At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support nursery managers to ensure high-quality early years education.
- Company: Join a passionate charity dedicated to making a difference in children's lives.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, health cash plan, and discounts on nursery fees.
- Other info: Flexible working with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the community while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in early years management and a Level 3 qualification required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: Eastleigh – with regular travel between settings is required, often at short notice. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required.
Benefits to You
- Health Cash Plan (including optical, dental and medical, plus online discounts)
- Employer pension contribution
- 25 days holiday + Bank Holidays FTE, increasing with length of service up to a maximum of 30 days
- Option to purchase additional annual leave (up to 10 days per annum)
- Life Assurance
- Refer a friend scheme
- Employee Assistance Program with Health Assured
- 50% discount on nursery fees
- Day camps discounts: 1 week free and 1 week at 50% per child per annum
- Campsite and activities discounts at YMCA Fairthorne Manor
- Cycle to work scheme
Job Purpose
Reporting to the Early Years Director, the postholder will provide direct line management to Nursery Managers, ensuring clear accountability for standards, outcomes and performance across all settings. This role combines strategic oversight with hands-on operational leadership, ensuring every setting delivers high quality, inclusive early years provision aligned to YMCA values and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The role plays a critical part in stabilising underperforming settings, strengthening leadership capability, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement, while also supporting sustainable growth and strong community engagement. Flexibility is essential, with regular travel between sites and the ability to respond to emerging operational needs at pace.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership & Line Management
- Provide direct line management, supervision and performance oversight to Nursery Managers across allocated settings.
- Set clear expectations for leadership practice, performance and accountability, holding Managers to account for outcomes.
- Model the YMCA Way through visible, values-led leadership that promotes inclusion, integrity and child-centred practice.
- Build strong, capable leadership teams through coaching, challenge and support.
- Lead on performance management processes, including supervision, appraisals, capability and absence management.
- You will be responsible for the management, guidance, and ongoing support of volunteers within your department, ensuring they are integrated effectively to help achieve charity goals.
- Lead the delivery of high-quality early education and care across all settings, aligned to EYFS and Ofsted frameworks.
- Provide strong curriculum leadership, ensuring consistency in teaching, learning, assessment and inclusive practice.
- Drive improvement through regular quality audits, learning walks and Ofsted readiness activity, with clear follow-up actions.
- Ensure all settings are fully compliant with safeguarding, welfare requirements and organisational policies.
- Work in close partnership with the Inclusion & SEND Manager to embed effective inclusive practice and strong outcomes for all children.
- Performance & Business Management
- Oversee and challenge performance in relation to: Occupancy and admissions, Income and budget management, Staffing structures and ratios, Recruitment, retention and workforce stability.
- Support Managers to deliver sustainable and efficient operations, identifying opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Ensure consistent operational standards across all settings.
- Monitor risk and take proactive action to address underperformance.
- Workforce Development & Talent
- Develop leadership capability across settings through coaching, mentoring and structured development planning.
- Support the design and implementation of training programmes in line with the Early Years Academy model.
- Identify future leaders and support succession planning across the organisation.
- Ensure effective induction and ongoing development for new and existing Managers.
- Intervention & Improvement
- Lead targeted intervention in settings requiring improvement or experiencing instability.
- Undertake rapid assessments of quality, staffing and leadership, implementing clear action plans with measurable outcomes.
- Provide hands-on leadership support where needed, including short-term operational cover.
- Support teams to stabilise, rebuild confidence and improve outcomes for children and families.
- Partnership & Representation
- Build strong relationships with families, local communities, schools, and external partners.
- Represent YMCA Fairthorne Group positively with Ofsted, Local Authorities and other stakeholders.
- Keep up to date with sector developments, ensuring practice remains forward-thinking and informed.
- Contribute to organisational growth by identifying opportunities for expansion and partnership working.
Skills, Experience & Qualifications
- Significant experience of managing multiple early years settings or managing through others (e.g. Nursery Managers).
- Proven track record of improving quality and outcomes, including in underperforming or complex settings.
- Strong knowledge of EYFS, safeguarding, Ofsted EIF and regulatory requirements.
- Demonstrable experience of leading and developing others, including performance management.
- Strong commercial awareness, including occupancy, budgets and workforce planning.
- Ability to balance strategic oversight with operational delivery.
- Excellent communication, organisation and decision-making skills.
- Full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification (minimum).
- Willingness and ability to travel regularly between settings.
- Degree-level qualification in Early Years, Education or related field.
- Experience supporting Ofsted inspections or inspections in a leadership capacity.
- Knowledge or experience of SEND leadership and inclusive practice.
- Safeguarding qualification at Level 4 or above.
Personal Attributes
- Inspirational, resilient and values-driven leader.
- Confident in holding others to account while maintaining supportive relationships.
- High levels of emotional intelligence and professional integrity.
- Solution-focused, adaptable and able to respond quickly to challenge.
- Passionate about delivering high-quality, inclusive early years provision.
- Committed to the YMCA mission and its impact on children, families and communities.
Successful applicant will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via Disclosure and Barring Service. We are an equal opportunities charity with commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. A copy of this policy will be made available on request. We invite you to apply for this rewarding position and be part of an amazing charity that continues to support and achieve wonderful things within the community.
Early Years Area Manager in Eastleigh employer: YMCA Fairthorne Group
YMCA Fairthorne Group is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With generous benefits such as a health cash plan, extensive holiday allowances, and opportunities for leadership development, employees are empowered to thrive in their roles while making a meaningful impact on the community. The dynamic environment in Eastleigh, combined with the chance to lead and inspire teams across multiple settings, makes this position both rewarding and fulfilling.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Early Years Area Manager in Eastleigh
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by YMCA Fairthorne Group.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like YMCA Fairthorne Group.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at YMCA Fairthorne Group.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at YMCA Fairthorne Group. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Early Years Area Manager in Eastleigh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of YMCA Fairthorne Group. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Early Years Area Manager, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at YMCA Fairthorne Group
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of YMCA Fairthorne Group. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
