Support & Engagement

• Build strong relationships with Nursery Managers to ensure consistent brand standards and shared goals.
• Support new openings through Ofsted registration and setting setup.
• Work collaboratively with the Operations Manager in supporting recruitment, retention, succession planning and workforce stability across the Nursery sites.
• Foster an inclusive, positive and high-performing culture aligned with organisational values.
• Facilitate collaboration between settings to share expertise, celebrate success and drive continuous improvement.

Early Years Training & Development

• Collaborate with the training department to deliver a robust CPD programme and evaluate its impact on children’s outcomes.
• Support settings with SEND strategies and inclusive practice.
• Monitor and support safeguarding practices, ensuring compliance with all statutory requirements.
• Promote a culture of continuous professional development for all colleagues across the region.
• Collaboratively work with the Operations Manager in coaching, mentor and develop Nursery Managers and leadership teams to strengthen leadership capability and improve outcomes.
• Deliver and facilitate training, workshops and professional learning opportunities in early years practice, safeguarding, leadership and operational excellence.
• Ensure all mandatory training is completed and that colleagues remain up to date with legislative and best practice developments.
• Encourage reflective practice and continuous learning to drive improvements in quality, teaching and leadership across all settings.

Essential Experience & Knowledge

Essential:

• Level 3 Early Years Qualification (Full and Relevant)
• Strong knowledge of the EYFS statutory framework
• Experience working within early years settings
• Knowledge of Health & Safety standards in early years
• Ability to create and implement action plans
• Experience supporting settings through rapid improvement
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Desirable:

• Experience managing or overseeing multiple early years settings
• Experience supporting new settings through Ofsted registration
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office365 tools (Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive)

Skills & Attributes

• Passionate about early years education
• Experienced in leading nurseries with a track record of ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted outcomes
• Reflective and analytical, open to challenging your own assumptions
• An excellent communicator, both verbally and in writing
• A team player who shares knowledge and promotes best practice
• Organised and skilled in managing priorities
• Committed to ongoing professional development
• Calm under pressure and solution-oriented
• Personable, adaptable, and able to inspire others

Objectives

Quality & Compliance

• Achieve 100% Good or Outstanding Ofsted ratings across all corporate nurseries.
• Support intensive turnaround plans for any “Needs Attention” sites, with bi-weekly check-ins until reinspection.

Nursery Manager & Leadership Development (Corporate)

• Develop a quarterly leadership development programme for corporate Nursery Managers, focusing on commercial acumen, quality improvement, and people management. Working alongside Head of Early Years & operations.

Training & Quality Development

• Contribute to the design and delivery of an annual Early Years Quality & Compliance Training Calendar for all and managers, achieving X% participation from targeted sites.
• Provide tailored improvement training for “Amber” or “Red” audit sites within 4 weeks of audit, with improvement monitored over 12 weeks.

Strategic Contribution & Growth Support

• Contribute to operational changes or curriculum developments to improve brand reputation, parent satisfaction, and Ofsted outcomes.

Team Leadership & Performance Management

• Ensure delivery of occupancy, quality, and compliance targets across your respective settings.

Benefits

• Length of Service Recognition: We want you stay with us! We recognise and reward your length of service with Monkey Puzzle.
• Enhanced Maternity Pay: Enhanced pay after 2 years’ service.
• Private Healthcare.
• YuLife: You will be enrolled into our Group Life Assurance policy and have access to the YuLife app.
• Flexible Working.
• Conversion based incentive.
• Social Events: We arrange catch ups with the team alongside our Christmas parties.
• Additional Annual Leave Entitlement: 25 days plus 8 UK bank holidays.
• Early finish on a Friday!

#Berkhamsted

Safeguarding Statement

Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries are committed to Keeping children safe; therefore, it is necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record Disclosure and Barred check to be undertaken. All posts involving direct contact with children and vulnerable adults are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. However, amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013 & 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected'. These are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account. All candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions, you may be asked for further information about your criminal history during the recruitment process. If your application is successful, this self-disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure & Barring Service before your employment commences.