Hatching Dragons
Nursery Manager
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Nursery Manager
Hatching Dragons – Leadership & Growth Opportunity
Who We Are
Hatching Dragons is more than a nursery—it’s an early years development specialist, dedicated to shaping neurological, emotional, and cognitive growth through a structured philosophy called the ‘3C curriculum’: Culture, Character, and Cognition.
- Findational focus: The first five years of a child’s life define their neurological development—we don’t waste a moment.
- Multilingual education: Structured linguistics woven into every interaction.
- Fresh, nutritionally balanced meals: Prepared by a commercial chef daily.
- Clinically grounded mental health: Anna Freud Centre partnership for staff, children, and families.
- Expansion phase: Building regional, national, and international presence—new settings, services, and leadership roles.
This role isn’t management. It’s growth—shaping the future of early years education.
The Opportunity
Welcome to Hatching Dragons Westminster, a Pimlico-based nursery undergoing a capacity doubling (2026 launch). You’ll be a full-scope nursery leader, coordinating a high-energy team, boosting Ofsted standards, driving growth, and looking beyond Westminster.
You’ll lead a team but also advise senior management, influencing our next steps nationally and globally.
The Role: What You’ll Do
Leadership & Culture
- Inspire and hold accountable a growing team—room leaders, apprentices, and cohort leads—building a culture that retains talent and elevates performance.
- Model the Hatching Dragons philosophy: High standards, warmth, and 3C consistency in every interaction.
- Tight standards with coaching—not micromanaging—to realise full potential.
Educational Quality & The 3C Curriculum
- Ensure Hatching Dragons’ 3C framework is taught daily across all rooms.
- Lead exceptional Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) practice, prioritising Outstanding Ofsted outcomes.
- Oversee child-specific developmental support—including the Development Support Plan (DSP) framework.
- Champion multilingual language development and the World Food Day programme.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Operations & Compliance
- Manage daily operations (staffing, ratios, resources, rotas) and up your role to acting corporate director, with P&L accountability.
- Ensure full EYFS statutory compliance—safeguarding, health, safety, and record-keeping.
- Maintain inspection-ready readiness: Organisational standards must be everyday reality, not last-minute paperwork.
- Lead external agency relationships—local authorities, health visitors, SEND specialists.
Family Partnership & Community
- Treat families as partners in child development—not customers.
- Lead settling-in, progress meetings, SAP stress communications—building genuine parent trust.
- Deliver proactive tours and marketing as project visionary.
- Be the public face of Hatching Dragons Westminster, embodying our value of community.
Commercial Growth
- Drive occupancy targets, increasing capacity and sales inflow.
- Engage with local community to attract new families.
- Collaborate with the group on marketing and parent engagement initiatives.
- Input into group strategy with treatment from setting intelligence and expansion opportunities.
Salary & Benefits
- Base Salary: £45k–£55k (depending on experience).
- Performance bonuses aligned to role targets.
- Employee Benefits Platform: Virtual GP, counselling support (up to £500 tax-free), 9,000+ discounts via Perkbox.
- Uncapped commission for every family you attract.
About You: The Requirements
You Must Bring the Skills
✔ Early Years Leadership: Level 3 EYFS qualification (or above). ✔ Nursery Management Experience: Former leader of a full setting. ✔ EYFS & Ofsted Expertise: Supportive knowledge of both frameworks. ✔ Team Development: Managed multi-year growth in a multi-room setting. ✔ Family Partnerships: More than communication—genuine collaboration with parents.
We Need the Right Energy
🚀 High energy | High standards | Entrepreneurial thinking. 💡 Solution-oriented mindset: Build and innovate rather than just manage. 🤝 Coach-first leader: Develop people—not just delegate tasks. 🔥 Unflinchingly committed to early years without content—or burnout. 🎯 Growth mindset: Energised by ambition and ambiguity.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Why This Will Resonate With You
🔷 You thrive building something—not just fixing operations. 🔷 Growth drives you: Aligns with unprecedented nursery expansion. 🔷 Deeply believe in 3C philosophy: Culture, Character, and Cognition. 🔷 Hold personal accountability as a pronounced practice. 🔷 This role makes your work authentically impactful.
Why Join Hatching Dragons?
The Timing Is Perfect
📍 Westminster: Just refurbished, rebranded, and ready to open doors to 80+ children. 📊 This is the role where you help launch it.
You’re Part of a Movement
🏆 No stagnation—national group strategy and expansion opportunity. 🎓 Leadership network behind you with managed Senate eventuality.
Commitment to People
✅ Personal L&D budget for growth. ✅ Virtual GP & counselling. ✅ Find in-stage services (e.g., mental health). ✅ Commission opportunities to bring new families onboard. ✅ Leadership full support with full confidence.
Join The Growth Story
A role for someone passionate, aspirational, and prepared to transform early years care.
Safeguarding Statement
All applicants will require:
- Enhanced DBS disclosure.
- Satisfactory references.
- Full specification pre-employment checks, per EYFS Statutory Framework & Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE).
What Success Will Look Like (0–6 Months)
📅 Month 1
- Immerse in every room, observe your staff—familiarise yourself with families.
📅 Months 1–3
- Embed the 3C philosophy, raised continue coaching culture.
📅 Months 2–4
- Inspection relationships are nailed down.
📅 Months 2–6
- Team building/occipure recruitment.
📅 Months 3–6
- Drive Westminster to full occupancy.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills