Nursery Manager

Warrington 

Full time - Permanent Role  40 hrs per week 

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Management

· Provide strong, inspirational leadership to the nursery team, promoting a positive, professional, and reflective culture.

· Oversee the day-to-day running of the nursery, ensuring smooth and effective operations.

· Lead staff recruitment, induction, supervision, appraisals, and performance management.

· Ensure effective staff deployment and maintain statutory ratios in line with EYFS requirements.

· Support and promote staff training, development, wellbeing, and progression.

Safeguarding (DSL)

· Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the setting.

· Ensure safeguarding policies and procedures are implemented, reviewed, and consistently followed.

· Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns, referrals, and multi-agency working.

· Maintain accurate, confidential safeguarding records in line with statutory guidance.

· Provide safeguarding guidance, oversight, and training to staff.

SEND & Inclusion (SENCo)

· Act as SENCo, leading inclusive practice across the setting.

· Identify, support, and monitor children with SEND, ensuring timely interventions.

· Develop, implement, and review SEND support plans and individual strategies.

· Liaise effectively with parents, carers, external professionals, and local authorities.

· Ensure reasonable adjustments and inclusive learning environments are in place.

Quality, Curriculum & Improvement

· Ensure high-quality teaching, learning, and care in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage

(EYFS).

· Monitor planning, observations, and assessments to track children’s progress and outcomes.

· Lead self-evaluation, quality assurance, and continuous improvement planning.

· Ensure the nursery environment is safe, stimulating, and enabling for all children.

Partnership & Compliance

· Build strong, trusting partnerships with parents and carers.

· Ensure full compliance with Ofsted, EYFS, safeguarding, health & safety, and welfare

requirements.

· Oversee the development, review, and implementation of policies, procedures, and

documentation.

· Prepare for and manage inspections, audits, and regulatory visits

Safeguarding

At our nursery, the safety and wellbeing of every child is our highest priority. We follow robust safeguarding procedures in line with current legislation and local guidance. Staff are regularly trained to recognise and respond to signs of all forms of neglect, abuse, extremism and exploitation. Safeguarding is central to everything we do, and safeguarding is the responsibility of every member of our team. We operate strict safer recruitment processes, including enhanced criminal record checks, references, and qualification verification, to ensure all staff are suitable to work with children.

We work closely with parents, carers, and external agencies to ensure every child is safe, supported, and protected. · Uphold the nursery’s safeguarding policies and procedures at all times. · Ensure safeguarding concerns are managed in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children. · Maintain confidentiality, accurate record keeping, and data protection standards. · Report concerns swiftly as DSL. · An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is an essential requirement for this role.

Person Specification

· Full and relevant Level 3 qualification in Early Years/Childcare (minimum requirement), including GCSE

Maths (or equivalent).

· Proven experience in a leadership or management role within an early years setting.

· Strong knowledge and understanding of the EYFS, child development, safeguarding, and SEND.

· Experience of leading staff teams and managing performance.

· Ability to manage compliance, policies, and regulatory requirements effectively.

· Excellent leadership, communication, organisational, and decision-making skills.

· Strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

 Desirable

· DSL and SENCo qualification or significant experience in these roles.

· Experience leading an Ofsted inspection and implementing post-inspection action plans.

· Paediatric First Aid certificate (or willingness to obtain).

· Experience working with multi-agency professionals and external services.

· Leadership or management training within early years.