Nursery Area Manager

Nursery Area Manager – Brighton & Hove

Pumpkin Patch is a family-owned company that operates six nurseries in the South Coast. Our purpose is to ensure children have the best start in life through outstanding education and care. At Pumpkin Patch, we aim to create an environment where children can achieve, belong and thrive. We are inspired by the Reggio Emilia and Scandinavian Forest School approaches and are looking for someone who shares the same passion.

As the company grows, we are looking to appoint a passionate and experienced Area Manager to support our Brighton and Hove Nurseries. You will be expected to provide inspirational leadership and ensure compliance and excellence in all aspects of care and education, supporting Nursery Managers in delivering outstanding outcomes for children and families.

This role requires a minimum Level 3 childcare qualification, recent experience working in a good or outstanding nursery as a manager or area manager and a good understanding of funding.

What we offer

• Paid breaks
• Flexible working
• Discounted childcare
• Annual pay enhancements
• Real living wage employer
• Bonus and voucher schemes
• Company-funded qualifications
• Two-week induction programme
• Educational tours to Italy and Iceland
• Summer and Christmas social events
• Christmas to new years off every year
• Charity of the year and fundraising activities
• Mental health and wellbeing representatives
• Paid overtime up to 5 hours per week then TOIL
• In-house workshops for continuous development

Roles and responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of Pumpkin Patch Nurseries.
• Lead the establishment and operational management of new nursery sites.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and support to nursery managers and staff.
• Drive high-quality standards, maintain Ofsted Outstanding ratings, and implement improvement plans from Compliance/Mock Ofsted reports.
• Conduct supervisions and appraisals of managers.
• Support managers with disciplinaries and grievances, ensuring all processes are followed.
• Evaluate nursery managers, set goals, and address performance concerns, including developing Performance Action Plans for underperforming managers.
• Cover for managers when needed.
• Offer ongoing support for managers to ensure all areas of the job description are fulfilled. Ensure all processes are followed, including the HR flowchart, Risk Escalation, Safeguarding, HR toolkit, and Compliance spreadsheet.
• Oversee Partnership with Parents initiatives, including Open Days, Parent's Evenings, and review weekly Newsfeeds.
• Support managers with funding processes.
• Assist with EYPP/2-year funding and associated actions.
• Monitor additional funding for vulnerable groups.
• Oversee apprentices across the company.

This is intended to give you an indication of the main duties but is not meant to be an exhaustive list.

Main terms and conditions

Salary: £48,000 - £58,000 per annum

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time

Hours: 40 hours per week

Location: Brighton & Hove, with the expectation to visit all Pumpkin Patch Nurseries if required and in the absence of our Worthing & Steyning regional manager (Full clean drivers license is essential)

Safeguarding

Pumpkin Patch Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and ensures all staff and volunteers share this commitment. Pumpkin Patch have robust safeguarding and safer recruitment policies and procedures to ensure all positions are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check. We are an equal opportunities employer.

The position for which you are applying involves contact with children and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and all subsequent amendments (England and Wales). For this position you are not entitled to withhold information about police cautions and convictions that have been made against you. Including any that would otherwise be considered 'spent' under the Act.

For further information

Please contact Lucy Dann our HR and Recruitment Administrator on for further information or an application form. CV's will not be accepted.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £48,000.00-£58,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Childcare
• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Referral programme
• Sick pay

Application question(s):

• Which childcare qualification do you hold?
• How many year's managerial experience do you have?
• Do you have recent experience working in a good or outstanding nursery as a manager or area manager?
• Do you have a good understanding of funding?

Work Location: In person