Job Description:

Nursery Manager
Location: Wickford, Essex
Permanent | Full-Time | 4 Days Per Week (7:30am -6:30pm)
Salary: £44,000 - £47,000 per annum

Nursery Manager Opportunity | Large Outdoor LearningNursery Setting

Hays Education is proud to be supporting an innovative and highly successful early years provider with the recruitment of a Nursery Manager for one of its flagship nursery settings in Wickford, Essex.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join a well-established organisation that has been delivering outstanding childcare and early years education across Essex for more than a decade. The successful candidate will lead a thriving nursery currently catering for approximately 100 children, with exciting expansion plans already in place to increase capacity to 150 children from September, making this one of the largest and most ambitious early years settings in the region.

The organisationhas built a strong reputation for combining outstanding childcare with a unique enrichment-led learning experience. Its philosophy centres around creating engaging, child-led environments where children can learn, explore and develop through meaningful experiences both indoors and outdoors.

A key part of the provision is its commitment to outdoor education and nature-based learning.Children benefit from a carefully designed curriculum that goes far beyond the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and incorporates:

• Forest school-inspired learning and outdoor exploration
• Nature-based education and environmental awareness
• Montessori teaching principles
• Educational trips and enrichment experiences
• Music and creative arts sessions
• Children's yoga and mindfulness activities
• Practical, hands-on learning opportunities
• Activities designed to develop confidence, independence and resilience

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Nursery Manager who is passionate about innovative early years practice and wants to play a key role in the continued growth and development of a successful organisation.

The Role
As Nursery Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the leadership, management and strategic development of a large nursery setting. You will lead a dedicated team of practitioners, ensure outstanding standards of care and education, oversee compliance and safeguarding, and drive continuous improvement across the nursery.

Working on a full-time basis across four days per week (7:30am -6:30pm), you will enjoy an excellent work-life balance while leading a substantial and growing provision.

The successful candidate will be a visible and inspirational leader who can build high-performing teams, develop staff, maintain exceptional parent partnerships and ensure the nursery continues to deliver an outstanding experience for every child.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across the nursery.
• Lead a large team in delivering outstanding childcare and education.
• Ensure full compliance with the EYFS Framework, safeguarding requirements and all regulatory standards.
• Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (training provided if required).
• Lead the nursery through Ofsted inspections and quality assurance processes.
• Drive occupancy growth and support the site's expansion from 100 to 150 children.
• Develop and implement nursery improvement and development plans.
• Manage nursery budgets and resources effectively.
• Conduct staff supervision, appraisals and performance management.
• Deliver coaching, mentoring and professional development opportunities for staff.
• Ensure health and safety standards are maintained at all times.
• Promote equality, inclusion and positive outcomes for all children.
• Build strong relationships with parents, carers, local authorities and external agencies.
• Attend leadership meetings with senior management to share best practice and contribute to wider organisational development.

About You
To be successfulin this role, you will have:

• A Level 3 Early Years qualification or above.
• At least one years' experience in a Nursery Manager position.
• Strong knowledge of the EYFS Framework and child development.
• A proven track record of leading teams and driving improvement.
• Experience preparing for and managing Ofsted inspections.
• Excellent safeguarding knowledge and commitment to child welfare.
• Strong financial and operational management skills.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Experience managing large teams and nursery environments.
• A passion for outdoor learning, enrichment and innovative early years education.

What You'll Receive

• Salary of £44,000 - £47,000 per annum
• 4-day working week (7:30am - 6:30pm)
• Permanent full-time position
• Free daily lunch
• Free onsite parking
• Birthday leave
• Company pension scheme
• Wellbeing package
• Sick pay
• Staff social events
• Employee mentoring programme
• Professional development opportunities
• The chance to lead one of the region's largest and fastest-growing nursery settings

Safeguarding

Hays Education and our client are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS checks, satisfactory references and robust safer recruitment procedures.

Applicants musthave the right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Apply Now

If you are an experienced Nursery Manager seeking an exciting leadership opportunity within a growing, innovative and outdoor-focused early years organisation, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please apply now or for a confidential discussion, please contact AamirMalik at or call (phone number removed).

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