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- Tasks: Lead a team to inspire toddlers through play and learning.
- Company: Join the friendly and supportive Itchen College Nursery team.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, term-time work, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in toddlers' lives while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Level 3 Childcare qualification and experience with toddlers required.
- Other info: Access to free gym, parking, and a nurturing work environment.
The predicted salary is between 22594 - 27733 £ per year.
Ready to lead learning through curiosity, movement and play? Due to continued growth, Itchen College Nursery is delighted to invite applications for a confident and enthusiastic Toddler Room Lead to join our friendly, supportive nursery team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Early Years practitioner who thrives working with toddlers and understands the importance of this key developmental stage. You’ll lead a committed team in our Toddler Room, supporting children as they build independence, language, social skills and a love of learning through play.
If you enjoy busy days, big personalities and helping children take those important early steps towards confidence and self-discovery, this role could be perfect for you.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead, motivate and support a team of practitioners, promoting high-quality practice
- Plan and deliver engaging, age-appropriate learning experiences in line with the EYFS
- Support toddlers' emotional, social and physical development, including independence and communication
- Ensure consistent routines that balance structure with flexibility
- Build strong partnerships with parents and carers, sharing children's progress and achievements
- Maintain excellent standards of safeguarding, health, safety and hygiene
- Create a stimulating, inclusive and well-organised environment where toddlers can thrive
What We’re Looking For
- A Level 3 qualification in Childcare and Education
- Strong experience working with toddlers in an Early Years setting
- A deep understanding of the EYFS, safeguarding and early child development
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills
- A warm, nurturing and proactive approach
- GCSE Grade C/4 or above in English and Maths (desirable)
If you are enthusiastic, caring and ready to lead a high-performing team, we want to hear from you!
Why Join Itchen College Nursery?
Working With Us Means Becoming Part Of a Friendly, Supportive And Well-established Nursery With a Commitment To Excellence. We Offer:
- Competitive salary (SCP 8-10)
- Term-time-only working
- Holiday pay included 2 weeks off at Christmas plus all bank holidays
- Access to the College pension scheme
- Continuous professional development, with clear opportunities to progress
- A positive, encouraging environment where staff wellbeing is valued
- The flexibility of a job share, if desired
Contract: Permanent, 37hrs per week, Term Time only – 39 weeks per year
Salary: SCP 8-10 (currently £26,343 - £27,733 FTE) Actual Salary SCP 8 £22,594.18 p/a
Closing date: Friday 20th February 2026
Interview date: Thursday 26th February 2026
Start date: TBC
Itchen College is a thriving Sixth Form College with a broad curriculum offer to meet the needs of the local community. The college is situated in pleasant surroundings to the east of Southampton with excellent local transport links. Ofsted inspected the college in September 2024, grading overall provision as Outstanding with Outstanding Quality of Education, Outstanding Behaviour and Attitudes, Outstanding Leadership and Management, Outstanding Education Programmes for Young People and Outstanding Provision for Learners with High Needs. The college is committed to supporting staff wellbeing and professional development.
Key Responsibilities
To lead, manage and inspire the Toddler Room team to provide exceptional care, learning and development opportunities for children aged 1-3 years, ensuring a safe, nurturing, stimulating and high-quality environment that supports every child to thrive and meet developmental milestones.
Direct Responsibility For
- Leadership of the Toddler Room
- Leading the Toddler Room team by modelling high standards of practice, communication, and professionalism.
- Overseeing the daily organisation, routines and deployment of staff to ensure ratios and room coverage meet statutory requirements.
- Creating a calm, nurturing and responsive environment that supports the individual needs of babies.
- Ensuring the room is well-presented, clean, safe and engaging at all times.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- A Level 3 qualification in Childcare and Education
- Strong experience working with toddlers in an Early Years setting
- A deep understanding of the EYFS, safeguarding and early child development
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills
- A warm, nurturing and proactive approach
- GCSE Grade C/4 or above in English and Maths (desirable)
Workplace Benefits
- Values-driven culture - we’re really proud of our culture. We’re looking for someone who is as driven by our college values as we are!
- Learning and Development - access to support and resources to drive your own development.
- Free parking - free on-site parking, as well as good public transport links.
- Eyecare Scheme
- Cycle2Work Scheme
- Free On-site Gym & Sports Facilities
- Free Flu Jabs
- Free Hot Drinks for Staff
- Canteen - freshly prepared food with plenty of choice.
- 1 Life Event Day - to recognise life’s big moments like a wedding, graduation, moving house.
- Staff Discount Schemes - discounts and deals on national attractions, entertainment, days out, theme parks, holiday insurance and many national retailers.
- Employee Loyalty Celebration Reward Scheme - cash and rewards to acknowledge and celebrate staff commitment and loyalty to the College.
- On-Site College Nursery with priority given to college staff
- Access to College Library
- Free College WiFi
- Compassionate Leave - up to 5 days paid time off to attend to matters relating to the death or serious illness of a loved one.
- Counselling Service - Access to qualified therapy-based support.
- Pension Scheme - Enrolment to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) (eligibility criteria applies).
- Occupational Sick Pay
- Enhanced Family Leave
About Itchen Sixth Form College
We are a sixth form college based in Hampshire. We offer A-Levels and vocational courses across an extensive curriculum that will help you reach your full potential! Itchen Sixth Form College is a 110 year old state-inspected and state-funded college. We specialise in preparing 16-19 year olds for university study.
Nursery, Toddler Room Lead in Southampton employer: Itchen Sixth Form College
Contact Detail:
Itchen Sixth Form College Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Nursery, Toddler Room Lead in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the nursery's vibe! Visit Itchen College Nursery if you can, chat with staff, and soak up the atmosphere. This will help you tailor your approach during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those tricky interview questions! Think about your experiences leading teams and supporting toddlers. We all know how important it is to showcase your skills in communication and teamwork, so have some examples ready to share.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to highlight your understanding of the EYFS! Be ready to discuss how you’ve implemented age-appropriate learning experiences in the past. This shows you’re not just a great leader but also a passionate educator.
✨Tip Number 4
Finally, apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Nursery, Toddler Room Lead in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for working with toddlers shine through in your application. We want to see how much you care about early childhood development and creating a nurturing environment for little ones.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your relevant experience and qualifications, especially your Level 3 qualification in Childcare and Education. We love seeing how your background aligns with the role of Toddler Room Lead!
Craft a Personal Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you're the perfect fit for our team. Share specific examples of how you've led teams or created engaging learning experiences for toddlers.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Itchen Sixth Form College
✨Know Your EYFS Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. Be prepared to discuss how you would implement it in your role as Toddler Room Lead, including specific examples of age-appropriate learning experiences you've planned or delivered.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Toddler Room Lead, you'll be expected to motivate and support your team. Think of examples where you've successfully led a team or project in the past. Highlight your communication style and how you foster a positive environment for both staff and children.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific situations, such as managing challenging behaviour or supporting a child's emotional development. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers clearly and effectively.
✨Engage with Parents and Carers
Building strong partnerships with parents is key in this role. Be ready to discuss how you would communicate children's progress and achievements to parents. Share any previous experiences where you've successfully engaged with families to support their child's development.
