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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a nursery, ensuring high-quality education and care for children.
- Company: Well-established nursery with a focus on early years education.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, supportive environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while leading a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Level 3 Early Years qualification and management experience required.
- Other info: Join a collaborative culture that values early years education.
The predicted salary is between 37500 - 45000 £ per year.
Salary: £37,500 – £45,000 per annum (dependent on qualifications and experience)
Hours: Full time, 42 hours per week
Days: Monday to Friday
Nursery opening hours: 7:30am – 6:30pm
Overview
My client is seeking an experienced and values-led Head of Nursery School to provide strong strategic and operational leadership within a well-established early years setting. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for educational quality, compliance, team management and the overall performance of the nursery. The successful candidate will ensure that children receive rich, stimulating learning experiences in a warm, nurturing environment, while leading and developing a high-performing staff team.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership & Operations
- Lead the day-to-day management of the nursery, ensuring high standards of care and education
- Oversee the planning and delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
- Monitor children’s progress and analyse data to drive continuous improvement
- Maintain compliance with Ofsted, safeguarding, health & safety and statutory requirements
- Act as the senior point of contact for inspections and external agencies
- Ensure policies, procedures and risk assessments are reviewed and kept up to date
- Lead Ofsted inspections and be accountable for inspection outcomes
- Maintain accurate records for children and staff, including training and suitability checks
- Ensure staff ratios and conditions of registration are met at all times
- Manage safeguarding concerns, complaints, incidents and accidents appropriately
- Recruit, induct, develop and retain a high-quality staff team
- Conduct appraisals, supervision and performance management
- Identify training needs and deliver or coordinate staff development
- Manage rotas, annual leave and sickness absence
- Promote a positive, collaborative and professional staff culture
- Build strong relationships with parents and carers
- Ensure clear, timely and professional communication with families
- Oversee parents’ evenings, newsletters and regular updates
- Liaise with external professionals and agencies in the best interests of children
- Monitor budgets and expenditure to ensure cost efficiency
- Support occupancy management and capacity planning
- Oversee administrative functions and accurate record-keeping
Person Specification
- Essential
- Full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification (minimum)
- Recognised management qualification
- Paediatric First Aid certificate
- Minimum two years’ experience managing an early years or educational setting
- Strong understanding of Ofsted, EYFS and regulatory compliance
- Proven leadership and organisational skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
- Competent IT skills and experience with digital nursery systems
- Degree or foundation degree in Early Years
- Experience leading successful Ofsted inspections
Personal Qualities
- Passionate about early years education
- Values-driven and able to lead by example
- Calm, professional and resilient under pressure
- Collaborative, trustworthy and approachable
- Highly organised with strong attention to detail
Safeguarding
This role involves working with children and is subject to satisfactory enhanced DBS clearance and appropriate references.
To apply, please submit your CV for a confidential discussion.
Head of Nursery School in Surrey employer: Odin Recruitment Group
Contact Detail:
Odin Recruitment Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Nursery School in Surrey
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the early years sector and let them know you're on the hunt for a Head of Nursery School role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opening or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the nursery's values and educational approach. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their mission. We want to see that you’re not just a fit on paper, but also in spirit!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills during the interview. Share specific examples of how you've successfully managed teams and improved educational quality in previous roles. We love hearing about real-life successes!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and making a difference in early years education.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Nursery School in Surrey
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that match the Head of Nursery School role. Highlight your leadership experience, knowledge of EYFS, and any relevant qualifications to show us you’re the perfect fit!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re passionate about early years education and how your values align with our nursery’s mission. Keep it engaging and personal – we want to get to know you!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Whether it’s improving Ofsted ratings or developing staff training programmes, let us know how you’ve made a positive impact in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. It’s the best 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 Odin Recruitment Group
✨Know Your EYFS Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. Be prepared to discuss how you would implement it effectively in the nursery, and share examples of how you've done this in the past.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Head of Nursery School, your leadership approach is crucial. Think about how you can demonstrate your ability to lead a team, manage performance, and foster a positive culture. Bring specific examples of how you've successfully developed staff in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Compliance Questions
Expect questions around Ofsted inspections and compliance. Brush up on your knowledge of safeguarding, health & safety regulations, and how you’ve ensured compliance in your previous settings. Being able to articulate your experience will show you’re ready for the responsibilities of the role.
✨Engage with Parent and Stakeholder Strategies
Think about how you would build relationships with parents and external agencies. Prepare to discuss your communication strategies and how you’ve engaged families in the past. This will highlight your commitment to creating a nurturing environment for children.
