Nursery Manager

Ready to take the lead on something truly special from day one?

At the YMCA Fairthorne Group, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, discover who they are, and develop a lifelong love of learning. Our approach to early years education is centred around nurturing each child’s unique potential through play, exploration, meaningful relationships, and high-quality learning experiences.

We are excited to be partnering with Hounsome Fields Primary School to launch a brand-new nursery in the heart of a growing community in Basingstoke.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a new early years provision from the very beginning. You’ll play a pivotal role in creating the culture, developing the team, establishing exceptional standards, and building a nursery that will make a lasting impact on local children and families for years to come.

If you’re an experienced Early Years leader looking for your next challenge and are passionate about delivering outstanding childcare, we’d love to hear from you.

What You’ll Receive

• 100% discount on childcare
• £500 Joining Bonus
• Refer a Friend Scheme
• Health Cash Plan – including medical, dental and online retail discounts
• Blue Light Card eligibility
• Employer pension scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with service up to 30 days
• Option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave each year
• Celebration Leave for life’s special moments
• Life Assurance
• YMCA Day Camps discounts – one week free and one week at 50% discount per child each year
• Discounts on YMCA family activities, holidays and campsite facilities
• Employee Wellbeing Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Ongoing professional development and leadership training
• The opportunity to shape and lead a brand-new nursery from its inception
• A welcoming, supportive and values-driven organisational culture

What You’ll Be Doing

In this rewarding leadership role, you will:

• Lead the successful launch, development and ongoing management of a brand-new nursery setting.
• Inspire, motivate and develop a high-performing team that delivers exceptional care and education.
• Create a nurturing, inclusive and inspiring environment where children feel safe, valued and encouraged to explore.
• Implement the YMCA curriculum and pedagogy to support outstanding outcomes for children.
• Recruit, induct, coach and support staff to achieve their full potential.
• Build strong partnerships with families and the wider community.
• Monitor children’s development and ensure high-quality learning experiences are delivered across the setting.
• Manage occupancy levels, budgets and financial performance to ensure the nursery’s long-term sustainability.
• Develop and implement marketing and growth plans to support nursery success.
• Ensure staffing ratios are maintained at all times.
• Lead on safeguarding, health and safety, and wellbeing across the nursery.
• Maintain full compliance with Ofsted, Environmental Health, Health and Safety, and all relevant legislation.
• Drive continuous improvement and work towards achieving an Outstanding Ofsted judgement.
• Ensure all YMCA policies and procedures are implemented effectively and consistently.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for an inspirational leader who is passionate about early years education and committed to delivering exceptional outcomes for children and families.

Ideally, you will have:

• A Level 5 or Level 6 Childcare qualification.
• A minimum of three years’ leadership experience within an Early Years setting.
• A proven track record of delivering high-quality care and education that exceeds EYFS requirements.
• Experience leading teams, driving improvements and creating positive nursery cultures.
• Strong knowledge of child development and the Early Years Foundation Stage.
• A thorough understanding of safeguarding and child protection practices.
• Level 4 Safeguarding qualification, or willingness to work towards this.
• Experience managing budgets and contributing to commercial performance.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel and digital systems.
• Paediatric First Aid qualification, or willingness to undertake training.
• Strong mentoring, coaching and staff development skills.
• Excellent communication, organisational and leadership abilities.
• A passion for creating outstanding experiences for children and their families.

The YMCA Way

In all YMCA settings, children’s needs come first.

Children are cared for and nurtured; supported to challenge and develop themselves, and most importantly allowed to play and enjoy their childhood. We believe children learn best through play, particularly using the outdoor environment. We aim to provide a secure and stimulating environment where children can develop emotionally, intellectually, morally, physically, and socially, at their own pace.

Staff use the “YMCA Way” to ensure every child secures the very best outcomes and staff are able to excel.

Grow Your Career With The YMCA

At the YMCA, we’re passionate about investing in our people. We actively support personal and professional development and provide opportunities for you to grow throughout your career.

As part of our commitment to your development, you’ll benefit from:

• Access to professional development and leadership training opportunities
• Opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across YMCA settings and share best practice
• Ongoing support, mentoring and coaching
• Career progression opportunities within a large and growing organisation

We’d Love To Hear From You

If you’re excited by the opportunity to launch and lead a brand-new nursery and want to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families, we’d love to hear from you.

Even if you don’t meet every requirement listed above, we encourage you to apply. We recognise that great leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, and we’re committed to supporting talented individuals to develop and succeed.

Join the YMCA and help us create something truly special for the Basingstoke community.

Successful applicants will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check.

YMCA is an equal opportunities charity committed to diversity, inclusion, and creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome, respected, and able to thrive.