NURSERY MANAGER /DEPUTY NURSERY MANAGER

APPOINTMENT OF:NURSERY MANAGER /DEPUTY NURSERY MANAGERINFORMATION FOR CANDIDATESThe Nursery at Queen Mary’s

The Nursery at Queen Mary’s is a school nursery offering an exceptional start to early learning for children
aged 0–3, alongside our Pre-Reception and Reception classes. Part of Queen Mary’s School, ranked 4th
nationally by The Times Parent Power Guide 2026 (Independent Schools Without a Sixth Form), our nursery
gives children the very best foundations for lifelong learning in a warm, inclusive, and inspiring
community.

Queen Mary’s is a Christian community that values, nurtures, and respects every individual. We strive for
excellence, encourage personal growth, nurture spirituality, embrace diversity, and develop resilience and
character. From the earliest years, children are inspired to be independent, compassionate, and
confident, preparing them to flourish academically, socially, and emotionally.

Housed in its own dedicated building, our Nursery provides a calm, caring environment where children
feel safe, seen, and valued. They enjoy access to beautiful woodland and meadow spaces, encouraging
outdoor exploration, creativity, and wellbeing every day. Our Pre-Reception and Reception pupils, based
in an adjacent Early Years building, benefit from teacher-led learning in age-appropriate classrooms,
supporting smooth, confident transitions as children grow.

At Queen Mary’s Nursery, children thrive through purposeful, play-based learning guided by specialist
early years staff. Our curriculum combines child-led exploration with teacher-supported activities, helping
children develop communication, early literacy and numeracy, social-emotional skills, problem-solving
abilities, and independence. Outdoor learning, including regular Forest School sessions, fosters
confidence, collaboration, and a genuine love of nature.

Set in the beautiful countryside of Baldersby Park, a Grade I listed building surrounded by 40 acres of
landscaped grounds, our nursery is part of a dynamic, supportive school community. Queen Mary’s offers
a long-standing tradition of academic excellence, personal growth, creativity, and adventure. As part of
the Woodard Corporation, the school operates with a strong Christian ethos and high academic and
pastoral standards.

We are seeking a passionate Nursery Manager / Deputy Nursery Manager to join our team and share in
our commitment to outstanding early years education. At Queen Mary’s Nursery, you will have the
opportunity to work in a nurturing, purpose-driven environment where every child is encouraged to
explore, learn, and flourish.

The Role:

Queen Mary’s School is delighted to announce the opening of a new Early Years setting, The Nursery,
launching in September 2026. This exciting development marks an important new chapter for the school and
reflects a commitment to providing exceptional education and care from the very earliest years.

Designed for girls and boys from 0–4 years, The Nursery at Queen Mary’s offers children the opportunity  to
begin their learning journey, within a nurturing, inspiring and developmentally rich environment.

We are seeking an enthusiastic Nursery Manager / Deputy Nursery Manager to join a dynamic and caring
staff body, where babies and children are nurtured and encouraged to have a love of learning, exploration
and self-discovery.

The applicants will perform key roles in contributing to our ‘home from home’, warm, inclusive
environment where children have the best supportive start to life, rooted in care and creativity.

Our new Nursery provides a calm, caring and inspiring environment for our youngest children, set within the
Queen Mary’s School community. Nursery children are based in their own dedicated building, with access
to a secure woodland and meadow setting, designed to support exploration, wellbeing and early development.
Our Pre-Reception and Reception pupils are based in the adjacent Early Years building, working closely
together in a teacher-led environment that supports confident transitions into school life.

Reporting to:

Assistant Head: Prep and Pre-Prep

Start Date:

August 2026

Hours of Work:

Full-time and part-time hours will be considered

The Nursery will be open 50 weeks a year (Closed between Christmas and New Year
and the week at Easter. The Nursery will close for all bank holidays)

Overview of Responsibilities

The following  is provided  as an overview  of  the main  responsibilities;  candidates  are  expected  to:

−  Lead by example, providing inspiration and motivation for the pupils, staff, governors, parents and the

wider community.

−  Ensure all children are safeguarded and their welfare and safety is promoted and prioritised and all staff

members are able to do the same.

−  Have relevant training, knowledge and experience of working with babies and children in order to

support their specific needs.

−  Ensure a high standard of physical, personal, emotional, social and intellectual education and care for all

−

children in the nursery.
Implement high standards of quality practices through supervisions and support for the team members
within the Nursery.

−  Manage or deputise the day-to-day running of the Nursery, including quality improvement, marketing

and administration.

−  Work in conjunction with the team and Nursery Manager/Deputy Manager in order to provide an

enabling environment in which individual children can play, learn and develop.

−  Establish and operate effective team building and staff management systems.
−  Work with the Senior Leadership Team and Admissions Department in the business development of the

Nursery.

Policy, Strategic Direction and  Development

−

−

Contribute to and promote a Nursery Development Plan and keep this under regular review with policy
and planning, taking account of the school’s changing needs and the full range of pupils’ needs.
Ensure that whole-school policies and strategies are embedded in planning throughout the phases

Main Duties
−  Lead the nursery safeguarding procedure to ensure all children are kept safe, well and secure and ensure

all team members are able to do the same

−  Keep up-to-date with relevant safeguarding and child protection training and cascade to staff e.g. Prevent

Duty, serious case reviews

−  Promote the aims and objectives of the nursery
−  Promote the high standards of the nursery at all times to parents, staff and visitors
−  Ensure the provision of high standards of physical, personal, social and emotional care
−  Lead a team of professional workers and ensure good practice at all times
−  Plan and organise staffing schedules and holiday rotas to ensure adequate staffing levels are maintained

in accordance with regulatory body guidelines and nursery procedures

−  Be aware of and act in accordance with current legislation, good practice, nursery policies and

procedures

−  Adhere to, and support all team members to understand and follow, the legal requirements of the Early

Years Foundation Stage

−  Follow all relevant Acts including the Equality Act 2010, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General
Data Protection Regulation (regulation (EU) 2016/ 679) (UK GDPR) that relate to staff employment and
record keeping

−  Be responsible for all nursery staff, including students and voluntary workers
−  Supervise and support all members of the nursery team in their day-to-day duties including recruitment
and induction, appraisals and reviews, training and development, individual supervisions and discipline
−  Ensure all staff have an up-to-date enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks (England and

Wales)

−  Support all team members to work in partnership with parents/carers and other family members
−  Liaise with Ofsted and other professional bodies associated with the nursery, reporting and updating

information as required

−  Oversee the efficient upkeep and maintenance of the building and grounds, stock of equipment,

furnishings and fittings

−  Be responsible for all administrative duties associated with the management of the facility, e.g.

maintaining records on the children and their families, ordering equipment, maintaining an inventory,
and keeping personnel records, working in conjunction with Admissions, HR, Finance and Senior
Leadership

−  Co-ordinate with appropriate agencies regarding trainee placements and supervise accordingly
−  Co-ordinate and chair staff meetings as appropriate including agendas and minutes
−  Establish and maintain effective links with other agencies
−  Work with the Marketing and Admissions Team to market and advertise the Nursery as necessary to ensure

the nursery runs to its full capacity

−  Develop and implement monitoring and recording systems for child development
−  Be responsible for overall health and safety standards within the nursery and ensure staff compliance

and awareness, including training where appropriate

−  Maintain procedures for high standards of hygiene and cleanliness
−  Ensure provision of a high-quality environment to meet the needs of individual children regardless of any

disabilities, family backgrounds or medical history

−  Provide all team members with the support and resources required for the early identification and

intervention for children with possible special needs

−  Report back to the Senior Leadership Team as required with information relating to finance, quality of

the provision and other necessary information

−  Undertake such other duties and responsibilities of an equivalent nature as may be determined from

time-to-time by the Senior Leadership Team

Professional Development

−  Regularly review your own practice, set personal targets and take responsibility for your own development.

−  Complete an Annual Appraisal.

Training & development of self and others
−  Support the team in building effective partnerships with parents to ensure:

o  a shared understanding between The Nursery and home about the children’s progression, and how

parents can support their child.

o  an excellent local reputation for The Nursery through the promotion, profile and success of the

children.

−  Organise regular Department meetings to:

o  establish common, progressive and detailed schemes of work for each child;
o  monitor and assess progress within the Nursery and of individuals;
o  ensure that common aims, objectives and standards are established;
o  discuss and agree methodology to ensure that effective ways of learning are implemented;
o  support colleagues in the implementation of all aspects of their work.

This job description works alongside those of all other personnel. The Nursery Manager’s and Deputy
Manager’s key responsibility, within training and development is to ensure that the staff team are working to
their full potential and implement support programmes and training according to individual needs to
achieve this.

Person Specification

Attributes

Essential Criteria

Desirable Criteria

Qualifications

Knowledge

−  Relevant Level Qualified Practitioner
−  UK qualifications that meet the Department
for Education (DfE) criteria for counting in the
EYFS statutory framework staff:child ratios.

−  Certified Paediatric First Aid Training

−  EYFS Childcare experience
−  Relevant training, knowledge and experience of
working with babies and children in order to
support their specific needs

Safeguarding Training

Experience within a School
or Nursery (from birth –  4
years)

Skills and
abilities

−  Strong communication and inter-personal

skills

Experience in more than
one nursery

−  Ability to be discreet and uphold confidentiality
−  Excellent time management and organisational

skills

−  Be prepared to undertake daily operational

tasks as required

−  Experience and ability to use data effectively to

measure children’s progress

−  Ability to cope with multiple demands shifting

priorities and rapid change

−  A selfless, empowering and collaborative
approach to management and continual
professional development

−  Awareness of the importance of child

protection and keeping young people safe
from harm

−  Ability to show initiative and respond to a

changing environment
Strong IT skills (MS Word, Excel, CMS)
Energy, drive, enthusiasm and a positive manner

−
−

−  All candidates must hold the Right to Work in

the UK

−  A willingness to engage with and articulate the
School’s Christian values, ethos and heritage

−  Willing to play an active part in the life of The

Nursery community

−  Willing to work out of hours as and when

Nursery functions occur

Personal
circumstances

−  Current driving licence
−

Safeguarding qualifications

Terms and Conditions of Employment

The following particulars do not form any part of an offer of employment. They provide guidance,
without prejudice, on the likely main provisions.  Terms and conditions, which will incorporate the Staff
Handbook and Contract of Employment, will be issued in due course to the successful candidate.

General Notes

−  Queen Mary’’s School operates its own competitive salary scale, commensurate with the responsibility of
the post and the experience of the successful candidate, which will be discussed at interview or on
appointment.

−  All staff are required to attend Staff Training Days.
−  Additional benefits will include a significant fee discount for children to be educated at Queen Mary’’s

School (subject to places being available and all relevant admissions criteria being met).

−  Lunch will be provided free of charge during the school term time hours of work.
−  The School operates an employer stakeholder contributory pension scheme.
−  The appointee will be required to participate in an annual appraisal.
−  Accommodation is not provided.
−  The appointee is required to give the School one term’’s notice of their intention to leave this post.
−  Shortlisted candidates will be asked to undertake identity and qualification checks which conform to the
School’s Safer Recruitment Policy. They must also agree to references being taken up at that stage and checks
made with past employers. The successful applicant will be required to complete a medical form before any
appointment is confirmed to show there are no medical reasons why the applicant may not be able to
take up the post.

The Application Process

An application form can be downloaded from the school website, and this should be submitted
accompanied with a covering letter addressed to the Headmistress, Mrs Fe Beadnell, explaining the
motivation for applying for this post and the experience, skills and qualities you would bring to the role.

Suitable candidates may be interviewed before the closing date, and the school reserves the right to
withdraw the position if an early appointment is made. Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to
apply early.

Please send your completed application form to: head@queenmarys.org.

Please be aware that we do not accept curriculum vitaes. Only completed application forms will be submitted
to the shortlisting panel.

Safeguarding and Recruitment Checks

Queen Mary’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All
shortlisted candidates will be required to complete identity, and qualification checks in line with our Safer
Recruitment Policy, and references will be taken up at this stage. The successful applicant must also complete
a medical questionnaire before an appointment is confirmed.

As part of our safeguarding commitment, candidates will undergo child protection screening appropriate
to the role, including checks with previous employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. All staff share
responsibility for safeguarding and must adhere to the School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

No Agencies Please

01845 575000

www.queenmarys.org