Nursery Manager

Job Description: Head Nursery Educator

Riverside Nursery Schools: Twickenham, Richmond, and Kew

Reports to: Riverside Nursery Schools Principal

Dukes Education is a family of schools and educators, brought together by a common purpose: to give children the foundations for an extraordinary life, through education.

About Riverside Nursery Schools

Riverside Nursery Schools have been educating children for over forty-five years and have created a bespoke curriculum that draws inspiration from a range of established and time-proven pedagogies including Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Forest School. The education provided is steered by our experience and expertise, combined with the most up-to-date knowledge of the latest scientific breakthroughs in both child development and neurodevelopment.

Key Responsibilities

• To provide high quality care and learning experiences
• To establish a high quality and financially sustainable nursery, overseeing all aspects of the day-to-day business and administrative practices
• Be accountable and responsible for day-to-day financial systems directly relating to the nursery provision and the administrative duties associated with the management of the facility, e.g., Maintaining records on the children and their families, keeping accurate and up to date personnel records, ordering equipment, maintaining inventory
• To provide a safe environment
• To ensure that children reach their full potential
• To Support the team in order to provide an enabling environment in which all individual children can play, learning and develop
• To continually research and reflect on practices in the industry to ensure that outstanding practice is implemented at all times

Key Areas

• Assume all managerial responsibilities

• Responsible with the bursar for the timely and accurate collection, recording and banking of fees
• With the Bursar build and develop clear and measurable plans, budgets and targets in accordance with agreed procedures to ensure financial objectives are met
• Prepare timely and accurate reports to Principal/Senior Team as required with information relating to finance, quality of the provision and anything else deemed necessary
• Selection and safe recruitment of staff
• Ensure that all correct policies, procedures and practices are adhered to
• Ensure that all children remain safe whilst attending the setting.
• Understanding the safeguarding and Child protection policies and procedures for the setting and local authority procedures
• Be aware and demonstrate a sound knowledge of security procedures, which also relate to the dropping off and collection of children of children from the setting
• Ensure the Data Protection Policy is adhered to at all times

Description of Duties

• Demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the statutory framework
• To lead, guide and support the implementation of the EYFS across all ranges
• Plan learning objectives for children in line with the EYFS across all age ranges
• To develop strategies to improve staff practice
• Support and monitor staff with planning systems
• Support staff with their training needs
• Provide and develop a stimulating learning environment both indoors and outdoors
• To have a sound I knowledge of a play-based approach to children's learning and development and support staff in this area
• To ensure that all mandatory paper work is completed e.g., the two-year-old progress checks
• To ensure that you are up to date with changes made to educational policies and practices.
• To develop effective personal provision for the children attending the setting
• To develop systems to monitor planning systems and staff knowledge
• Support staff during inspections and assist in making any required changes
• Facilitate and promote working partnership with parents/carers
• Promote the setting to new and existing parents and carers
• Work closely with other professionals, to ensure that the needs of individual children are being met
• Promote the key person approach to staff and parents/carers
• Deal with complaints and concerns in an effective and professional manner
• To support and develop the transition process

Human Resources

• To analytically reflect on your own practice
• Give constructive feedback when required
• Evaluate and deliver staff training and role model good practices
• Committed to promoting equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion
• Reflect on the practice of the staff team
• Perform staff appraisals and reviews
• Ensure clear communication is delivered regarding managerial decisions to all members of staff
• To deliver staff personal development reviews and supervision when required
• Maintain clear accurate records and monitor staffs record keeping
• Support the selection and recruitment of balanced staff team, using safe recruitment policies and procedures
• Daily Jobs/paperwork to be completed or to oversee
• Ensure adequate staffing in all areas of the nursery at the start of each day. Maintain a balance of qualifications and ensure adult: child ratios are adhered to.
• Oversee and audit all required administration/operational plans for effective and safe nursery operation

Requirements

Essential

Education and Qualifications

• Preferably Degree in childcare Minimum of NVQ 3 or other equivalent childcare qualification
• Recognised qualification in Math’s and English

Experience

• 3 Years post qualifying experience, 1 years of which included managing and supervising staff in an early years setting
• Experience of managing, assessing and developing a large team of professional staff
• Experience of working with parents and various stakeholders
• Working knowledge of the implementation of the Children's Act and the Early Year Foundation Stage Care Standards and Ofsted requirements
• Experience of record-keeping and maintaining confidentiality
• Knowledge and understanding of the EYFS curriculum and its implementation
• Working knowledge and experience of Health & Safety issues and legislation
• Working knowledge of child protection issues and procedures
• Experience in writing and implementing policy documents and procedures
• Experience of financial/budgetary management & planning

Aptitudes and Skills

• Excellent staff management skills- proven ability to lead a team, inspire, guide and motivate others
• Understanding and practical experience of day care for young children and the EYFS curriculum
• Working knowledge of relevant legislation, best practice and the inspection process for day care
• Awareness of purposeful planning for children in day care settings
• Ability to communicate confidently with a wide range of people
• Able to work independently and to manage own time efficiently
• Excellent IT and computer software skills for financial purposes including financial analysis and reporting, and maintenance of childcare records

Training and Development

• Demonstrable commitment to personal and professional development that enhances performance in the role

Other

• Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to:
  • equal opportunities
  • partnership with families
  • highest standards of service and to the regular review and enhancement of these
• Enthusiastic, innovative and energetic
• Willingness to adapt and participate in hands on Nursery activities as and when required
• Willing to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service

Desirable

Education and Qualifications

• NVQ level 3 or higher qualification in Early Years

• Qualification in business studies/management
• EYP status
• Current first aid certificate
• Current food hygiene certificate
• Qualifications/training in special educational needs
• Qualifications/training in child protection
• Qualifications/training in health and safety

Experience

• Experience of management of a large commercial nursery
• Experience of working in more than one nursery/childcare settling
• Experience of delivering training to staff
• Experience of supervision of students
• Experience of working in a setting that has achieved an outstanding Ofsted reward
• Experience of Nursery software packages
• Experience of marketing the nursery sector

Company Benefits

• 28 days holiday entitlement
• 10 days sick entitlement
• Up to 50% discount on fees for your own children attending any Dukes institute.
• Welcome bonus of £500.
• Refer a friend bonus of £500.
• Free lunch daily
• Fruit baskets
• Bike to Work Scheme
• Festive company celebrations
• Annual company conference
• Training and development opportunity
• Leadership programme
• Wellbeing benefits, employee assistance programme and free counselling
• Access to Dukes Hub a cross functional resource of communications and knowledge
• Environmental and sustainability focused, with environmental awards.

Dukes Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and is subject to a successful Enhanced Disclosure, Barring Service (DBS) check and two professional references.