Nursery Manager

Nursery Manager

We are looking for an exceptional Nursery Manager to lead our brand-new Inspire Children's Day Nursery, opening in Wokingham in January 2027.

We are starting a new nursery group built on more than 25 years of early years experience. The people behind Inspire have extensive experience as practitioners, Nursery Managers and senior leaders, so we understand the role fully – the pressure that comes with it, what gets in the way and what good managers need around them to do the job well.

Our four core values are Family, Discovery, Well-being and Happiness. They are not words we have chosen simply to put on a wall or to make our website look good. They are the foundation we want every Inspire nursery to be built on, and they should be reflected in the way children are cared for, families are treated and our team is managed.

• We are looking for someone who is willing to keep learning. We do not believe that reaching management level means your development should stop.
• Our Leadership Training Programme has been developed and refined over many years of real nursery management experience and is designed to make strong leaders even better. Your wider leadership team will complete the programme too, so you, your Deputy and Early Years Leads are all working in a consistent way and you have a well-prepared team around you.
• We also believe Nursery Managers should be able to spend their time actually managing their nursery. Much of the administration that can pull them away from their team, including recruitment administration, invoicing, fee queries and other central functions, will be handled by our Head Office team.
• We will not expect our Manager to spend hours producing unnecessary spreadsheets, budget forecasts or paperwork that adds little value. We want our Manager to be focused on leading their team, supporting children and families, maintaining high standards and running a brilliant nursery.
• We will manage our Nursery Manager in exactly the way we expect them to manage their own team: with respect, kindness, honesty, clear expectations and genuine support.
• We are also very careful about the people we employ. Skills can be developed, but warmth, kindness and the right attitude matter enormously to us. We want a team of friendly, positive people who care about children and about each other. For our Manager, that means starting with a team that has been recruited around the right values from day one.

The nursery itself has been designed with the day-to-day management of the setting in mind. Everything is on one floor, so there are no stairs to worry about, with three large, separate gardens, air conditioning throughout and our dedicated staff lounge rather than a standard staff room. These things will make a real difference to how comfortable, practical and manageable the working day feels.

The successful candidate must hold a recognised Level 3 early years qualification or higher and have previous leadership experience within a nursery, either as a Nursery Manager or Deputy Manager.

We have only one Nursery Manager position available and, based on the interest we received before formally advertising the role, we expect a high number of applications. If you believe you have the skills, personality and leadership qualities to succeed with Inspire, we would love to meet you – so apply now and we will be in touch.

The full range of benefits for this role, including childcare discount, will be discussed during the interview process. The role will either be 40 hours over four days (7.15am-6.15pm) or 40 hours over 5 days.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This role is subject to safer recruitment procedures and appropriate pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which must be completed before an appointment is confirmed.

Job Type: Full-time

Application question(s):

• Do you hold a full and relevant Level 3 or above Early Years qualification?

Work Location: In person