Early Years Manager

We are looking for a skilled and creative Early Years Manager who can inspire and lead their team to deliver outstanding Early Years education and care in our Cockleshell Nursery, part of the Early Years Alliance family.

We support flexible working in our nurseries and welcome applications if you are interested in full-time, job share or working full-time over four longer days.

Cockleshell Nursery based in Southend-on-Sea is a popular setting at the heart of the community. It is a 72 place nursery with 101 children on roll. The nursery is rated Good by Ofsted in March 2023 and 9.7 on Day Nurseries. 

We have a strong support system for our nurseries, and as a manager you would be supported by our Children’s Services Manager, HR and Finance in running the nursery.

What we offer:

The Alliance prides itself on being a supportive workplace and offers significant benefits including:

• 100% discount on childcare and early education places (applicable to staff working in our Early Years settings)
• Extensive training and career progression planning, including access to our Learning Management System (LMS)
• The Alliance has invested in FAMLY reducing paperwork and giving you more time to focus on the children.
• A generous workplace pension scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, with additional annual leave for long service.
• Birthday leave so you can have a day off for your birthday dedicated to you and your well being
• Enhanced sickness pay and paid bereavement leave
• A Recruitment Referral Payment Scheme, giving you an introductory payment of up to £300 if someone you have referred to the Alliance takes up a role in the charity.
• Vitality membership wellness and fitness app – including lots of great health benefits, rewards, telephone, and face to face counselling
• Savings of up to 25% on O2 Refresh Airtime Plan on any new phone or tablets
• A dedicated mental health First aider to support your mental well being

If you need, or want, to work flexibly, come and talk to us to explore what is possible.  If we can make it work for the Alliance, we can make it work for you.

Job purpose:

Early Years Manager will:

• inspire and lead your team to deliver high quality Early Years education and care.
• manage the day-to-day operation of the setting, ensuring all regulatory requirements and policies and procedures are adhered too.
• build relationships with parents and the wider community.
• manage the financial sustainability of the setting.

Requirements:

Successful applicants will need:

• a minimum Level 3 Early Years Education and Childcare Qualification or equivalent.
• EYFS 2024 requirement: Employed or internal job changes on or after 4 January 2024 must hold a level 2 Math’s qualification or must achieve one within 2 years of starting in the position.
• proven post-qualification experience in working in early education and childcare.
• sound IT skills and ability to use Microsoft Office programmes, nursery management software, social media platforms and online portals effectively.
• the ability to multi-task and establish rapport with staff, families, and external agencies.

Also, you will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check, if your current certificate is not subscribed to the update service.

For the full of duties and the requirements, please download the job description and person specification which accompanies this advert. 

Hours per week: 40

Weeks per year: 52

Virtual interview date: TBC

Please note our virtual interviews take place via Microsoft Teams, so you may need to download this app prior to your interview.