Nursery Manager in Watford

Little Blossom Tree Nursery & Pre-School is a brand-new early year setting in the Borough of Broxbourne, located in a modern and spacious unit within The Precinct, with excellent transport links and nearby parking. The nursery will open its doors in March 2026, offering a warm, stimulating and inclusive environment for children aged 3 months to 5 years. We will operate all year round, Monday to Friday, from 8:00am to 6:00pm, supporting families who require full day care. At full capacity, we will welcome up to 72 children, supported by a highly trained team of qualified early years professionals.

Our vision is to create a nurturing, language-rich, play-led learning environment where every child feels loved, valued and supported to grow to their full potential. We believe in:

• A warm, home-from-home experience
• Cultural inclusivity, positive identity and equal opportunity
• Strong, respectful parent partnerships
• Holistic learning through play
• Small key groups and individual attention
• SEND-inclusive practices

Our nursery has been thoughtfully designed with open, airy classrooms filled with natural light, age-appropriate furnishings, calm reading corners, sensory play zones and learning stations tailored to each developmental stage. Every detail from the layout to the resources has been created with children's wellbeing and development in mind.

We are committed to providing a safe, inspiring and inclusive environment where children thrive emotionally, socially and academically. Our aim is to ensure every child feels valued and supported, while also developing confidence, resilience, curiosity and a lifelong love for learning.

The setting benefits from modern digital systems to support streamlined operations and parent communication, including real-time updates, secure child progress tracking and interactive learning journals. Our kitchen and dining areas support healthy and culturally diverse meals. Little Blossom Tree is built around strong community values, working in partnership with families, supporting the local area and contributing positively to children's futures. Everything from our curriculum to our daily routines reflects a child-centred approach that empowers children to grow, learn and blossom.

Responsible for: Deputy Manager, Room Leaders, Nursery Practitioners, Administrator, Chef/Cook and support staff. Estimated full team size of 17.

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, rota-based between 8:00am to 6:00pm, with occasional evening commitments as required for events and parent meetings.

The Nursery Manager at Little Blossom Tree is the senior leader responsible for the successful day-to-day running, growth and strategic direction of the setting. This key role is central to shaping the nursery's culture, building a high-performing team and ensuring the delivery of exceptional early years provision in line with our values, vision and ethos.

The Nursery Manager will hold full accountability for operational excellence, safeguarding, compliance, and staff leadership. They will oversee the planning and implementation of a stimulating, child-centred curriculum, while ensuring that every child receives the highest standard of care and education.

As the lead representative of the nursery, the manager will foster strong relationships with children, parents, carers, staff, external agencies and the wider community. They will champion a positive and collaborative environment, underpinned by strong communication, professional conduct and a commitment to continuous improvement.

This role requires a confident, organised and proactive leader who is comfortable making informed decisions, delegating effectively and driving high standards. The manager will oversee financial budgets, staffing levels, health & safety, recruitment, training and Ofsted readiness, ensuring all operational and regulatory requirements are met.

Ultimately, the Nursery Manager at Little Blossom Tree plays a pivotal role in creating a safe, inspiring and inclusive environment where children and staff flourish.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Management
  • Provide strong, inspirational and visible leadership for all staff.
  • Build, mentor and develop a high-performing team grounded in respect, professionalism and shared values.
  • Ensure effective staff deployment, communication, supervision, appraisal and performance management.
  • Foster a positive, collaborative culture based on trust, accountability and continuous improvement.
  • Lead room and practice reviews, reflective meetings, training and coaching.
• Operational Management
  • Oversee full nursery operations to ensure the environment is safe, welcoming, and well-organised.
  • Develop, implement and maintain policies, processes and record-keeping systems.
  • Manage rotas, staffing ratios, budgets, occupancy levels and enquiries.
  • Ensure smooth daily running of the nursery, with high-quality routines and transitions.
  • Maintain accurate registers, accident/incident logs and medication records.
• Curriculum & Teaching Quality
  • Lead the planning, implementation and evaluation of a high-quality EYFS curriculum.
  • Monitor and elevate teaching and learning through coaching, modelling and observation.
  • Embed a language-rich, inclusive, play-based environment that reflects the nursery's ethos.
  • Ensure meaningful assessment, tracking and individual development planning.
  • Lead delivery of SEND provision, inclusion strategies and external professional partnerships.
• Safeguarding & Welfare
  • Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
  • Ensure robust safeguarding practice and safe working culture, including safer recruitment.
  • Promote high standards of behaviour, wellbeing, key person attachment and emotional development.
  • Ensure all staff understand statutory responsibilities and undertake training as required.
• Health, Safety & Compliance
  • Maintain full compliance with Ofsted, EYFS, KCSIE, Health & Safety and all statutory requirements.
  • Ensure safe practice in risk assessment, hygiene, first aid, allergies, medication and food safety.
  • Lead inspections, audits and reviews, including action planning and continuous improvement.
  • Prepare the nursery for Ofsted inspection and lead the inspection process.
• Parent Partnership & Community Engagement
  • Build strong relationships with families through excellent communication, presence and openness.
  • Manage enquiries, tours, admissions, settling processes and parent feedback.
  • Handle concerns and complaints professionally and promptly.
  • Present a confident, warm and knowledgeable approach, representing the nursery's values.
• Finance & Administration
  • Manage budgets, forecasting, occupancy, invoices and financial controls.
  • Ensure accurate and effective nursery management systems and documentation.
  • Maintain high standards of confidentiality and data security (GDPR compliant).
• Opening & Development Responsibilities
  • Support the full opening of a brand-new setting, including recruitment and resourcing.
  • Develop the nursery's identity, culture, rhythm and routines.
  • Ensure readiness for launch to an exceptional standard.
  • Contribute to strategic development plans and long-term sustainability.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

The Nursery Manager must demonstrate a strong foundation of professional knowledge, early years expertise, and proven leadership experience. The following qualifications and experience are essential for this role:

• Level 3 Early Years qualification (minimum), Level 4/5 or above desirable.
• Minimum 2 years experience in an early year setting.
• Experience as Manager/Deputy Manager/Room Leader.
• Strong understanding of EYFS, safeguarding, KCSIE, SEND Code of Practice and child development.
• Experience of Ofsted inspections (Good/Outstanding desirable).
• Demonstrable team leadership experience.
• Experience managing budgets, occupancy and staffing.
• Strong knowledge of early years software platforms (e.g. Blossom/Famly/Tapestry).
• Strong written, verbal and IT communication skills.

Qualifications

• A recognised childcare qualification at Level 3 or Level 4 (or above) in Early Years Education, Childcare, or equivalent.
• Up-to-date Paediatric First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain prior to start date).
• Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) training (or willingness to complete upon appointment).

Experience

• Significant experience working in an early year setting, including at least two years in a senior or supervisory role such as Deputy Manager, Room Leader, or Acting Manager.
• Proven experience supporting, coaching, or managing staff to achieve high standards of practice and performance.
• Demonstrated success delivering an engaging, child-centred curriculum and high-quality early education across all EYFS areas of learning.
• Experience of working within a start-up, new setting, or in an environment requiring growth, change, or improvement (desirable but not essential).
• Strong understanding of safeguarding, health & safety, SEND, inclusion, and regulatory requirements within early years settings.
• Experience working directly with parents, carers, and external agencies to support positive outcomes for children.
• Confidence using digital systems for administrative tasks, learning journals, communication, and record keeping.

These essential criteria ensure the postholder is equipped to lead a high-quality early years environment, support staff to thrive, and deliver outstanding outcomes for children and families within Little Blossom Tree Nursery & Preschool.