London Early Years Foundation (LEYF)
Head of Learning & Development
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Central Office Role in London (Hybrid – 3 Days in Office/Nurseries)
Help Shape The People Who Shape Children's Lives.
At LEYF, we're not just running nurseries. We're giving children the best start in life.
Every day, thousands of young children learn, grow and thrive in our nurseries across London. Behind every great nursery is a team of brilliant teachers, educators, leaders and support colleagues. As our new Head of Learning & Development, you'll help make them the very best they can be.
We're looking for someone who genuinely loves learning and education. Someone who gets excited by developing people, spotting potential and building careers. Someone who understands that investing in great educators has a direct impact on children's futures.
As the UK's largest social enterprise nursery group, we're proud of our purpose and ambitious about quality. We already have an established learning offering including pedagogy coaches, apprenticeships, qualifications and leadership development. Now we're looking for an exceptional leader to take it even further.
What You'll Be Doing
This role is about much more than training programmes.
You'll lead an experienced Learning & Development team and create opportunities for colleagues at every stage of their career, from apprentices taking their first steps in the sector through to experienced leaders running busy, ratio-bound nurseries across multiple London locations.
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You Will
- Lead and evolve LEYF's learning and development strategy
- Support our nursery teams to deliver the highest quality early years education
- Work closely with different stakeholders across the organisation to understand development needs and improve capability
- Lead our apprenticeship offer, qualifications and career pathways
- Champion coaching, continuous learning and reflective practice
- Develop future leaders and strengthen succession planning
- Use insight and feedback to make learning relevant, practical and impactful
- Explore how technology and AI can enhance learning experiences
- Build relationships with universities, awarding bodies and external partners
- Help ensure LEYF remains a sector leader in learning, development and educational quality
You'll probably love this role if...
- You believe education changes lives
- You're passionate about helping people grow and succeed
- You've led Learning & Development across large, multi-site operations
- You enjoy balancing strategy with hands-on delivery
- You know how to build credibility with different types of leaders (Central Office & Nursery)
- You can inspire and develop high-performing teams
- You care about inclusion and creating learning that works for everyone
- You're excited by the opportunity to influence the quality of education delivered to thousands of children
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Most importantly, you'll share our belief that every child deserves the best start in life and that exceptional people make that happen.
Why LEYF?
Because this isn't a typical L&D role.
You'll be joining the UK's largest social enterprise nursery group, where learning is already at the heart of what we do. We invest heavily in our people through coaching, apprenticeships, qualifications and leadership development because we know the quality of our teams directly impacts the experiences of children and families.
This is an opportunity to shape the future of learning across an organisation that combines social purpose with educational excellence.
If you're looking for a role where you can make a genuine difference, apply now!
What’s in it for You?
- Shape the way we work: Bring your ideas and help us improve how we do things it’s not all set in stone
- Be part of something bigger: Join a supportive team dedicated to making a difference
- Enjoy the perks: Competitive salary and a market-leading 7% employer pension contribution
- Save on childcare: 70% discount at our nurseries if you have children or grandchildren
- Time to recharge: 26 days off a year including Christmas closure, your birthday off plus bank holidays
- Feel valued: Wellbeing app, shopping discounts, team events, and more
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