Early Years Leader

Job summary

Job Description: Leader position from April 2026

Responsible to: Nursery Managers (Deputy in Manager's absence)

Hours of work: 39 hours

Qualified status: Level 3 minimum or above

Main duties and responsibilities

The following constitutes the majority of the day-to-day duties and responsibilities of the floor, working as a role model at all times, providing exemplary guidance and support to your staff team.

Parental relationships

1.1 Supporting the team and ensuring that you also develop an excellent rapport/trust with the parents of the children in the nursery via regular communication and daily feedback either verbally or written correspondence, dealing with any minor issues from parents in a professional manor and reporting any major issues to the leader and management.

1.2 Ensuring specific parental desires are adhered to as stated on the enrolment forms, i.e., dietary, allergies, special needs, and any requirements within policy are adhered to.

1.3 To take an active role in helping the managers organise the department in preparation for parent’s evenings ensuring all children’s work, reports, displays are up to date.

1.4 To be professional with parents, always speak to them first and greet them in a positive manner.

Child relationships

2.1 To lead practice in implementing stimulating, age-appropriate activities and ensure the room is creatively set up and well resources at all times.

2.2 To ensure equal opportunities to all children ensuring individual needs are met i.e., special diets, medical conditions, cultural backgrounds, non stereotyping in line with the setting policy.

2.3 Ensure children are welcomed and made to feel secure and safe in their new environment by having consistent unbiased contact with all children in your care.

2.4 You have a duty to be vigilant and check children in your group for any unusual marks/accidents, which may have occurred outside of nursery, and to report concerns to your manager in line with the Safeguarding policy.

2.5 To actively ensure the Health and Safety of all the children at all times.

Staff relationships

3.1 You must take responsibility for your floor

3.2 To be an excellent role model to all staff, ensuring high standards are followed whilst remaining professional and consistent in your approach at all times.

3.3 Supporting all leaders embedding the EYFS system in the room, ensuring all planning, observation and assessments are completed to a high standard and are up to date. This must be checked regularly, and support given where needed.

3.4 Identify staff training needs and report on training sheets to management.

3.5 Ensure staff perform to high standards and are motivated and enthusiastic. You must take control of situations/ issues, which arise and deal with them promptly and efficiently and report to management.

3.6 You must be supportive, approachable, and offer constructive advice to new or inexperienced staff. You must be seen to be acting professionally and in the best interest of the setting at all times

3.7 Ensure communication is paramount with all staff on all levels i.e., ensuring staff are informed and kept up to date with relevant information.

As a leader you will be flexible within their role and ensure the department runs efficiently and effectively whilst supporting the manger in the day-to-day running of the nursery.