Nursery Lead

35 hours per week based on 8.15am - 3.45pm (30 min lunch break)
Grade 4, £22843.50 Actual
Term time only - 38 weeks

Fixed term for 1 Year

About the Role

CompassEko Trust is seeking a dedicated and experienced Nursery Lead to join our team and lead the day-to-day organisation, delivery, and quality of provision within our school nursery. This is an exciting opportunity to create a safe, nurturing, and ambitious early years environment where children can thrive. Working under the guidance of the EYFS Phase Leader, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the early learning experiences of our youngest learners.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the daily operations of the nursery, ensuring routines, provision, and interactions reflect high-quality early years practice.
• Model exemplary practice in communication, interaction, behaviour support, and play-based learning.
• Deliver high-quality learning experiences through play, adult-led activities, and continuous provision, adapting pre-planned curriculum activities to meet children’s interests and developmental needs.
• Oversee the deployment of support staff, ensuring clarity and consistency in roles.
• Maintain high expectations for all children, including those with SEND or emerging needs, ensuring inclusive and developmentally appropriate provision.
• Observe children regularly, contribute to accurate assessments, and identify next steps to inform planning and provision.
• Build strong, professional relationships with families, sharing information about children’s learning, progress, and wellbeing.
• Ensure the nursery is a safe, secure, and nurturing environment, following all safeguarding procedures and promoting positive behaviour.
• Participate in training, coaching, and professional development to continually improve practice.

Requirements

• Essential: Level 3 Early Years qualification (or equivalent).
• Strong understanding of child development and the EYFS Statutory Framework.
• Experience working in an early years setting, ideally with 3–4-year-olds.
• Ability to lead routines, provision, and staff within a nursery environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to form warm, secure relationships with children and families.
• Commitment to safeguarding and inclusive practice.
• Punctual, dependable, and proactive, with a positive and solution-focused attitude.
• Desirable: Training in communication-rich practice (e.g., Makaton, WellComm, ECAT) and a Paediatric First Aid qualification.

Benefits

• Dedicated time allocated for classroom preparation and activity setup.
• Streamlined assessment processes designed to minimise workload outside paid hours.
• Creative approaches to parental engagement, such as frequent ‘stay and play’ sessions.
• Opportunities for professional development and collaboration within the CompassEko Trust.

Equal Opportunities

CompassEko Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Employees are expected to have due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and to follow the child protection procedures adopted by the Trust.

Safer Recruitment

CompassEko Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references, qualifications, experience checks, medical clearance, enhanced DBS checks, social media checks, and documentary evidence showing your entitlement to work in the UK.

Closing date: 28/05/2026

Interview: TBC