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- Tasks: Lead and inspire a team to deliver high-quality early years education.
- Company: Join Ducklings Nursery, a forward-thinking nursery in a state-of-the-art facility.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, childcare support, pension scheme, and employee discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in early years education and strong leadership abilities required.
- Other info: Exciting opportunities for professional growth in a supportive community environment.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 30000 £ per year.
Ducklings Nursery Ltd
Job Title: Deputy Manager
Reports to: Nursery Manager
Responsible for: Room Leaders, Practitioners, Apprentices
Working Hours: Full Time
Salary: Dependent on experience and qualifications
Level: Middle Leadership
Due to expansion onto our new site we are now seeking 3 nursery deputy managers across all our sites – We cannot define which site you will be allocated to until all applications are considered.
Located on the suburbs of Nottingham, our new children\’s nursery can be found in the Stapleford Community Pavilion – a new, £7.5million, state-of-the-art building that aims to bring together local people. This is the perfect home for our forward-thinking nursery, and we aim to support their mission of promoting active lifestyles by offering a unique curriculum that places a special focus on sports and physical education.
Job Purpose
The Deputy Manager supports the Nursery Manager in the effective day-to-day leadership of the nursery, with a specific responsibility for high-quality teaching and learning, curriculum implementation, and staff development. This role requires modelling outstanding practice, leading room-based provision, and supporting compliance with the EYFS, safeguarding, and Ofsted requirements.
Responsibility Areas & Core Duties
- Leadership & Vision
- Support the Nursery Manager in maintaining a shared vision for excellence within the nursery.
- Act as the senior lead in the absence of the Nursery Manager.
- Promote a culture of high expectations, professional reflection, and collaborative improvement.
- Champion the ethos and pedagogical values of Ducklings Nursery and the Ducklingo approach.
- Curriculum & Pedagogy
- Lead curriculum implementation across the nursery, ensuring progression, inclusion, and consistency.
- Model outstanding practice in teaching, learning and environment setup.
- Support colleagues to plan, assess and reflect effectively on children\’s learning.
- Ensure a strong focus on early communication, language and literacy, including Ducklingo methodology.
- Safeguarding, Welfare & Compliance
- Support the DSL in ensuring safeguarding policies are embedded and understood by all staff.
- Monitor daily safeguarding and welfare logs and escalate concerns as required.
- Maintain the highest standards of hygiene, health and safety within the nursery.
- Ensure appropriate adult:child ratios, supervision and risk assessments are in place.
- Staff Supervision & Professional Development
- Provide coaching, mentoring and on-the-floor support to room leaders and practitioners.
- Lead staff meetings, in-house training, and model best practice throughout the day.
- Contribute to staff supervisions and appraisals with observations and feedback.
- Support induction and the development of apprentices, students and new staff.
- Parent Partnerships & Community Engagement
- Build strong, positive relationships with parents and carers.
- Share regular feedback on children\’s learning and support home-school links.
- Assist with parent meetings, stay-and-play sessions, and transitions to school.
- Champion inclusive practices and community engagement initiatives.
- Operational Management
- Support with rota planning, room deployment and smooth daily operations.
- Ensure accurate completion of registers, accident logs, and medication records.
- Assist with the monitoring of iConnect and learning journeys.
- Report concerns promptly to the Nursery Manager and contribute to nursery audits.
- Inclusion, SEND & Equality
- Support the SENCO in implementing inclusive practice and early interventions.
- Model inclusive interactions and adapt provision for individual needs.
- Help track and evaluate outcomes for children with SEND and/or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Champion equity, diversity and representation in resources and routines.
- Ofsted & Quality Assurance
- Support the Nursery Manager in maintaining inspection readiness.
- Contribute to the Self-Evaluation Form (SEF) and quality improvement plans.
- Lead learning walks, peer observations and curriculum reviews.
- Support staff to evidence their impact and reflect on feedback.
- Communication & Reporting
- Ensure smooth daily communication between staff, parents and leaders.
- Contribute to internal reports, assessments and progress reviews.
- Participate in meetings and maintain accurate written records.
- Escalate any safeguarding or quality issues to the Manager promptly.
- Strategic Development
- Contribute ideas for continuous improvement and nursery development.
- Support pilots or trials of new initiatives or training.
- Share good practice and cascade new knowledge or guidance to staff.
- Step into a leadership role for key projects or areas of development.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £28,080.00-£30,160.00 per year
Benefits:
- Childcare
- Company events
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Employee mentoring programme
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
Nursery Deputy Manager employer: Ducklings Nursery Beeston
Contact Detail:
Ducklings Nursery Beeston Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Nursery Deputy Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the early years sector and let them know you're on the hunt for a Deputy Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of the EYFS and safeguarding policies. We want you to shine when discussing how you can lead high-quality teaching and learning at Ducklings Nursery!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Think of examples where you've successfully supported staff development or improved practices in your previous roles. This will help us see how you can contribute to our vision of excellence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you're serious about joining our team at Ducklings Nursery.
We think you need these skills to ace Nursery Deputy Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for early years education shine through! We want to see how much you care about nurturing children's development and how you can contribute to our unique curriculum.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Deputy Manager role. Highlight your leadership experience, knowledge of EYFS, and any relevant qualifications. We love seeing how your background aligns with our mission at Ducklings Nursery!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate a well-structured application that showcases your skills without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to be part of our community from the get-go!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ducklings Nursery Beeston
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re familiar with the EYFS framework and Ducklings Nursery's unique approach. Brush up on your knowledge of early years education, safeguarding policies, and how to implement a curriculum that promotes active lifestyles. This will show that you’re not just interested in the role but are genuinely passionate about the nursery's mission.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or supported staff development in previous roles. Think about times when you’ve modelled best practices or contributed to a positive team culture. This is your chance to demonstrate your ability to inspire and guide others, which is crucial for a Deputy Manager.
✨Engage with the Community
Ducklings Nursery values community engagement, so come ready to discuss how you would build relationships with parents and local organisations. Share any past experiences where you’ve successfully involved families in the learning process or initiated community projects. This will highlight your commitment to fostering strong partnerships.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect to be asked how you would handle specific situations, such as managing a safeguarding concern or leading a staff meeting. Prepare by thinking through potential scenarios and your responses. This will help you articulate your problem-solving skills and readiness to step into the Nursery Manager's shoes when needed.