare and education in line

with the EYFS Framework, OFSTED requirements, and the founder's ethos. You will

make sound day-to-day decisions, while also contributing to the long-term development and

continuous improvement of the nursery.

Key Responsibilities

1. Leading Quality Practice

• Ensure a rich, engaging curriculum that supports children’s physical, emotional, social,

and cognitive development in line with EYFS and nursery policies.

• Oversee consistent, high-quality observations, assessments, and planning.

• Embed strong systems for monitoring practice including room observations, supervision,

appraisal, and targeted staff development.• Ensure every child, including those with SEND, receives individualised support and equal access to learning.

• Uphold exceptional standards of cleanliness, safety, and food hygiene across the nursery.

• Ensure safe administration of medicines and adherence to safeguarding, risk assessment, and health and safety procedures.

2. Driving Continuous Improvement

• Lead on preparation for OFSTED, local authority audits, Environmental Health inspections, and other external evaluations.

• Implement recommendations promptly and effectively.

• Lead and contribute to team, unit, management, and strategy meetings, ensuring decisions translate into measurable improvements.

• Identify opportunities for innovation, development, and local or national initiatives that support service excellence.

3. Inspiring and Developing People

• Lead on recruitment, induction, training, performance, and retention of all staff.

• Create a warm, collaborative, and accountable culture where staff feel valued, supported, and motivated.

• Manage staff absence and wellbeing in line with policy.

• Build strong partnerships with parents through regular communication, meetings, celebrations, feedback sessions, and a robust key person approach.

• Ensure all staff are confident, knowledgeable, and proactive in implementing safeguarding procedures.

4. Managing Resources and Commercial Success

• Ensure staffing ratios and qualifications meet EYFS and OFSTED requirements at all times.

• Maintain high-quality, well-presented learning environments indoors and outdoors, with ample resources for all age groups.

• Manage budgets responsibly, controlling staffing, supplies, and operational costs.

• Achieve occupancy and revenue targets while maintaining exceptional service standards.

• Maintain an organised waiting list and convert enquiries into admissions effectively.

• Ensure the building, security systems, equipment, IT platforms, and all resources are

well-maintained and operational.

5. Information, Administration & Compliance

• Maintain accurate registers, financial records, documentation, and statutory information.

• Submit required reports to senior management, OFSTED, local authorities, and other

external bodies.

• Protect confidentiality and adhere strictly to policies on information sharing and GDPR.

• Contribute to ongoing evaluation and development of nursery services.

6. Additional Duties

• Represent the nursery at events, meetings, training, and community activities.

• Attend, support and lead evening commitments such as parent evenings, celebrations,

staff training and meetings.

• Undertake keyholder responsibilities, ensuring security and safety of the premises.

• Carry out any duties commensurate with the role as reasonably requested.

Person Specification

Essential Personal Qualities

• Warm, inspiring leader with the ability to motivate and develop a high-performing team.

• Committed to children’s wellbeing, learning, and safeguarding.

• Excellent communicator with strong written and verbal skills.

• Customer-focused, with a natural ability to build relationships with families.

• Strong organisational and multitasking skills.

• Adaptable, proactive, and solution oriented.

• Committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion.

• Positive, calm role model with a passion for continuous improvement.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Full and relevant Level 3 (or above) Early Years qualification

• Minimum 3 years’ leadership experience in large full-day-care nurseries

• Strong understanding of EYFS, OFSTED, safeguarding and child protection

• Experience managing budgets and meeting revenue targets

• Ability to lead marketing strategy, plan retention events, and convert enquiries.

• Experience supervising, appraising and developing staff.

Desirable

• Level 3 Early Years SENCO Qualification

• Food Hygiene Certificate

• Paediatric First Aid

• Safeguarding L1-3

• Experience with nursery management software or digital learning tools

• Degree or higher-level Early Years qualification

Working Conditions

• Salary: £50,000 + performance-based bonus

• 40-45 days paid holiday per year

• 45 hours per week with paid breaks

• Shorter Fridays

• Hot lunch provided daily

Staff Benefits

• Complimentary birthday day off

• Company sick pay (5 days annually)

• Generous childcare discount (up to 50%)

• Recommendation bonus (£500)

• Loyalty bonuses (increasing at years 1, 3, 5, 10)

• Termly social events & twice-yearly staff parties

• Extensive induction programme & monthly team training

• Access to professional learning platforms

• Wellbeing programme

• Paediatric First Aid training

• Nursery fleece jacket provided

• Snacks, fruit, coffee, teas & staff toiletries provided

If you are interested in learning more about this role, please contact Shama on sj@purpledove.co.uk