Nursery Manager

Little Shoes Nursery is looking for an experienced, confident and highly organised Nursery Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day management of our setting. We are a warm, established English-Spanish bilingual nursery in Brighton & Hove, providing care and education from babies through to preschool. We are looking for someone who is not only passionate about Early Years, but who has the experience and confidence to run a nursery effectively, maintain high standards of compliance and lead a team on a daily basis. The role: As Nursery Manager, you will take responsibility for the smooth and compliant day-to-day running of the nursery, working closely with the Director and Deputy Manager. Your responsibilities will include:

Leading the nursery team and managing the day-to-day operation of the settingMaintaining appropriate staffing levels and EYFS ratios throughout the dayManaging the nursery floor, staff deployment, breaks and daily organisationLeading, supporting and holding staff accountable for maintaining high standards of practiceManaging staff performance, supervision, development and trainingEnsuring the nursery remains fully compliant with the EYFS statutory frameworkTaking a leading role in Ofsted inspections and maintaining ongoing inspection readinessLiaising confidently and professionally with Brighton & Hove Local Authority and other external professionalsOverseeing safeguarding procedures and ensuring concerns are identified, recorded and escalated appropriatelyMaintaining accurate and up-to-date nursery records, including safeguarding, accidents/incidents, attendance, staff records, risk assessments and compliance documentationMonitoring children's learning, development and wellbeing and ensuring high-quality Early Years practice across all roomsSupporting SEND and working with families and external professionals where requiredMonitoring health & safety and ensuring policies and procedures are consistently followedSupporting recruitment, induction and onboarding of new staffBuilding positive and professional relationships with parents and familiesIdentifying areas for improvement and working with the leadership team to continuously develop the nursery About you:

Minimum Level 3 qualification in Early Years/ChildcareAt least 1 year of experience in a Nursery Manager or equivalent Early Years management roleStrong working knowledge of the EYFSGood knowledge of Ofsted requirements and inspection processesStrong safeguarding knowledgeExperience managing and supporting an Early Years teamExperience with nursery compliance, documentation and record keepingConfidence managing staff deployment and ratios in a busy nursery environmentExcellent organisational and communication skillsAble to make decisions, solve problems and take ownership of the day-to-day running of the settingProfessional and confident when dealing with parents, staff, Local Authority professionals and Ofsted Desirable:

Previous experience leading an Ofsted inspectionDSL experience or safeguarding leadership experienceExperience working with SEND and external agenciesPaediatric First AidExperience within a private day nursery We need a manager who is present, organised and hands-on. This is a key leadership position within Little Shoes Nursery, and we are looking for someone who wants to take genuine ownership of the role and become a long-term part of our nursery. Job type: Full-time, Permanent Location: Brighton & Hove Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience and qualifications Successful applicants will be subject to appropriate safeguarding and safer recruitment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. To apply, please send your CV together with a short introduction outlining your Early Years management experience.