Nursery School Manager in Lewes

The Old School House Nursery, Lewes offers a salary of £38,000–£42,000 per year plus an annual bonus. This is a full-time, permanent position.

We are looking for an experienced Nursery Manager to lead The Old School House Nursery in Lewes. This is an established, successful setting with a clear structure, a settled team and an approach to early years education that is highly valued by our families. We are looking for someone who can bring confident, positive leadership to the nursery while preserving the warmth, quality and child-centred ethos that make the setting special.

You won’t simply be handed the keys and expected to get on with it. You will receive a three-month induction and handover programme, working alongside the current Manager to understand our team, systems, routines and approach before taking full responsibility for the setting.

About our nursery: The Old School House is a Montessori-inspired nursery in Lewes providing all-year-round early years care. Our children learn in an open-plan, free-flow environment with access to an outdoor classroom, playground and a nature field that's used for Forest School activities. We believe children learn best when they are happy, interested and encouraged to become independent learners. Just as importantly, we believe a successful nursery depends on a strong, supported and motivated staff team.

The role: As Nursery Manager, you will take overall responsibility for the day-to-day leadership of the nursery. A major part of your role will be getting to know the team, recognising their strengths and helping them deliver consistently excellent care and education. Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, supporting and developing the nursery team
• Creating a positive, professional and enjoyable working environment
• Maintaining high standards of childcare, education and safeguarding
• Ensuring the nursery operates in line with the EYFS and statutory requirements
• Supporting staff development, supervision and performance
• Building excellent relationships with parents and families
• Overseeing the smooth day-to-day operation of the setting
• Maintaining high standards of organisation, compliance and record keeping
• Supporting occupancy and the continued success of the nursery
• Working closely with the nursery owners and wider management team

About you: We are looking for someone who combines strong early years knowledge with the ability to lead people well. You will need:

• A minimum Level 3 childcare or early years qualification
• Significant experience working within the early years sector
• A strong working knowledge of the EYFS and statutory framework
• Experience leading, supervising or managing a staff team
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Confidence working with parents, staff and external professionals
• A strong understanding of safeguarding
• A genuine passion for children's development and early education
• Previous experience as a Nursery Manager or Deputy Manager is essential
• A Forest School qualification would be beneficial, as would an interest in Montessori education, but these are not essential

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who can demonstrate how they would lead, support and motivate a nursery team.

Salary and benefits: We want this to be an attractive long-term opportunity for the right person. You will receive:

• £38,000–£42,000 salary, depending on experience
• Annual bonus of up to 10%, based on agreed targets
• 30 days' holiday including bank holidays
• An additional day off for your birthday
• Private healthcare
• Company pension with employer contribution
• Paid DBS
• Paid professional subscriptions
• Paid first-aid renewal
• Ongoing funded professional development, including opportunities for Level 5, safeguarding and leadership qualifications
• Three-month structured induction and handover
• Loan facility which could be used towards a house deposit
• Free refreshments
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Good public transport links
• Parking available nearby

Why join us? This role offers the opportunity to lead an established, independent nursery rather than having to build one from scratch or follow the tick box approach of some chains. You will inherit a strong team and clear systems, while still having the freedom to put your own leadership style into the role and help shape the nursery's future. We want our Manager to be visible, involved and supported — someone who knows the children, understands the team and enjoys creating an environment in which both children and staff can thrive.

If you are an experienced early years professional ready to take the next step in your career, we would love to hear from you. Apply through Indeed with your CV or email info@schoolhouselewes.com.

School House Nurseries follows a safer recruitment and selection process. Successful candidates will be required to complete satisfactory references and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before commencing employment. We are an equal opportunities employer. No agencies please.