Area Manager

Area Manager — Little Aisha Nursery

Location: Across allocated Little Aisha Nursery settings in London
Working pattern: Full-time, with regular travel between settings
Reports to: Company Director
Responsible for: Branch Managers and the performance of allocated settings
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

About Little Aisha

Little Aisha Nursey is a growing nursery group providing a safe, nurturing and inspiring environment where children can learn, develop and thrive. We want every setting to deliver excellent care, strong early years education and a welcoming experience for families.

We are seeking an experienced Area Manager who can turn these expectations into consistent practice across several nurseries. You will develop confident managers, identify concerns early and take ownership of improvements through to completion.

The role

You will be accountable for the quality, safety, operational performance and commercial success of your allocated settings.

This is a visible, practical leadership role. You will spend substantial time in nurseries, observing practice, coaching managers and checking that agreed standards are followed. You must be comfortable supporting teams, challenging poor performance and making timely decisions.

You will work closely with the Directors, branch managers and central support teams to ensure that every branch operates effectively.

Key responsibilitiesSafeguarding, safety and compliance

• Maintain strong oversight of safeguarding practice, working with each setting’s designated safeguarding lead.
• Check that concerns, allegations, accidents and complaints are recorded, escalated and followed through appropriately.
• Monitor compliance with the EYFS, Ofsted requirements and company policies.
• Verify staffing ratios, staff suitability, supervision arrangements and the accuracy of essential records.
• Conduct regular setting audits covering safeguarding, health and safety, premises, hygiene and operational practice.
• Ensure findings have named owners and clear deadlines, and verify that corrective actions are completed.
• Support inspection preparation and responses to inspection findings, maintaining everyday readiness.

Quality of care and education

• Work with the Director to deliver consistent, high-quality practice across all age groups.
• Observe staff interactions, routines, learning environments and the support provided for individual children.
• Check that key-person arrangements, settling-in processes and parent partnerships are effective.
• Ensure children with SEND receive appropriate support and that managers work constructively with families and external professionals.
• Challenge weak practice and support teams to make measurable improvements.

Manager and team development

• Lead, coach and hold Branch Managers accountable for their setting’s performance.
• Conduct regular one-to-one meetings, setting clear priorities and reviewing progress.
• Ensure managers provide effective staff induction, supervision, appraisals and performance management.
• Monitor recruitment, retention, absence and staffing stability; address recurring concerns promptly.
• Work with HR on employee matters, ensuring decisions and communications follow agreed processes.
• Maintain oversight of mandatory training, qualifications and recruitment documentation.
• Develop deputies and future managers to strengthen succession planning.

Operational and financial performance

• Review occupancy, enquiries, show-arounds, registrations and conversion rates with each manager.
• Support managers to build sustainable occupancy while maintaining quality and safe staffing.
• Monitor staffing costs, rotas, agency use and purchasing against agreed budgets.
• Work with Accounts to resolve overdue fees, billing discrepancies and funding administration issues.
• Ensure nursery systems, including EYWorks, contain accurate and up-to-date information.
• Coordinate with central teams so that operational issues are resolved without unnecessary delays.
• Support new settings, management transitions and group improvement projects.

Parent experience and local reputation

• Ensure families receive professional, welcoming and consistent communication.
• Oversee the handling of escalated complaints, identifying recurring issues and ensuring agreed actions are completed.
• Check that show-arounds, onboarding and settling-in arrangements reflect Little Aisha’s standards.
• Support managers to build relationships with local schools, services and community organisations.

Accountability and reporting

• Maintain a planned programme of setting visits, with additional visits where concerns require closer support.
• Provide concise reports on quality, safeguarding, staffing, occupancy, finances and outstanding actions.
• Escalate significant risks promptly, with a clear recommendation and immediate actions where needed.
• Track improvement plans through to completion and confirm that changes are sustained.

Person specificationEssential

• A recognised Level 3 or higher qualification in early years.
• Substantial nursery management experience, with evidence of improving quality and team performance.
• Experience overseeing multiple settings or supporting managers beyond your own nursery.
• Strong working knowledge of the EYFS, safeguarding and Ofsted expectations.
• Experience managing staffing, occupancy, budgets and parent complaints.
• The confidence to challenge poor practice and manage difficult conversations professionally.
• Strong organisation, sound judgement and a practical approach to resolving problems.
• Ability to travel reliably between allocated settings.

Desirable

• A degree or higher-level qualification in early years, education or leadership.
• Previous Area Manager or Regional Manager experience.
• Experience supporting nursery openings, acquisitions or settings requiring improvement.
• Familiarity with EYWorks or comparable nursery management systems.

What success looks like

• Safe settings with effective safeguarding and timely escalation.
• Consistent quality of care and education.
• Confident managers who take ownership of their branches.
• Stable teams with accurate records and up-to-date training.
• Improved occupancy and controlled operating costs.
• Positive parent relationships and well-managed complaints.
• Improvement actions completed on time and sustained in practice.

Safer recruitment

Little Aisha Nurseries is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Appointment is subject to satisfactory references, an enhanced DBS check, verification of qualifications, right-to-work checks and other relevant suitability checks.

Pay: £40,000.00-£55,620.00 per year

Work Location: In person