Job Title: Head of Nursery & Pre-School
Reporting to: Head
Key Responsibilities: Safeguarding, Safety & Compliance
- To always provide a safe, caring, stimulating educational environment, both indoors and outdoors.
- To ensure that all Nursery and Pre-School staff understand their responsibilities for safeguarding and what to do in the event of a concern.
- To ensure the highest standards of safety and security within the Nursery and Pre-School.
- To undertake and maintain records of regular risk assessments.
- To ensure care, maintenance and security of equipment and toys within the Nursery and Pre-School.
- To provide simple first aid, when necessary.
- To take responsibility for ensuring the Nursery and Pre-School meets all Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspection requirements and is always inspection ready.
- To adhere to the school and Early Years Foundation StageEYFS) policies with special reference to the learning support, safeguarding and child protection, and equal opportunities policies, and to help promote inclusion in the Nursery and Pre-School.
Curriculum, Teaching & Learning
- To promote high standards, progression, continuity and quality of learning.
- To have a solid understanding of the EYFS curriculum and plan and deliver stimulating, varied, play based activities across all areas of learning.
- To observe children as individuals and in groups and monitor behaviour, progress and possible developmental needs, utilising specialist knowledge and experience.
- To act as a key person for a group of children, monitoring, assessing, recording and reporting on their development, ensuring their needs are met, and overseeing all key persons.
- To set targets and next steps for key children and to write termly reports for key children and to oversee those completed by other key persons.
- To ensure children's online learning journals are up to date.
- Report and discuss with the Nursery and Pre School Team any observations or personal insight appropriate to children's welfare and development.
Leadership & Staff Management
- To ensure all Nursery and Pre School staff are managed, trained, motivated and developed in a positive and effective manner, ensuring they fulfil the provisions of their job description.
- To monitor staffing levels to ensure the Nursery and Pre School always maintain the required ratios with appropriately qualified staff.
- To attend weekly staff meetings, whole school meetings and INSET training days as necessary for professional development.
- To attend fortnightly Senior Leadership Team meetings (or as and when reasonably requested by the Head).
- To assist in leading meetings where necessary, contributing to constructive, solution focused discussions and positive team communication.
- To attend local network meetings, where appropriate.
Parent Engagement, Communication & Admissions
- To ensure that first impressions are professional and lasting for parents and prospective parents and that these are maintained throughout the day.
- To conduct tours for prospective parents, providing key information about the Nursery and Pre School and ensuring timely and professional follow up.
- To work closely with the Registrar to support the effective recruitment of new Nursery and Pre School families, ensuring strong communication and a positive admissions experience.
- To liaise with the Finance department regarding fees and communication with parents.
- To manage any parental complaints to ensure that any required action is taken immediately and respond to parent/s promptly, following the complaints policy and procedures.
- To lead termly parent meetings with parents of children in key group.
- To support strong Pre School-to-Reception progression by creating and delivering a range of transition activities and events across the academic year, working closely with the Reception Teacher and EYFS Coordinator to ensure continuity of learning and positive family engagement.
- To work proactively with the Marketing and Communications Executive to share suitable video and photographic content from the Nursery and Pre School for use on all communication platforms, including social media.
Trips, Events & Promotion
- To take responsibility for planning, coordinating and leading children's trips, including risk assessments, logistics and communication with families.
- To plan, coordinate and deliver recruitment and retention events, ensuring they are well organised, engaging and effectively showcase the Nursery and Pre School's provision.
- To promote the work and image of the school by always maintaining high standards of personal appearance and adopting a friendly, professional approach to parents, members of the public and the wider community.
- To keep up to date with current good practice.
Wraparound Care & Holiday Club
- To be responsible for the organisation and running of Wraparound and Holiday Club.
- To work flexibly, providing cover for both term time Wraparound and Holiday Club.
- To work with the Marketing and Commercial team to promote Wraparound and Holiday Club to existing and new families.
- To organise staffing for Wraparound and Holiday Club and to support with its staffing.
- To ensure that in Holiday Club the arrival and departure of children is properly recorded and monitored.
Administration & Other Duties
- To assist in the day to day administration and record keeping, following school policies and guidelines.
- To undertake any other reasonable duties as directed by the Head.
Skills and Qualifications
- Hold a Level 3 or above qualification in Early Years Education/Childcare (or equivalent). Level 6 desirable.
- Experience working with children aged 2-4 years, demonstrating an understanding of child development milestones, delivering engaging play based learning opportunities, supporting toileting and self care routines, promoting early communication and social skills, and creating a nurturing, safe and stimulating environment.
- Possess current and extensive knowledge of the EYFS, including recent changes and requirements.
- Completed, or willing to undertake, Early Years Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) training or Experience of Early Years DSL training.
- To model a positive outlook and lead with a solution focused mindset, supporting staff to approach challenges constructively and collaboratively.
- Committed to the safeguarding and protection of children.
- Values and respects the views and needs of children.
- Previous supervisory or management experience within an early years setting.
- Ability to manage competing priorities effectively in a busy environment.
- Working knowledge of the Children Act and ISI regulatory requirements, Health & Safety legislation relevant to early years setting.
- Strong IT skills and excellent communication skills.
- Demonstrates a commitment to continuous personal and professional development.
- Holds, or is willing to obtain, a current Paediatric First Aid certificate and Food Hygiene certificate.
This job description sets out the main duties at the time it was drawn up. Such duties may vary occasionally but without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed, and the candidate will be required to carry out any reasonable requests required by their Line Manager.
Application Procedure:
Applications should be made using the application form.
A full curriculum vitae and the names, addresses and telephone numbers of a minimum of three referees, one of whom should be the candidate's current or most recent employer should be included with the application.
Informal conversations about the post may be arranged with the Head, Francesca Milling, at .