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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a passionate team to create a nurturing environment for children aged 0-5.
- Company: Join Staffordshire University’s Woodlands Day Nursery, an Ofsted-rated 'Good' facility.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, inclusive culture, and exclusive community benefits.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and community impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while fostering family engagement.
- Qualifications: Experience in childcare management and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 33482 - 38249 ÂŁ per year.
Location: Nursery and Forest School, Stoke Campus
Salary: £33,482 to £38,249 Per Annum – Full Time Permanent
Release Date: Tuesday 21 April 2026
Closing Date: Tuesday 05 May 2026
Reference: COM26-26-R2
About The Role
We’re looking for an experienced and passionate Nursery Manager to lead the day to day operation of our University nursery. You’ll provide strong leadership to our childcare team, ensuring a high quality, nurturing environment for children and a supportive, engaging experience for families. This role is central to driving continuous improvement, maintaining high standards of care and education in line with EYFS and Ofsted requirements, and ensuring the nursery runs smoothly, safely, and effectively.
About The Nursery
Woodlands Day Nursery is an Ofsted‑rated “Good” nursery providing full day care for children aged 0–5 years, welcoming children of university staff, students and the local community. Located within landscaped surroundings on the University’s Stoke‑on‑Trent campus, Woodlands offers a unique nursery and forest school environment, blending high‑quality early years practice with outdoor learning and exploratory play. The nursery is supported by a highly qualified staff team, with all Early Years Educators qualified to Level 3 or above, and delivers play‑based learning in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Children and families are at the heart of everything we do, and the nursery prides itself on providing a warm, inclusive and forward‑thinking childcare service.
Main Responsibilities
- Oversee the daily running of the nursery, ensuring compliance with EYFS, Ofsted, safeguarding and all statutory regulations.
- Lead, supervise and develop the staff team through effective performance management, training, and mentoring.
- Monitor and enhance the quality of early years provision, including observations, assessment practices, and support for children with SEND.
- Build strong relationships with parents and carers, addressing concerns and encouraging active family participation.
- Manage occupancy, waiting lists and nursery promotion, including tours, events and open days.
- Oversee financial processes such as budgeting, invoicing and fee collection.
- Support strategic planning, service improvement and contribution to Ofsted readiness.
Apply online with a copy of your CV. We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date and therefore encourage you to make an early application.
Contact For Informal Discussion
For an informal discussion about this role, please contact Amanda Sherratt – Head of Childcare and Family Services:
Benefits
In return for your contributions to the work of our University, you'll be based from one of our industry leading campuses, enjoying a range of benefits exclusive to members of our community and contributing to our vision, value and culture.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
Staffordshire University is committed to promoting and enabling a positive culture where staff, students and visitors are confident to be their authentic selves. We focus on inclusion as a way to ensure equality of opportunity for all our people and to demonstrate our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Human Rights. We promote applications from all sections of the community, regardless of background, belief or identity, recognising the benefits a diverse organisation can bring for the University. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people, who are currently under‑represented in the University workforce.
COM26-26-R2 - Nursery Manager in England employer: University of Staffordshire Business Engagement
Contact Detail:
University of Staffordshire Business Engagement Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land COM26-26-R2 - Nursery Manager in England
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the nursery and its values before your interview. Familiarise yourself with their approach to early years education and how they engage with families. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare some questions to ask during your interview. This shows that you're proactive and engaged. Think about what you want to know regarding their approach to staff development or how they support children with SEND.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills by sharing specific examples from your past experiences. Talk about how you've successfully managed a team, improved quality standards, or built relationships with parents. We want to see how you can bring that experience to the nursery.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it gives you a chance to highlight your passion for creating a nurturing environment for children right from the start.
We think you need these skills to ace COM26-26-R2 - Nursery Manager in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Nursery Manager role. Highlight your experience in leading teams, managing nurseries, and ensuring compliance with EYFS and Ofsted standards. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Show Your Passion: In your application, let your passion for early years education shine through. Share specific examples of how you've created nurturing environments or engaged families in previous roles. We love to see candidates who genuinely care about children and their development!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and concise. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate straightforward communication that gets to the point without unnecessary fluff!
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible through our website. This way, you won’t miss out on the chance to join our fantastic team at Woodlands Day Nursery!
How to prepare for a job interview at University of Staffordshire Business Engagement
✨Know Your EYFS and Ofsted Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Ofsted requirements. Brush up on the latest guidelines and be ready to discuss how you’ve implemented these standards in your previous roles. This shows you’re not just familiar with the regulations but also committed to maintaining high-quality care.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Nursery Manager, strong leadership is key. Prepare examples of how you’ve led a team effectively, managed performance, and supported staff development. Think about specific situations where you’ve motivated your team or resolved conflicts, as this will demonstrate your capability to lead and inspire.
✨Engage with Parents and Carers
Building relationships with families is crucial in this role. Be ready to share your strategies for engaging parents and carers, addressing their concerns, and encouraging their participation in nursery activities. Highlight any successful initiatives you’ve led that fostered community involvement.
✨Prepare for Financial Management Questions
Since managing budgets and financial processes is part of the job, brush up on your financial management skills. Be prepared to discuss your experience with budgeting, invoicing, and fee collection. You might even want to bring examples of how you’ve successfully managed finances in previous roles.