Nursery Manager

Nursery Manager

Sheffield Full-Time 30000 - 42000 ÂŁ / year (est.) No home office possible
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Sunny Days Children's Nursery Limited

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a nurturing nursery, ensuring exceptional care and education for children.
  • Company: Sunny Days Children’s Nursery, a community-focused and values-driven nursery group.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and extensive training opportunities.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in children's lives while growing your leadership skills.
  • Qualifications: Level 3 Early Years qualification and experience in a leadership role.
  • Other info: Supportive environment with career progression and well-being support.

The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 ÂŁ per year.

Nursery Manager – Lyneham

Are you a passionate, values-driven early years professional ready to take the next step in your career? At Sunny Days Children’s Nursery, we are looking for a dedicated Nursery Manager to lead our warm and welcoming nursery in Lyneham, Wiltshire. This is a rare opportunity to take a “good” setting and make it “great” with real autonomy, vision, and space for innovation.

As a small, community-focused nursery group, our values are at the heart of everything we do: Safety, Acceptance, Fostering Growth, and Engagement. We believe in creating inclusive, nurturing spaces where children, families, and staff thrive together.

About the Role

This is a full-time position, working 40 hours per week across a shift pattern between 7:30am and 6:00pm. It’s a fantastic opportunity for an experienced nursery leader or a motivated, values-aligned candidate who may be earlier in their leadership journey but is ready to grow with the right support.

You will lead daily operations to ensure outstanding care, education, and compliance. With a supportive Area Manager and team behind you, you’ll have the tools and autonomy to build a thriving nursery community. At Sunny Days we offer coaching, leadership CPD, and well-being days as part of the role.

Key Responsibilities

  • Ensure exceptional standards of safeguarding, safety, and statutory compliance (EYFS, Ofsted, GDPR, H&S)
  • Deliver high-quality early years education, with inclusive support for children with SEN or speech/language needs
  • Coach and develop a strong, reflective team through supervision, mentoring, and feedback
  • Build meaningful, trusting relationships with parents and carers
  • Lead on occupancy targets, nursery tours, marketing efforts, and operational excellence

What We are Looking For

  • Level 3 (or above) Early Years qualification (essential)
  • Experience in a leadership or senior practitioner role within a nursery
  • Confident understanding of EYFS and safeguarding responsibilities
  • A warm, professional, and values-led approach to leading people and working with families
  • Passion for delivering exceptional early years experiences and continuous improvement

What We Offer

  • Competitive salary depending on experience and qualifications, performance related bonus.
  • A tiered sign-on bonus of ÂŁ500 after 6-month probation, and ÂŁ500 at 12-month point.
  • Generous holiday allowance and flexible holiday planning
  • Extensive training and development, and a personalised CPD fund including in-house programmes and partnerships with a leading Early Years training provider
  • Access to well-being support, including a 24/7 counselling helpline
  • Opportunities for career progression within a supportive, growing nursery group
  • A workplace culture that genuinely values safety, acceptance, personal growth, and engagement

If you would like to be considered for a role and would like more information, please apply with a copy of your CV and details of your work experience to HR@sunnydays-nursery.co.uk. Alternatively, visit our website www.sunnydays-nursery.co.uk/useful-info/careers for more information about our nursery.

Sunny Days Children’s Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Enhanced Disclosure and Barring checks will be required prior to commencing employment. Candidates will be exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Nursery Manager employer: Sunny Days Children's Nursery Limited

At Sunny Days Children’s Nursery in Lyneham, we pride ourselves on being a values-driven employer that fosters a nurturing and inclusive work environment. Our commitment to employee growth is reflected in our extensive training programmes, well-being support, and opportunities for career progression, all while maintaining a strong focus on safety and community engagement. Join us to lead a dedicated team in creating exceptional early years experiences, where your vision and innovation can truly make a difference.
Sunny Days Children's Nursery Limited

Contact Detail:

Sunny Days Children's Nursery Limited Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Nursery Manager

✨Tip Number 1

Get to know the nursery's values and mission inside out. When you walk in for that interview, show us how your passion aligns with our commitment to safety, acceptance, and fostering growth. It’s all about making that connection!

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare some thoughtful questions about the nursery's approach to early years education and community engagement. This shows us you're genuinely interested and ready to contribute to making our good setting great!

✨Tip Number 3

Bring along examples of how you've led teams or improved nursery operations in the past. We love hearing about real experiences that demonstrate your leadership style and how you can coach and develop a strong team.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email reiterating your enthusiasm for the role can really set you apart. And remember, applying through our website gives you a direct line to us!

We think you need these skills to ace Nursery Manager

Leadership Skills
Early Years Qualification (Level 3 or above)
Understanding of EYFS
Safeguarding Knowledge
Communication Skills
Coaching and Mentoring
Relationship Building
Operational Excellence
Marketing Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Inclusivity Awareness
Continuous Improvement Mindset
Team Development
Compliance Knowledge

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for early years education shine through. We want to see how your values align with ours and how you can contribute to making our nursery a great place for children and families.

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Nursery Manager role. Highlight your leadership experience and any relevant qualifications, especially your understanding of EYFS and safeguarding responsibilities. We love seeing candidates who take the time to personalise their applications!

Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. We appreciate when candidates communicate effectively, as it reflects the kind of clarity we value in our nursery environment.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly, and you can find all the info you need about the role and our nursery there!

How to prepare for a job interview at Sunny Days Children's Nursery Limited

✨Know Your Values

Before the interview, take some time to reflect on the values that resonate with you, especially those highlighted by the nursery like Safety, Acceptance, Fostering Growth, and Engagement. Be ready to share examples of how you've embodied these values in your previous roles.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Style

As a potential Nursery Manager, it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership approach. Prepare to discuss how you’ve coached and developed teams in the past, and think of specific instances where your mentoring made a difference in your team's performance.

✨Understand EYFS and Compliance

Brush up on your knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and safeguarding responsibilities. Be prepared to discuss how you ensure compliance and high standards in your previous settings, as this will show your readiness for the role.

✨Engage with the Community

Since this nursery values community engagement, think about ways you've built relationships with parents and carers in the past. Be ready to share strategies you would implement to foster trust and communication within the nursery community.

Nursery Manager
Sunny Days Children's Nursery Limited
Location: Sheffield
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