Nursery jobs in Hackney

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent (40 hours per week)

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced, passionate, and inspiring Nursery Manager to lead our thriving early years setting. This is an exciting opportunity for an exceptional leader who is dedicated to delivering outstanding childcare and education while creating a nurturing, home-from-home environment where children, families, and staff can flourish.

As Nursery Manager, you will lead the day-to-day operations of the nursery, ensuring the highest standards of care, education, safeguarding, and compliance. You will inspire and support your team, promote a culture of continuous learning, and create an environment where every child is encouraged to grow with confidence, curiosity, and joy.

What You'll Do

As Nursery Manager, you will:

Lead the Deputy Manager, Third in Charge, and Room Leaders to deliver exceptional early years education and care.

Oversee the daily running and operations of the nursery, ensuring the highest standards are maintained.

Create a safe, stimulating, inclusive, and welcoming environment where every child feels valued and supported.

Foster a warm, home-from-home atmosphere that promotes children's emotional wellbeing and development.

Ensure full compliance with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Ofsted requirements, safeguarding legislation, and health and safety regulations.

Maintain accurate records, policies, and procedures across the nursery.

Prepare the nursery for inspections, audits, and regulatory visits.

Drive continuous improvement through reflective practice and quality assurance.

Work towards occupancy, budget, and operational targets while maintaining outstanding standards of care.

Promote the nursery within the local community and support marketing initiatives to build strong occupancy.

Conduct nursery tours for prospective families and confidently guide them through the registration process.

Build positive relationships with children, parents, carers, colleagues, and external professionals.

Leadership Responsibilities

As the leader of the nursery, you will:

Inspire, motivate, and support your team to deliver exceptional childcare and education.

Lead by example, modelling best practice and creating a positive working culture.

Recruit, interview, induct, mentor, and develop new and existing team members.

Carry out regular supervision meetings, performance reviews, coaching, and development plans.

Allocate staffing effectively to ensure legal staff-to-child ratios are maintained at all times.

Encourage continuous professional development and create opportunities for learning and career progression.

Respond professionally and effectively to any concerns or complaints raised by families or colleagues.

Lead staff meetings, training sessions, and parent information events.

Collaborate with senior leadership to achieve nursery objectives, budgets, and key performance indicators.

Act as a key holder for the nursery.

Supporting Children's Learning

You will ensure every child receives the very best start by:

Providing an engaging, stimulating, and educational environment where children learn through play.

Supporting high-quality teaching and learning experiences that inspire curiosity and creativity.

Ensuring children's interests, achievements, and development are accurately observed, recorded, and celebrated.

Promoting inclusive practice so every child can reach their full potential.

Maintaining excellent communication with parents through face-to-face conversations, written updates, and digital communication platforms.

What We're Looking For

A full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification or above (Level 5 or Degree desirable).

A minimum of 5 years' experience working within an early years setting.

At least 2 years' experience in a Nursery Manager or Deputy Nursery Manager role.

Strong leadership and people management experience.

Excellent knowledge of the EYFS, safeguarding legislation, and Ofsted requirements.

Experience managing nursery operations, staffing, occupancy, budgets, and compliance.

Outstanding communication, organisational, and problem-solving skills.

A genuine passion for delivering exceptional childcare and supporting children's development.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do.

The successful candidate will share responsibility for protecting the welfare, health, and wellbeing of every child in our care. You will ensure safeguarding policies and procedures are implemented consistently, promote a strong safeguarding culture throughout the nursery, and complete all mandatory safeguarding and health and safety training.

A thorough understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and the confidence to seek guidance whenever required are essential for this role.

Why Join Us?

When you join our team, you'll enjoy a fantastic range of benefits, including:

• Birthday Off
• 6 Fully Paid Sick Days
• Cashback Healthcare Plan
• Retail Discounts
• Recognition & Reward Scheme
• 50% Childcare Discount
• 24/7 Virtual GP AcceSs
• 24/7 Counselling Support
• Discounted Gym Membership
• Personal Financial Advisor Access
• Pension Discovery
• Learning Platform Access

Pay: From £40,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person