Nursery Manager in Chalton

Join Childbase Partnership and lead the opening of something extraordinary. This is an exciting opportunity to become the founding Nursery Manager of our brand‑new Linmere Day Nursery, opening in the heart of the growing Linmere community. It is far more than managing an existing nursery; it is the chance to build an exceptional team, shape a positive culture, establish strong relationships with families and become part of a thriving new community from the very beginning.

Key Details

• Location: NEW Linmere Day Nursery | Hockliffe | LU5
• Contract: Permanent | 37.5 hours/week | 52 weeks/year
• Working pattern: Varied shifts Monday‑Friday between 07:00‑18:30 – choose a 4 or 5 day week
• Salary: £42,178.50‑£55,419 per annum plus discretionary bonus scheme
• Reporting to: Area Manager

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Area Manager and Regional Director during the pre‑opening phase, helping recruit your team, preparing the nursery for launch and ensuring every child and family experiences the outstanding care Childbase Partnership is renowned for from the moment we open our doors.
• Develop and implement strategies to build a high‑performing, cohesive team that supports a positive culture and exceptional outcomes for children.
• Oversee the childcare provision, safeguarding practices and quality of care, ensuring compliance with EYFS and Ofsted requirements.
• Drive occupancy, financial performance, colleague engagement and customer satisfaction, establishing Linmere Day Nursery as the nursery of choice for local families.
• Lead continuous professional development for staff and maintain an environment where children, families and colleagues feel safe, valued and supported.

Qualifications

• Hold a DfE‑approved Level 3 (or above) Early Years qualification.
• Current or recent experience successfully managing a large early years setting.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, mentor and coach colleagues.
• Excellent knowledge of the EYFS and the ability to help your team consistently deliver outstanding practice and outcomes for children.
• Commercially minded with experience in driving occupancy and financial performance.

Why Join Us?

• Generous annual leave – 30 days paid leave per annum plus paid bank holidays.
• Work‑life balance – choose a 4 or 5‑day working week and earn up to 20 paid Partnership Reward Days each year, which you can take as leave or sell back tax‑free.
• Childcare discount – 75% childcare discount (or 40% grandparent discount) from your first day.
• Exclusive Partner benefits – long‑service rewards, qualification bonuses, retail discounts, enhanced family leave, matched pension contributions up to 5% and an annual tax‑free Partnership dividend.
• Wellbeing support – free meals, private health insurance, mental health and occupational health support, flu vaccinations, eye care vouchers and a complimentary will‑writing service.
• Career development – continuous professional development through EduBase, leadership development programmes, apprenticeships and dedicated team inset days.

Why Childbase Partnership?

We are employee‑owned – every colleague is a Partner with a genuine voice in how we operate. When the business succeeds, every Partner shares in that success through an annual tax‑free dividend. We are proud to be ranked Number One in the Nursery World league tables for our Ofsted outcomes. For over 35 years we have supported children, families and local communities, raising more than £3.5 million for charity. Our nurseries are powered by 100% renewable electricity and every setting proudly holds Green Flag environmental awards.

About You

We are looking for an experienced nursery leader who holds a DfE‑approved Level 3 (or above) Early Years qualification and has current or recent experience successfully managing a large early years setting. You thrive on bringing people together, creating positive cultures and leading teams through exciting periods of growth and change. You are passionate about developing others, inspire, mentor and coach colleagues, and use your excellent knowledge of the EYFS to help your team consistently deliver outstanding practice and outcomes for children. Safeguarding is central to everything you do – you place children’s welfare at the heart of every decision and create an environment where children, families and colleagues feel safe, valued and supported. You are commercially minded, working alongside your Area Manager and Regional Director to drive occupancy, financial performance, colleague engagement and customer satisfaction while establishing Linmere Day Nursery as the nursery of choice for local families.

We are an inclusive employer

We welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds. We are committed to FREDIE (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement) and will consider any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. Applicants must reside within a commutable distance of the nursery and have the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Safer recruitment checks apply, including an Enhanced DBS check.