Deputy Manager (Full time)

Berkhampstead Day Nursery is looking for an exceptional Deputy Manager to help manage a Nursery for children aged 3 months to 5 years, at our brand-new nursery in Charlton Kings.

Our Day Nurseries are split across 5 bright and versatile rooms. We follow the Curiosity Approach and encourage the children to grow, thrive and learn using natural open-ended resources. Our "In the moment planning" system, ensures that we continually provide exciting, engaging and challenging learning opportunities for each individual child.

Berkhampstead Day Nurseries reflects the values of the School: all children in our community are loved, nurtured and treated with the utmost care. This caring extends to the staff too.

Berkhampstead Day Nurseries acknowledges that working in Early Years can be a demanding job, but we have little doubt that is an extremely rewarding one. Our staff work hard, and we ensure that their dedication is valued and rewarded. If you are passionate about providing superb care, a stimulating education for young children and would like to join our friendly team, we can offer the following incentives:
* Close links to Berkhampstead School
* An outstanding working environment with fantastic facilities, including a lovely garden, nature garden, sensory room and library.
* Competitive rates of pay
* 66% staff discount on Nursery fee’s
* A generous company pension, income protection, life insurance
* Holiday incentive scheme rewards long service
* Training and advancement opportunities
* A complimentary, home cooked lunch
* We enjoy a culture of warmth and friendship with regular team social events

DEPUTY NURSERY MANAGER
Job Description
Reports to: Nursery Manager
Direct reports: Room leaders, Catering and Admin staff
• To support the Nursery Manager to ensure the effective daily management of the Nursery, to have a sound knowledge of all Company Policies, Procedures, Statutory Welfare Requirements and Ofsted/ISI expectations and ensure that these are maintained at all times.
• To be a role model to the staff team. Be able to showcase high quality practice with regards to individual and group work with children, dealing with staff and parent issues as they arise.
• To support and actively promote the safety, security and well-being of all children, staff and visitors at all times.
• Act as the Designated Safeguarding Person within the setting in the Nursery Manager’s absence, dealing with and support any issues as they arise.
• To work alongside the Nursery Manager to lead the nursery to maintain an Excellent grading with ISI.
• To play an active role in completing a rigorous action plan that supports the development of areas set out in the ‘Development Plan’.
• To embrace, understand and promote Berkhampstead Nursery and to understand the role you play as a member of the management team in providing high levels of care and education.
Performance Requirements
• Support the future occupancy levels of the setting by working alongside the Nursery Manager in making appropriate decisions in relation to staffing.
• To reinforce Company policy and procedures at all times and deal with any breaches swiftly and in an appropriate manner.
• Support the setting’s approach to safer recruitment and ensure Company policies are followed
throughout the recruitment process.
• Support the Nursery Manager in completing full induction, ongoing regular contact and probation reviews with new employees, offering any support and guidance and addressing performance concerns as required.
• Identify development areas or training requirements throughout the staff team and actively promote
continued professional development.
• Mentor and lead the staff team and offer support and guidance as required.
• To support and encourage any ideas and initiatives to maintain employee engagement.
• To support in dealing with investigations, disciplinaries and absence management in line with Company policies and procedures.
• Efficient and effective staff deployment at all times.
• Continually motivate and develop the staff team within the nursery through effective role modelling,
spending time in rooms throughout the setting.
• Ensure the nursery is seen as an excellent place to work internally and externally.
• Support regular meetings and training. Staff meetings must take place at least once a month and have a full written agenda and minutes to accompany.
• To recognise and reward Outstanding practice within the nursery.
• Promote equality and diversity within the nursery, challenging any behaviour which does not support our Inclusive Practice and Equal Opportunities Policy.
Childcare
• To lead on the quality aspects of a nursery, including environments, learning and development and
Learning Journals.
• Reflect on daily practice and identify areas for continual improvement.
• To be the Designated Safeguarding Officer within the setting in the Nursery Manager’s absence and
ensure that all practitioners and support staff have a sound awareness of the Safeguarding Policy (both
Company and Local Authority procedures). All staff to understand their role in safeguarding all children.
• To ensure that all children are treated as individuals and that we are supporting this through our
approach to planning in line with the EYFS.
• To work in partnership to ensure standards are continuously being met in line with Ofsted/ISI
requirements and the EYFS.
• To ensure that any identified development needs are supported with ongoing training either internally or externally.
• As a management team, to oversee planning and children’s developmental records and ensure that they reflect their individual progress and are up to date.
• Ensures that the planning and organisation of a quality educational provision is carried out to meet the Birth to Three Matters framework and Berkhampstead Day Nursery Curriculum.
• Ensures the implementation of the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice and liaises with
Gloucestershire Council’s Early Years Special Needs Advisor in all matters relating to children with special educational needs.
• Ensure that settling-in and transitions are well managed for all children, ensuring they are communicated to parents, carers and colleagues.
• To support on all aspects of inclusive practice, behaviour management and special educational needs
within your team, liaising with the appropriate representatives.
• To support effective partnerships working with children, families and the wider community. Continuously looking at ways to build relationships with external agencies.
• To ensure effective communication with staff and families through effective partnerships i.e. Parents
Forum, Newsletters, Parents Evenings, stay & plays, settling-in sessions.
• Deal with any parent/carer issues or concerns in a timely manner, escalating any issues to your Nursery Manager as necessary.
• Oversee an effective Key Person approach within the setting.
Environments
• To take an active responsibility for Health & Safety Policies and Procedures at nursery.
• To support the extended management team and nursery staff team to ensure all paperwork is completed correctly.
• Check premises daily and remove or action any potential hazards.
• To ensure the health & safety of all staff, children and visitors by ensuring policies on security and safety are adhered to at all times e.g. ensuring visitors have signed in and ID checks have been carried out.
• Raise any maintenance concerns to your Nursery Manager in due course and keep an ongoing record of this.
• Support and develop an enabling environment that is child-led, using both indoor and outdoor spaces effectively.
• Support and encourage budget-related decisions effectively to ensure that toys, equipment and soft
furnishings both indoors and outdoors are at the required standard to support high quality practice.
• To ensure that you have an excellent understanding and have a working knowledge of all aspects of
Health & Safety e.g. Risk Assessments, COSHH etc.
• To promote good hygiene practices in the nursery and maintain high standards of cleanliness.
Sustainability
• To have an understanding of expenditure for the nursery within agreed budgets.
• To support the financial sustainability of the setting, which will include marketing, parent show arounds, promoting events, managing waiting lists, open days and managing staff deployment effectively.
• To support the Nursery Manager to achieve financial targets set at nursery level.
• Have a sound knowledge of the First Steps nursery management system and ensure that it is always up to date.
• To ensure excellent levels of customer service to all visitors.
• To work alongside the Nursery Manager to ensure effective forward planning to maintain and grow
occupancy levels and manage waiting lists effectively.
• In the Nursery Manager’s absence ensure payroll information is processed in a timely manner and
submitted before the deadline.
• Support the setting’s marketing plan and attend marketing events.
• To ensure there is an effective tool used to evaluate your progress e.g. Action planning.
General
• Ability to calmly and effectively lead the nursery setting in times of emergency.
• Abide by the Berkhampstead Code of Conduct and all other Policies and Procedures at all times,
maintaining a professional approach, behaviour and confidentiality at all times.
• Act as a representative of your nursery and the Company, promoting a professional image at all times.
• To have awareness of any legislation relating to your role.
• Ensure all correspondence is dealt with promptly and professionally within a reasonable time frame.
• Show a willingness to undertake additional roles to meet the needs of the nursery, children and
colleagues.
• Keep your job knowledge up to date through Company and external training, showing a commitment to professional development.
• Support other nurseries where necessary. This may mean working at different sites to support other
settings and managers.
• Be able to confidently and competently step up to the role of Nursery Manager in their absence.
• Any other duties as required by the Nursery Manager.

A minimum Level 3 childcare qualification is essential for this role. 2 years’ experience in a childcare setting and in a leadership, position would be an advantage.

Berkhampstead Day Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

These positions will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment

Please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button to send your CV.