Raphael Nursery
Area Manager
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Job Description - Nursery Area Manager
Reports to: Nursery Director
Job type: Full-time, Permanent
Contact details: hr@raphaelnursery.com / +44 7470862341
We're looking for an inspiring Nursery Area Manager to join our growing, family-owned nursery group.
At Raphael Nursery, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We create a warm, supportive and inspiring environment where our teams feel valued, have fun, are encouraged to be creative and can thrive. We know that when our people flourish, so do the children and families we care for.
As we continue to grow, we're looking for a strong, empathetic leader who is passionate about developing others. This role is about more than managing—it's about leading, coaching and supporting Nursery Managers to build confident, high-performing teams. You'll genuinely care about helping others reach their potential while continuing to grow your own career.
We're committed to investing in our people through excellent training, clear career progression and a fantastic bonus scheme paid twice a year. With exciting expansion plans ahead, there is real opportunity to develop with us, with the potential to progress into senior leadership as the business grows.
If you're ready to make a real impact and grow with a business that puts people first, we'd love to hear from you.
Our Benefits
- Excellent salaries
- Childcare discount of 75%
- Bi-Annual Bonus Scheme
- 23 days annual leave, plus birthday and bank holidays this goes up to 36 days annual leave (including bank holidays) from your first year and increasing to 40 days with bank holidays
- Sick Pay
- Company Pension
- Free lunches
- Support for higher level qualifications and fully funded training
- Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
- Support for career progression
We are growing and we’d love for you to join us on our journey! At Raphael Nursery we value diversity, integrity, and care, and we want our children, staff and community to feel that “joie de vivre”.
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Job Purpose
The Nursery Area Manager is responsible for the operational leadership, safeguarding and quality assurance, and commercial performance of a group of nursery settings. The role ensures that each nursery delivers outstanding early years education and care, complies with all regulatory requirements, achieves financial targets, and provides a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for children, families, and staff.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership and People Management
- Lead, coach, and support Nursery Managers to achieve high standards of performance.
- Conduct regular supervision meetings and performance reviews.
- Identify training and development needs and encourage professional growth.
- Support recruitment, induction, retention, and succession planning.
- Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing culture.
Operational Management
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of multiple nursery settings.
- Ensure all nurseries operate in accordance with company policies, procedures, and relevant legislation.
- Monitor nursery performance against key operational and financial targets.
- Support Nursery Managers in delivering high-quality childcare and education.
- Support nursery managers with employee management.
Quality, Compliance & Safeguarding
- Ensure all nurseries remain fully compliant with Ofsted, EYFS, and safeguarding requirements.
- Coach and train managers to be ready for Ofsted inspections.
- Lead quality assurance visits and drive continuous improvement.
- Oversee safeguarding practices, policy reviews, and ensure a strong safeguarding culture across all settings.
- Monitor compliance with health and safety legislation and risk assessments.
- Ensure incidents are appropriately investigated and reported.
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Financial Management
- Monitor nursery budgets, occupancy levels, and profitability.
- Analyse financial reports and implement strategies to improve performance.
- Support cost control while maintaining high standards of care.
Business Development
- Support new nursery openings, acquisitions, or improvement projects where required.
- Identify opportunities to increase occupancy and enhance service delivery.
- Work collaboratively with senior leadership to achieve organisational objectives.
Person Specification Essential
- Minimum 2–3 years' experience as an Area Manager within the Early Years sector.
- Previous experience as a successful Nursery Manager.
- Experience of successfully leading at least one Ofsted inspection, achieving a minimum rating of 'Good'.
- Level 3 qualification in Early Years Education or Childcare (minimum).
- Strong knowledge of EYFS, Ofsted, and safeguarding requirements.
- Excellent leadership, coaching, and organisational skills.
- Ability to work independently while building strong relationships with managers and teams.
- Passion for being present in nurseries and supporting operational excellence.
- Confident using technology to improve systems and processes.
- Ambition and potential to progress into a future Chief Operating Officer (COO) role.
Key Success Measures
- Outstanding Ofsted outcomes.
- Excellent safeguarding compliance.
- High-quality learning and child development.
- High parent satisfaction.
- Strong occupancy across all nurseries.
- High staff engagement, retention, and leadership development.
Benefits
- Childcare
- Company events
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
- Sick pay
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