At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a nursery, ensuring high-quality care and education for children.
- Company: Join Edward Bears Nursery, a supportive and community-focused organisation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonuses, flexible hours, and extensive wellbeing support.
- Other info: Exciting growth phase with opportunities for professional development and progression.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on children's lives while advancing your leadership career.
- Qualifications: Level 3 qualification in Early Years and proven leadership experience required.
The predicted salary is between 25704 - 31416 £ per year.
Application Deadline: Monday, October 5, 2026
Location: Cirencester, GL7 1ES
Salary: £33,259.20 & onboarding bonus & performance related bonus
Positions Available: 1
Hours per week: 40
We’re looking for an experienced Early Years Manager to lead our Edward Bears Nursery in Cirencester. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real impact by shaping a high-quality learning environment where children can thrive, while building a rewarding leadership career within a supportive and forward-thinking organisation at an exciting time of growth.
We offer a supportive and flexible working environment designed to help you succeed in your role while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. As a leader within the nursery, you’ll be empowered to shape both your team’s success and your own professional journey. You’ll lead the day-to-day running of the nursery, ensuring the highest standards of care and education. By inspiring your team and fostering strong relationships with families, you’ll create a safe, engaging, and stimulating environment where every child can flourish.
Why join us? Edward Bears nursery is a well-established nursery with a strong community presence and a dedicated team. The nursery is entering an exciting new phase, focused on strengthening leadership, enhancing quality, and building an environment where both children and staff can truly thrive. This is a great opportunity to take on a key leadership role within a growing setting. With increased interest in the local area and continued development plans, you’ll play a central role in shaping the nursery’s future and making a lasting difference. We invest in you as much as you invest in the children and your team. You’ll benefit from structured training, leadership mentoring, and clear progression pathways, supporting your continued growth and career advancement.
What you’ll do:
- Oversee the day-to-day running of the nursery in line with EYFS and Ofsted standards
- Lead, motivate, and develop a team of practitioners to deliver outstanding childcare
- Manage budgets, staffing, and resources effectively
- Build strong relationships with parents, carers, and the local community
- Drive continuous improvement and maintain a safe, nurturing environment
What we’re looking for:
- Level 3 (or above) qualification in Early Years/Childcare
- Proven leadership experience in an early years setting
- Strong knowledge of EYFS, safeguarding, and regulatory requirements
- Excellent organisational, communication, and people management skills
- A proactive, approachable leadership style and passion for high-quality care
We're building a workplace where our colleagues thrive. We offer a range of meaningful benefits designed to support your wellbeing, professional growth, and work-life balance. Our benefits aren’t just perks, they’re part of a culture that puts people first and we continue to build our range of benefits designed to support health, wellbeing and satisfaction of our workforce. Some of these include:
- Pension & Life Assurance
- 20 days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays and more!
- An additional day each year to celebrate something personal to you
- Funded DBS Update Service
- Funded Blue Light Card Membership
- Access to digital GP 24/7 with on-demand counselling services
- Extensive Health and Wellbeing services through the SPARK APP
- Recognition and celebration for Long Service
Safeguarding commitment: Happy Days Nurseries are committed to the safety and wellbeing of the children in our care. All successful candidates will undergo the required vetting process.
Early Years Manager in Cirencester employer: Happy Days Nurseries
Happy Days is an excellent employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment in Swindon where employees can thrive and develop their careers. With flexible working arrangements, ongoing professional development opportunities, and a strong commitment to health and wellbeing, you will find a workplace that values your contributions and fosters growth. Join us to make a meaningful impact in a growing organisation dedicated to supporting early years education.
