Ark Start
Deputy Manager
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Ark Start is growing - come and join us and be part of the founding team opening our first setting in Yorkshire!
We are looking for Level 3 qualified Early Childhood Educators to join the team at our brand new setting - Ark Start Priestthorpe. In this role you will provide the highest standards of physical, emotional, social, and intellectual care for all children in your care, you’ll ensure all children are safeguarded and their welfare and safety are promoted, and you’ll work to provide an enabling environment in which all children can play, learn and develop.
We are looking for people with genuine passion for young children, with the skill, creativity, commitment, energy, and enthusiasm required for leading room practice. You’ll be able to take learning beyond the classroom and interact with outdoor and forest learning, cooking, and gardening – this won’t just be another day in the classroom!
At Ark Start, we believe that when our practitioners are supported, our children thrive.
That's why we've created a working environment that prioritises wellbeing, professional growth, and a healthy work-life balance. We are pleased to be able to offer this role on a compressed working week basis - 37.5 hours over four working days.
Competitive Reward Package
We offer competitive hourly rates alongside an excellent 11% employer pension contribution, with no employee contribution required, helping you build financial security for the future.
Genuine Work-Life Balance
Our full-time roles are based on 37.5 hours per week, and we don't expect you to work beyond that. We are able to offer the working hours for this role to be worked over a four-day working week. We recognise that our practitioners do their best work when they have time to recharge, which is why we are committed to maintaining clear boundaries between work and personal time.
Training and Development
We are passionate about continuous professional development, but we don't believe learning should come at the expense of your personal time. Any required training or development will be scheduled within your working hours. It's our responsibility to fit development opportunities into your work schedule, not yours to complete them outside of work.
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A Culture of Learning
As part of the wider Ark network, you'll benefit from access to a wealth of expertise, resources, and professional development opportunities. You'll join a collaborative community where continuous learning, knowledge-sharing, and career progression are actively encouraged and supported.
A Team That Values You
At Ark Start, you're more than a practitioner. You'll be part of a mission-driven organisation that values your contribution, invests in your development, and supports you to build a rewarding and sustainable career in early childhood education.
Key Responsibilities
- To be responsible for a group of key worker children including observations, assessments and relationships with parents
- To implement the Ark Start curriculum
- To ensure high quality interactions with all children in nursery
- To create an enabling environment where all children make good progress
- To ensure that nursery is safe and secure and following the Ark Start safeguarding policy and procedures
- To keep child records up to date and report to parents and senior staff
- To promote high standards of the nursery at all times to parents, staff, and visitors in line with the Ark Start code of conduct and handbook
Key Requirements
- Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care or the willingness to work towards qualification
- Right to work in the UK
- An awareness of keeping children safe, noticing safeguarding and welfare concerns, and knowing how and when to take appropriate action
- A team player that can work collaboratively as well as using own initiative
- The ability to reflect on your own practice and a commitment to continuous improvement
About Us
Our dedicated team work together to ensure that every child has a joyful, engaging, and secure nursery experience and leaves us ready to start school happily and confidently. We are driven by our values in everything we do: Aim High, Be Brave, Be Kind and Keep Learning.
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Ark Start is at an exciting time in its evolution. We opened two nurseries in South London last year and aim to expand our reach over the coming years, including into Yorkshire. As we expand, we are looking for Early Childhood Educators to join our founding team. We are looking for someone with a genuine passion for young children and with the skill, creativity, commitment, and energy to deliver excellent provision at Ark Start.
Diversity and inclusion
We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.
Safeguarding statement
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.
Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.
Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience.
If you would like to hear more about this role or about Ark Start, please contact recruitment@arkstart.org.uk.
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