Early Years Area Manager

YMCA Fairthorne Group is more than a place to visit. It is a place where children grow in confidence, schools learn through adventure, families connect and communities come together.

The YMCA Fairthorne Group is a registered charity providing a range of services to children and families across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Joining YMCA Fairthorne Group offers the opportunity to contribute to meaningful social impact while working collaboratively with dedicated colleagues.

Reporting to the Early Years Director, you will provide leadership and support to Nursery Managers across multiple settings, helping them deliver high-quality, inclusive early years education and care in line with YMCA values and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Combining strategic oversight with hands-on operational leadership, you will strengthen leadership teams, drive continuous improvement, support sustainable growth and build strong relationships with children, families and communities. You will play a key role in supporting settings through periods of change, helping teams build confidence and achieve positive outcomes for every child.

This role requires flexibility, regular travel between sites and the ability to respond quickly to operational priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and People Development

• Provide line management, supervision and performance support to Nursery Managers, setting clear expectations and promoting accountability.
• Lead with visibility, integrity and a child-centred approach, modelling YMCA values.
• Build confident, high-performing teams through coaching, mentoring and development.
• Lead performance management, including supervision, appraisals, absence and capability processes.
• Support, guide and develop volunteers, ensuring they contribute effectively to the charity’s aims.
• Identify future leaders and support succession planning across the organisation.

Quality, Inclusion and Compliance

• Ensure high-quality early education and care across all settings, aligned with EYFS and Ofsted requirements.
• Promote consistent teaching, learning, assessment and inclusive practice.
• Work closely with the Inclusion and SEND Manager to achieve positive outcomes for all children.
• Drive improvement through quality audits, learning walks and Ofsted readiness activities.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding, welfare requirements and organisational policies.

Operational and Business Performance

• Support Nursery Managers to deliver sustainable, efficient services by monitoring occupancy, admissions, budgets, staffing, recruitment and retention.
• Maintain consistent operational standards and proactively address risks or underperformance.
• Identify opportunities for growth, development and continuous improvement.

Improvement and Operational Support

• Provide targeted support to settings experiencing challenges or requiring improvement.
• Carry out assessments of quality, staffing and leadership, implementing clear action plans with measurable outcomes.
• Provide hands-on operational support where needed, including short-term cover.
• Help teams rebuild confidence and improve outcomes for children and families.

Partnerships and Representation

• Build positive relationships with families, schools, local communities and external partners.
• Represent YMCA Fairthorne Group with Ofsted, Local Authorities and other stakeholders.
• Keep up to date with developments in the sector and contribute to new opportunities for partnership and growth.

Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Essential

• Significant experience of managing multiple early years settings or leading through others.
• A proven track record of improving quality and outcomes, including within complex or underperforming settings.
• Strong knowledge of EYFS, safeguarding, Ofsted and regulatory requirements.
• Experience of leading, developing and performance managing teams.
• Commercial awareness, including occupancy, budgets and workforce planning.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery.
• Excellent communication, organisation and decision-making skills.
• Full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification (minimum).
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly between settings.

Desirable

• Degree in Early Years, Education or a related subject.
• Experience supporting Ofsted inspections in a leadership role.
• Knowledge of SEND leadership and inclusive practice.
• Safeguarding qualification at Level 4 or above.

About You

You are an inspiring and resilient leader who builds positive relationships while providing support and challenge. You bring emotional intelligence, integrity and a solution-focused approach, and are passionate about delivering high-quality, inclusive early years provision. Most importantly, you share the YMCA commitment to making a lasting difference to children, families and communities.

Successful applicants will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

YMCA Fairthorne Group is committed to diversity, equality and inclusion and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds.

If you are passionate about making a difference and want to be part of a charity that creates lasting impact within local communities, we would love to hear from you.