Development Nursery Manager

Department:
Operations

Location:
Shoreditch, London

Compensation:
£44,720 - £63,440 / year

Description
We're more than just a nursery group. We're the UK's most innovative early-years education provider, proudly certified as a Great Place to Work and ranked the 30th Best Workplace in the UK.
At N Family Club, we dreamed of reimagining early years education. Becoming a place that fosters creativity, embraces a curriculum-led approach, and prepares children for the modern world. We're proudly making our dream a reality – and we want you to be a part of it

Our
Nursery Development Team
, launching January 2026, exists to unlock the full potential of nurseries across N Family Club. This dynamic team partners with nurseries that need targeted support, bringing energy, hands-on guidance, and expert coaching to raise quality, strengthen leadership, and build confident, capable teams.

Whether you're a Development Nursery Manager, Deputy, Room Manager, or Educator, your purpose is the same: to help every nursery be the best it can be. Through mentoring, modelling best practice, and providing practical support, the
team drives improvement
,
nurtures excellence
, and ensures children and families consistently experience the
highest standards of care and education
.

What you'll be doing…

• Provide targeted leadership and support to nurseries on a development journey, working closely with Nursery Manager and senior teams to strengthen leadership, raise standards, and embed best practice.
• Step in as 'Manager in Charge' when required to maintain operational stability, ensure compliance, and uphold exceptionally high standards across all areas.
• Drive educational excellence by embedding the N Pedagogy and Curriculum, supporting teams to deliver outstanding teaching and learning consistently.
• Lead and support self-evaluation and action planning, ensuring follow-up on priorities identified through Education Advisor guidance, audits, and inspections.
• Promote a strong 'Safety First' culture, ensuring daily health and safety checks, risk assessments, and compliance actions are completed promptly and effectively.
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead when required, ensuring safeguarding and child protection practices are robust, well-understood, and consistently applied.
• Coach, mentor, and develop nursery teams, building confidence, professional pride, and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Support recruitment, retention, and professional development to ensure teams are skilled, motivated, and capable of delivering excellence.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with parents and the wider community, fostering trust, engagement, and partnership in line with N Family Club values.
• Participate in regular development meetings and calls to review nursery performance, track progress, and support action planning.
• Work collaboratively with the Development Team to implement focused improvement initiatives and ensure sustainable impact.
• Provide flexible support across multiple nurseries where required, maintaining consistent leadership, guidance, and standards.
• Travel across the nursery network as needed, including flexibility for varying work patterns and occasional overnight stays.

Our Development Nursery Managers should have…

• Level 3 or above Early Years qualification (full & relevant)
• Paediatric First Aid certification (12 hours) and a commitment to maintain it
• Proven experience as a Nursery Manager or senior leader in a high-performing, Good, or Outstanding nursery, demonstrating the ability to achieve and maintain exceptional standards.
• Experience leading nurseries requiring targeted improvement or supporting significant development initiatives, with a track record of driving sustainable change.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve ambitious goals in complex or evolving environments.
• Skilled in coaching, mentoring, and developing teams to deliver consistently high-quality education and care.
• A rigorous, structured, and highly organised approach to managing operations, supporting improvement, and embedding best practice.
• Strong decision-making skills, with the ability to support and drive change effectively across teams and nurseries.
• In-depth knowledge of EYFS, Ofsted requirements, local authority regulations, and inspection processes across the UK, with the ability to ensure full compliance at all times.
• Experienced in using ICT systems and performance data to inform decisions, track progress, and monitor improvement initiatives.
• Experience supporting multiple nursery settings or providing development input across sites is desirable.

The N Advantage

• Competitive salary
  – £44,720 - £63,440, based on experience and dedication
  (plus £3k car allowance)
• Performance bonus
  of up to 25% of base salary, plus £1,000 for Ofsted 'Outstanding'
• Flexible working
  – Choose 4-5 days a week for work-life balance
• Up to 35 days holiday
• including a personal 'Me' day and Christmas closure
• £100 annual learning fund
  , plus access to N Academy (level 3, Early Years degrees, Forest School & more)
• £100 clothing allowance
  for style freedom
• Enhanced family leave
  for parents, carers, and more
• 40% childcare discount
  , plus 6 emergency days annually

And that's not all

• 5-year loyalty bonus
• around-the-world trip + 2 bonus weeks off
• 10-year loyalty bonus
• 'Out of this world' experience + 2 extra weeks off
• Referral bonus
  – earn up to £1,000 per successful hire
• Amazing discounts
  – save on groceries, shopping, fitness and more
• Travel support
  – season ticket loans and cycle-to-work scheme
• Socials & wellbeing
  – annual parties, team events, gym discounts, and online fitness

Making an impact…
At N Family Club, we do things differently. We support and celebrate individuality, champion diversity, and give every team member a voice. Our culture is rooted in respect, collaboration and a shared passion for early years education.

We invest heavily in your growth – from career progression and in-house training to mentorship and personal development. With innovative environments, top-tier benefits, and a focus on wellbeing, we're building a workplace where educators thrive, and children soar.

Join N Family Club today and help us reshape early education for the better.
What's next?
If you think you got what it takes, click apply and fill in our super quick (1 min) application form

If you want to read more about N, our benefits and work culture, visit our Careers website or our Glassdoor Page.