Deputy Nursery Manager

Competitive salary with progression opportunities + Local Government Pension Scheme + 24/7 access to a free virtual GP Service + collaborative MAT network + additional LAT benefits.

Cherry Pips Nursery, part of Cherry Orchard Primary Academy, has an exciting opportunity for a Deputy Nursery Manager to join our outstanding school! We are seeking an experienced Early Years practitioner to join our newly formed team, support the Nursery Manager, and deliver high-quality, flexible childcare for children from 3 years old.

Key Responsibilities

• Deputise for the Nursery Manager, supervise and mentor team members, and identify staff training needs.
• Ensure exceptional care and learning aligned with EYFS standards, keeping accurate developmental records.
• Foster a warm, family-friendly environment and provide parents with regular updates on child progress.
• Manage nursery resources, assist with funding administration, handle admissions, and optimise occupancy.
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead in the Principal’s absence, ensuring top Health & Safety and protection standards.

What We’re Looking For

• Relevant Early Years qualification (Level 3 or higher preferred).
• Deep understanding of EYFS framework, child development, and safeguarding.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organisational skills.

This is a permanent role working 32.5 hours per week (8:30am - 3:30pm, Monday to Friday), term time + 1 week. The actual salary is £20,963 (£27,747 full time equivalent)

Working with us at Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard opened in September 2017, it has since grown to full capacity with children up to Year 6 as of September 2021. The academy is located in Ebbsfleet Garden City and features new facilities, including a nursery and a center for children with speech, communication, and language needs.

The academy's core mission is to inspire children, deliver an inclusive education, create a safe and happy environment, and ensure all students feel valued. It focuses on challenging learning experiences to build resilient students and maintains a consistent approach to behavior, safeguarding, and pastoral support.

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard received an 'Outstanding' rating from Ofsted in its November 2021 inspection, achieving the highest mark in all five areas: Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Management, and Early Years Provision.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding, Equality & Diversity

Leigh Academies Trust and all of our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This role involves regulated activity relevant to children, and it is a criminal offence for anyone barred from engaging in regulated activity with children to apply for this position. We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process across all academies and business units, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates, and you can read more about our approach on our Careers site. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references and, where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check. As a Trust, we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals, we all bring something unique to the role, regardless of any protected characteristics, which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. We are committed to providing equality and fairness throughout our recruitment and employment practices, and not discriminating on any grounds.