Deputy Manager

Grove Montessori is one of the most distinctive settings in the Treehouse Nursery Schools family. We are a UNICEF Rights Respecting nursery rooted in the Montessori approach, and in 2023 our team was recognised as Team of the Year by Nursery Management Today. Our identity is built around our Children's Voices Curriculum, our H.E.A.R.T values (Helpful, Empathy, Accountability, Respect, Teamwork), and a commitment to nurturing children as global citizens from the very earliest age. Montessori is not a marketing label for us; it is the fabric of how we work.

We are looking for a Deputy Nursery Manager to work in genuine partnership with our Nursery Manager at Grove Montessori. You will be a visible, confident leader who the team looks to for direction, support and high standards. On days when the Nursery Manager is absent, you will hold the setting with the same calm authority and operational grip as they do. We are looking for someone who understands the philosophy deeply, can articulate it clearly to staff and families, and who models it through their own practice. If Montessori is something you have studied and lived rather than something you have picked up along the way, this role is for you.

You will support curriculum quality, lead on safeguarding, coach and develop the team, and hold compliance to a standard that means we are inspection-ready every day, not just when Ofsted arrives.

What you will do:

• Support and deputise for the Nursery Manager, taking full operational responsibility for the setting when required.
• Embed Montessori principles consistently across all rooms, leading by example and supporting staff to deepen their own understanding.
• Drive the quality of teaching, observation and assessment, ensuring our Children's Voices Curriculum is delivered with intent and ambition across all seven areas of learning.
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy DSL, holding the safeguarding culture of the setting to the highest standard at all times.
• Lead termly supervisions and manage staff development using our 9 Box Grid framework, coaching individuals and identifying training needs early.
• Support children with SEND, EAL and other barriers to learning through the graduated approach, working closely with the setting SENCo.
• Embed the UNICEF Rights Respecting framework across daily practice, planning and the learning environment.
• Oversee the FAMLY app, including observations, planning cycles, parent communications and compliance records.
• Lead on operational audits, ratios, risk assessments and fire safety procedures.
• Build meaningful relationships with parents and families, creating the kind of open-door culture that Grove is known for.
• Contribute to the self-evaluation and strategic improvement of the setting alongside the Nursery Manager and Director of Education.

Who we are looking for:

• You will hold a minimum Level 6, a Montessori Diploma from an accredited provider, or a relevant Masters-level qualification is strongly preferred.
• Deep, applied knowledge of Maria Montessori's philosophy and how it translates into the environment, the role of the adult and daily provision.
• Proven experience in a senior leadership role within an early years setting.
• Strong knowledge of the EYFS Statutory Framework 2025 and the Ofsted Early Years Inspection Framework.
• Advanced Safeguarding (Level 3 DSL) certificate, or a commitment to achieve this within three months of starting.
• Current Paediatric First Aid certificate.
• Experience managing FAMLY or an equivalent nursery management platform.
• A values-led approach to leadership, with the confidence to manage, coach and hold a team to high standards.
• A genuine commitment to children's rights, inclusion and sustainability as everyday practice, not add-ons.
• Experience working in an Ofsted Outstanding provision is an advantage.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary reflective of your experience and the seniority of the role.
• 35 days holiday including paid closure days over Christmas and your birthday off.
• Genuine CPD investment, including Montessori and EYFS training and clear leadership progression pathways.
• A collaborative, mission-driven organisation where your voice as a leader is genuinely heard.
• 24/7 confidential counselling helpline, freephone, available whenever you need it.
• Virtual GP access with fast, clinically governed appointments.
• Up to 10 counselling sessions per issue, per year, available by phone, video, online chat or face to face.
• Day one stress intervention and early clinical support to reduce absence and prevent long-term sick leave.
• Legal and financial information support for everyday matters.
• 1-to-1 financial coaching (3 x 30-minute sessions with a qualified financial adviser).
• Occupational health support and manager consultancy.
• Life and leadership coaching sessions for personal and professional development.
• Eldercare and childcare guidance for managing family responsibilities.
• Critical incident support following any high-impact workplace event.
• Wisdom Wellbeing App with over 1,000 exclusive discounts, mood tracking, breathing tools and expert wellness content.
• Family coverage included for partners and dependants in full-time education.
• Day one Sick Pay.

Treehouse Nursery Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure, satisfactory references and proof of right to work in the UK. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

If you are ready to bring your Montessori knowledge and your leadership to a team that has already shown what it can achieve, we would love to hear from you.