Development Nursery Manager

Job description

**We’re more than just a nursery group. We’re the UK’s most innovative early-years education provider, proudly certified as a Great Place to Work and ranked the 30th Best Workplace in the UK.** At N Family Club, we dreamed of reimagining early years education. Becoming a place that fosters creativity, embraces a curriculum-led approach, and prepares children for the modern world. We’re proudly making our dream a reality – and we want you to be a part of it! Our **Nursery Development Team**, launched January 2026, exists to unlock the full potential of nurseries across N Family Club. This dynamic team partners with nurseries that need targeted support, bringing energy, hands-on guidance, and expert coaching to raise quality, strengthen leadership, and build confident, capable teams. Whether you’re a Development Nursery Manager, Deputy, Room Manager, or Educator, your purpose is the same: to help every nursery be the best it can be. Through mentoring, modelling best practice, and providing practical support, the **team drives improvement**, **nurtures excellence**, and ensures children and families consistently experience the **highest standards of care and education**. **What you’ll be doing…** - Provide targeted leadership and support to nurseries on a development journey, working closely with Nursery Manager and senior teams to strengthen leadership, raise standards, and embed best practice. - Step in as ‘Manager in Charge’ when required to maintain operational stability, ensure compliance, and uphold exceptionally high standards across all areas. - Drive educational excellence by embedding the N Pedagogy and Curriculum, supporting teams to deliver outstanding teaching and learning consistently. - Lead and support self-evaluation and action planning, ensuring follow-up on priorities identified through Education Advisor guidance, audits, and inspections. - Promote a strong ‘Safety First’ culture, ensuring daily health and safety checks, risk assessments, and compliance actions are completed promptly and effectively. - Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead when required, ensuring safeguarding and child protection practices are robust, well-understood, and consistently applied. - Coach, mentor, and develop nursery teams, building confidence, professional pride, and a culture of continuous improvement. - Support recruitment, retention, and professional development to ensure teams are skilled, motivated, and capable of delivering excellence. - Build and maintain strong relationships with parents and the wider community, fostering trust, engagement, and partnership in line with N Family Club values. - Participate in regular development meetings and calls to review nursery performance, track progress, and support action planning. - Work collaboratively with the Development Team to implement focused improvement initiatives and ensure sustainable impact. - Provide flexible support across multiple nurseries where required, maintaining consistent leadership, guidance, and standards. - Travel across the nursery network as needed, including flexibility for varying work patterns and occasional overnight stays. **Our Development Nursery Managers should have…** - Level 3 or above Early Years qualification (full & relevant) - Paediatric First Aid certification (12 hours) and a commitment to maintain it - Proven experience as a Nursery Manager or senior leader in a high-performing, Good, or Outstanding nursery, demonstrating the ability to achieve and maintain exceptional standards. - Experience leading nurseries requiring targeted improvement or supporting significant development initiatives, with a track record of driving sustainable change. - Demonstrated ability to achieve ambitious goals in complex or evolving environments. - Skilled in coaching, mentoring, and developing teams to deliver consistently high-quality education and care. - A rigorous, structured, and highly organised approach to managing operations, supporting improvement, and embedding best practice. - Strong decision-making skills, with the ability to support and drive change effectively across teams and nurseries. - In-depth knowledge of EYFS, Ofsted requirements, local authority regulations, and inspection processes across the UK, with the ability to ensure full compliance at all times. - Experienced in using ICT systems and performance data to inform decisions, track progress, and monitor improvement initiatives. - Experience supporting multiple nursery settings or providing development input across sites is desirable. **The N Advantage** - **Competitive salary** – £45,926 - £65,354, based on experience and dedication *(plus £3k car allowance)* - **Performance bonus** of up to 25% of base salary, plus £1,000 for Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ - **Flexible working** – Choose 4-5 days a week for work-life balance - **Up to 35 days holiday** - including a personal ‘Me’ day and Christmas closure - **£100 annual learning fund**, plus access to N Academy (level 3, Early Years degrees, Forest School & more) - **£100 clothing allowance** for style freedom! - **Enhanced family leave** for parents, carers, and more - **40% childcare discount**, plus 6 emergency days annually **And that’s not all!** - **5-year loyalty bonus** - around-the-world trip + 2 bonus weeks off - **10-year loyalty bonus** - ‘Out of this world’ experience + 2 extra weeks off - **Referral bonus** – earn up to £1,000 per successful hire - **Amazing discounts** – save on groceries, shopping, fitness and more - **Travel support** – season ticket loans and cycle-to-work scheme - **Socials & wellbeing** – annual parties, team events, gym discounts, and online fitness **Making an impact…** At N Family Club, we do things differently. We support and celebrate individuality, champion diversity, and give every team member a voice. Our culture is rooted in respect, collaboration and a shared passion for early years education. We invest heavily in your growth – from career progression and in-house training to mentorship and personal development. With innovative environments, top-tier benefits, and a focus on wellbeing, we’re building a workplace where educators thrive, and children soar. **Join N Family Club today and help us reshape early education for the better.**