Manager-In-Training

About the role: As we expand, we are looking for a Manager-in-Training to join our team at Ark Start. In this role, you will have the opportunity to work with existing managers and our head of teaching and learning to prepare to take on the management of a brand new Ark Start nursery. We are looking for individuals ambitious to progress into leadership roles and eager to learn more about how to run an exceptional nursery. Successful candidates will have a genuine passion for young children and a deep commitment to the mission and values of Ark Start. Your training will combine management experience in a particular setting, along with bespoke training, coaching and a programme of training and experiences across multiple sites that will mean you are fully prepared to take on your very own nursery. Our offer will give you time each week to complete specific training, whilst also having more informal mentoring and coaching as you go. We anticipate that you will become a manager, with enhanced salary and opportunities, within twelve months or sooner. We will provide hands-on, guided and supportive help throughout your journey through to manager level and beyond. We are committed to helping you thrive and develop, whilst also enjoying your work and feeling confident in the support of all your colleagues.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensuring Exceptional Care: Provide a high standard of care, responding to children’s unique needs with empathy and professionalism. This requires knowledge of child development to tailor activities and support to individual needs.
• Promoting Safety and Welfare: As a safeguarding lead, implement safety protocols, monitor risks, and proactively address any concerns to maintain children’s well-being.
• Facilitating Learning and Development: Develop an enabling environment where children can learn and grow through stimulating activities and explorative play. Encourage curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning.
• Exhibiting Leadership and Dedication: Lead by example to inspire their team, uphold high standards, and foster a culture of excellence and professional growth.

Key Areas of Focus:

• Nursery Improvement: Lead and execute improvement plans, ensuring targets are met daily and they lead specific areas for nursery enhancement.
• Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Manage safeguarding duties, communicate with the Nursery Manager, and act as a deputy in handling child welfare concerns.
• Management Information System (MIS): Oversee daily records of attendance, food, medication, and first aid incidents to maintain accurate, up-to-date information.
• Environment: Ensure the physical space aligns with Ark Start’s ethos, keeping it organised, tidy, and engaging. Regularly assess and improve learning areas to foster children’s engagement.
• Planning and Assessment: Oversee curriculum planning, ensuring resources support teaching goals. Guide staff through developmental assessments and external moderations to maintain a cohesive educational approach.

Training and Professional Development: This training is crucial for fostering a consistent, high-quality approach to early years care within Ark Start’s standards. By completing the programme, you will gain a deep understanding of early childhood best practices, leadership skills, and operational management competencies, preparing you to lead a nursery effectively.

Key Requirements:

• Minimum Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care or equivalent
• Experience working as a L3 qualified educator
• Right to work in the UK
• An awareness of keeping children safe, noticing safeguarding and welfare concerns, and knowing how and when to take appropriate action
• A team player that can work collaboratively as well as using own initiative

About Ark Start: Our dedicated team work together to ensure that every child has a joyful, engaging, and secure nursery experience and leaves us ready to start school happily and confidently. We are driven by our values in everything we do: Aim High, Be Brave, Be Kind and Keep Learning. Ark Start is at an exciting time in its evolution. We have five nurseries in London and aim to expand our reach over the coming years. We are looking for someone with a genuine passion for young children and with the skill, creativity, commitment, and energy to deliver excellent provision at Ark Start.

Benefits:

• A Real Living Wage Employer: We are a Real Living Wage employer with a minimum salary of £13.15 per hour for all roles in London. We also pay 11% pension contributions.
• Ongoing Learning: We are committed to providing the best development for all our staff and we work hard to ensure there are clear career progression routes.
• Annual leave: We are proud of our staff and want everyone to feel valued for playing their part. That’s why staff receive 25 days holiday each year, excluding bank holidays.
• Wellbeing: Staff wellbeing is incredibly important to us. We know that while incredibly rewarding, working in a nursery can be challenging. We therefore work hard to ensure all staff have the support and infrastructure they need to take care of their wellbeing.
• Part of a Network: Ark Start is part of Ark, a charity that aims to transform children’s lives through education. Ark operates a network of 39 schools across London, Birmingham, Portsmouth, and Hastings as well as a number of charitable ventures. Being part of a network means our staff get access to the opportunities, infrastructure, and support of a large organisation.
• Diversity and inclusion: We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective.

Safeguarding statement: Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred.

Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience. If you would like to hear more about this role or about Ark Start, please contact HR@arkstart.org.uk.