At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to deliver high-quality care and education in a nurturing nursery environment.
- Company: Join Family First, a supportive group dedicated to early years education.
- Benefits: Enjoy 24 days holiday, childcare discounts, and tailored professional development.
- Other info: Strong focus on wellbeing and career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Level 3 Early Years qualification and experience in early years settings required.
The predicted salary is between 29500 - 30500 £ per year.
Flitwick Nursery, part of the Family First group, is a welcoming and nurturing environment where children are encouraged to learn through curiosity, exploration, and meaningful play experiences. We are passionate about delivering high-quality early years education and creating an environment where children, families, and staff feel supported and valued.
Our nursery offers engaging indoor and outdoor learning environments designed to inspire children's natural curiosity and support their development. Through child-led learning and in-the-moment planning, we encourage children to explore, discover, and build confidence in a safe and stimulating setting.
We are now looking for a passionate and experienced Room Leader to join our team. This is a fantastic opportunity for a confident early years professional looking to take the next step in their career within a supportive and collaborative environment.
We Offer:
- A welcoming and supportive team environment
- A thorough induction and buddy system
- Ongoing professional development and leadership training
- Career progression opportunities within Family First
- A strong focus on wellbeing and work-life balance
- Competitive salary and benefits package
Requirements
- Lead and support a team of practitioners within the room to deliver high-quality care and education
- Ensure the safety, wellbeing, and safeguarding of all children at all times
- Oversee planning and implementation of engaging activities in line with the EYFS framework
- Act as a Key Person and support team members in their Key Person roles
- Monitor children’s development and ensure observations and assessments are completed to a high standard
- Support staff development through coaching, mentoring, and role modelling best practice
- Ensure the learning environment is safe, stimulating, and inclusive
- Work closely with parents and carers, building strong and positive relationships
- Support transitions for children within the nursery
- Ensure compliance with nursery policies, procedures, and safeguarding requirements
- Work collaboratively with the management team to maintain high standards across the nursery
- Support the day-to-day running of the room, including staff deployment and ratios
- Participate in staff meetings, training, and continuous professional development
What We're Looking For
- Full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification (or above) — essential
- Previous experience working within an early years setting — essential
- Experience leading or supporting a team — desirable
- Strong knowledge of the EYFS framework and safeguarding requirements
- Excellent communication and organisational skills
- Passion for delivering high-quality early years education
Benefits
At Family First, we value our team members and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Annual leave: 24 days’ holiday, plus bank holidays and an extra paid day off for your birthday
- Childcare discount: 75% off nursery fees for team members
- Wellbeing support: Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme helpline
- Learning and development: Tailored training and development opportunities to support your career growth
- Pension: Company pension scheme
- Employee discounts: Access to Perkaboo employee discounts
- Mentoring: Employee mentoring programme
- Health and wellbeing: Dedicated health and wellbeing support
- Refer a Friend scheme: Earn up to £750 through our referral programme
We are committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. A Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate will be required for all posts. This post will be subject to enhanced checks as part of our Safeguarding Duty.
Flitwick Nursery is part of the Family First Group where we take great care to treat everyone as a person, with equal rights and responsibilities to any other individual, whether they are an adult or a child. We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all children and families according to their individual needs. Discrimination on the grounds of gender, age, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, ethnic or national origin, or political belief has no place within the Family First Group.
Childcare & nursery manager in Bedford employer: Family First Nursery Group
Family First Group offers a nurturing and supportive environment for both children and staff, making it an excellent employer for those passionate about early years education. With a strong focus on professional development, work-life balance, and employee wellbeing, team members enjoy comprehensive benefits including generous annual leave, childcare discounts, and tailored training opportunities. Join us at Flitwick Nursery to be part of a collaborative team dedicated to delivering high-quality care and education while fostering personal and career growth.
Contact Details:
Family First Nursery Group Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Childcare & nursery manager in Bedford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the childcare sector, attend local events, and join online forums. The more people you know, the better your chances of hearing about job openings before they’re even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to early years education. Think about your experiences leading teams and how you’ve supported children’s development. We want you to shine, so rehearse your answers until you feel confident!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for early years education during interviews. Share specific examples of how you’ve created engaging learning environments or supported staff development. Let your enthusiasm for nurturing children’s curiosity come through!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our Family First team.
We think you need these skills to ace Childcare & nursery manager in Bedford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your passion for early years education shine through. We want to see how much you care about creating a nurturing environment for children and supporting their development.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to tailor your application to the specific role of Nursery Room Leader. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that align with the job description, especially your knowledge of the EYFS framework and team leadership.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and structure your thoughts logically. This will help us easily understand your qualifications and enthusiasm for the role.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you don’t miss out on any important information about the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Family First Nursery Group
✨Know Your EYFS Framework
Make sure you brush up on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework before your interview. Be ready to discuss how you’ve implemented it in past roles and how you plan to use it in this position. This shows your commitment to high-quality early years education.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Room Leader, you'll need to lead a team effectively. Prepare examples of how you've supported or mentored colleagues in previous roles. Highlight any specific strategies you've used to foster a collaborative environment, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Engage with the Nursery's Values
Familiarise yourself with the nursery's mission and values. During the interview, relate your personal philosophy on childcare to theirs. This demonstrates that you're not just looking for any job, but that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their nurturing environment.
✨Prepare Questions for Them
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the nursery’s approach to child-led learning and staff development opportunities. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the nursery is the right fit for you.
