Nursery Manager

We’re a nature-based setting based at The Fold, Bransford, Worcestershire, looking for an experienced early years leader for a two-part role.

You’ll begin as maternity cover at the Fold, working alongside our senior Nurture Partner and our Deputy Manager and SENDCo to lead the day-to-day life of an established setting. Then from early 2027 you’ll move into a permanent Setting Manager role, opening Nurture at Oldbury Park - our new setting with Central Region Schools Trust. You’ll shape it from planning through to first families, and lead it going forward.

This isn’t a cover post that leaves you job-hunting at the end. It’s a permanent job with excellent preparation for next steps.

What makes this setting different. Our practitioners aren’t paid by the hour. They’re Nurture Partners on Professional Practice Pay: a base wage plus a bonus for every child they hold as named Key Person, rising with demonstrated practice rather than years served. Caseloads are built around eight families, where practitioners work closely with families and follow children through the setting.

What you’ll do

• Run the setting day to day - Childcare Act 2006, EYFS, health and safety, Ofsted
• Lead and inspire the team, and hold supervision, training and reviews
• Recruit and select practitioners under safer recruitment policy
• Work with the Deputy Manager and SENDCo on additional needs provision
• Partner properly with families; partner uniquely with the team
• Support and Oldbury Park from scratch

What you’ll need

• Level 3 Early Years or above
• Minimum 3 years’ management experience in an early years setting
• Confidence holding Ofsted standards and ratios without losing relationship-centred practice
• Comfortable covering an established team, and equally comfortable building a new one
• Openness to nature-based, relationship-centred practice - we’ll teach you our methodology
• Paediatric First Aid and Safeguarding, or the willingness to complete both

What we offer

• £31,000–£34,000 · 28 days’ leave including bank holidays and closure days
• Funded mandatory training, CPD and management development
• University of Worcester partnership · Family Club wellness access
• Workplace pension
• A setting to make your own from 2027

Tuesday to Friday, 30 hours, 48 weeks (not term time only).

The work is physical and outdoors: kneeling, lifting, carrying young children, and all weathers.

Safer recruitment. We are committed to safeguarding every child in our care. All applicants must undergo enhanced DBS screening and register with the Update Service, provide references from previous employers, and evidence their right to work in the UK. All our posts are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, so all convictions and cautions - including those regarded as ‘spent’ - must be declared. Applicants must confirm they are not barred or disqualified from working with children and do not live with anyone who is. We are an equal opportunities employer.

Pay: From £31,616.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking

Application question(s):

• Do you have a Level 3 qualification in early years?
• Do you have experience in a leadership or management role within an early years setting?

Work Location: In person