Room Leader/ Deputy Manager

Job summary

Pay: £28,500 – £29,500 per year

Job description

Job Title: Room Leader – Outdoor Kindergarten

Reports to: Manager / Directors
Location: Kidderminster

Full Time | 40 Hours Per Week

ROOM LEADER – OUTDOOR KINDERGARTEN

The World Outside Kindergarten – Kidderminster

ABOUT US

We’re not a traditional nursery.

The World Outside is a specialist outdoor kindergarten set within secure woodland on a secondary school site in Kidderminster. We are rated Good by Ofsted and work with families who actively choose independence, resilience and a childhood rooted in real experiences.

We don’t spend our days indoors.
We don’t rely on plastic provision.
We don’t follow rigid timetables.

We climb trees.
We light fires.
We build dens.
We follow children’s curiosity.

We take safeguarding, child development and professional standards seriously.

And we run a business that has to work.

THIS IS A KEY PRACTICE ROLE

This is not a management role — but it is a position of responsibility.

As a Room Leader, you will lead your room day-to-day, ensuring high-quality practice, strong routines and a calm, well-run environment for both children and staff.

You will support the Manager in maintaining standards, but you will not carry overall responsibility for the running of the setting.

This is a hands-on role.

You will be in the woodland every day, leading by example, supporting your team and delivering high-quality early years practice.

WHAT MAKES THIS ROLE DIFFERENT

• A setting with a clear ethos — not a generic nursery
• Daily outdoor provision in a secure woodland site
• A supportive team that works hard together
• Strong relationships with families who actively choose this approach
• The opportunity to take ownership of your room and lead practice
• Real focus on children’s development through outdoor learning

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

• Leading your room on a day-to-day basis
• Delivering high-quality practice in line with EYFS
• Supporting and guiding other staff within your room
• Maintaining strong routines, structure and expectations
• Ensuring safeguarding and welfare standards are consistently met
• Supporting observations, assessments and planning
• Building professional relationships with parents
• Communicating effectively with the Manager regarding any concerns or needs
• Leading by example in the woodland — not from the sidelines
• Contributing to a positive, hardworking team culture

THE PERSON WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You will hold a full and relevant Level 3 qualification (minimum)
• You will have at least 2 years’ experience post Level 3
• You will have experience working as a Room Leader or be ready to step up
• You will have a strong understanding of safeguarding and EYFS
• You will be confident leading a small team within your room
• You will be organised, reliable and proactive
• You will be physically capable of working outdoors in all seasons
• You will be calm, consistent and clear in your expectations
• You will be honest, resilient and solutions-focused

If you bring additional strengths in SEND, forest school or behaviour support — we want to hear about them.

A passion for outdoor childhood is essential.

WHAT A TYPICAL DAY LOOKS LIKE

• Morning woodland checks and site awareness
• Leading your room team — setting expectations for the day
• Supporting children through play, routines and learning
• Delivering engaging outdoor experiences
• Welcoming families and building relationships
• Maintaining structure, calm and consistency throughout the day
• Supporting staff and addressing small issues early
• Fire circle, woodland learning, real experiences
• End-of-day tidy, reflection and preparation

You will go home physically tired
You will go home muddy

And you will know your work matters

SALARY AND HOURS

• Full-time position — 40 hours per week
• Salary: £28,500 – £29,500 depending on experience

This reflects a senior practitioner role with responsibility for leading a room, but not overall management of the setting.

WORKING WITH THE TEAM

You will be supported by the Manager and work closely with them to maintain standards across the setting.

We expect high standards, honesty and teamwork — and in return, you will be supported to do your role well.

You will not be expected to work outside of your contracted hours — we believe in working hard, but keeping things sustainable.

NEXT STEPS

Think this might be the role you’ve been looking for?

Complete our short online pre-application questionnaire.

It won’t take long, but it will tell us far more than a CV ever could.

If shortlisted, you will complete our formal safer recruitment application form.

If everything aligns, we will invite you into the woodland to meet the team — because choosing the right person works both ways.