Nursery Deputy Manager

Job Title: Deputy Manager

Location: Play Away Day Nursery 
Salary: £27, 248.00 per annum
Hours: Full-Time, 40 hours per week
Contract: Permanent

Are you an experienced Early Years professional looking to step into a leadership role? Play Away Day Nursery - City is on the lookout for a passionate and dedicated Deputy Manager to join our wonderful team. This is a fantastic opportunity for a current Deputy Manager, or an experienced Room Leader or Third in Charge, ready to take the next step in their career.

About us:

Southampton City Day Nursery, rated Good by Ofsted, is a purpose-built, spacious building with large feature windows. The beautiful playrooms are flooded with natural light and air conditioning for maximum comfort. At Play Away we believe that every stage of childhood should be celebrated, and children are moved into the next group when they are developmentally ready to take their next step. Our nursery is a vibrant and diverse setting, proudly supporting families from 28 different backgrounds and languages. We celebrate cultural diversity and create an inclusive environment where every child and family feels valued, respected, and supported.                                                                                                                                                                                            The nursery is conveniently located at the foot of the Itchen Bridge, offering excellent transport links for easy commuting. Situated on a quiet road, it also features its own car park with free parking for staff.                                         

We’re proud to be part of an exciting initiative to improve the local play park right across from our nursery! A grant is being applied for, and if successful, this project will provide a fantastic outdoor space for children to enjoy—enhancing their outdoor learning experiences and supporting their physical development. We can’t wait to see the positive impact this will have on our little learners!

Why Join us:

At Family First, we value our team members and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Annual Leave: Starting at 24 days, plus a paid day off for your birthday and bank holidays.
• Childcare Discounts: 75% off nursery fees for team members.
• Health and Wellbeing: Access to a confidential employee assistance helpline.
• Development: Tailored learning and development opportunities to support your career growth and progression.
• Company Pension: Secure your future with our competitive pension scheme!
• Referral Program: Earn bonuses for bringing great new colleagues into our family!
• Onsite Parking: Access to free onsite Parking
• Company Events: Enjoy team-building activities, social gatherings, and special celebrations!: 
• Career Progression Opportunities!

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure the safety, well-being, and happiness of all children, staff, parents, and visitors.
• Ensure the nursery consistently meets the requirements of the Statutory Framework for the EYFS.
• Support in managing medication administration and ensure care plans are up to date for children or staff with health conditions.
• Create stimulating, purposeful, and developmentally appropriate experiences and environments for all children.
• Lead by example with effective communication, consistency, and respect to inspire your team and foster a positive environment.
• Promote creativity and challenge your team to strive for outstanding practice.
• Maintain accurate records related to children and staff using our EyMan system and files.
• Undertake other duties to ensure the smooth running of the nursery and the well-being of children, staff, and families.

What We’re Looking For:

• Full and relevant Level 3 Childcare qualification – Essential
• Leadership experience – Essential
• Over 1 year’s experience working in Early Years – Essential
• Sound knowledge of the EYFS framework and regulatory requirements – Essential
• At least 1 year of experience in a management position – Desirable
• Level 5 qualification in Childcare and/or Management and Leadership – Desirable
• Experience of successfully passing an Ofsted inspection to a good or outstanding standard – Desirable

We are committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. A Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate will be required for all posts. This post will be subject to enhanced checks as part of our Safeguarding Duty.

Play Away Day Nursery is part of the Family First Group where we take great care to treat everyone as a person, with equal rights and responsibilities to any other individual, whether they are an adult or a child. We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all children and families according to their individual needs. Discrimination on the grounds of gender, age, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, ethnic or national origin, or political belief has no place within the Family First Group.