Nursery Room Leader

**All candidates must complete a Farleigh School Support Staff Application Form in order to apply for the position, this can be found on the school website. Please visit the Staff Vacancies page on the school website for the full job description and application form. We are unable to accept CV's in place of a completed application form.**

*Farleigh School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant must be willing to undergo appropriate Child Protection Screening, including references from past employers, an enhanced DBS disclosure and an online search in line with safer recruitment.*

**Farleigh School is seeking an enthusiastic and proactive Nursery Room Leader to join us at a truly exciting time. With the planned opening of our brand-new nursery in September 2026, we are seeking to appoint a Nursery Room Leader from August 2026 to lead and manage the nursery room team in delivering a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment that promotes children’s learning and development in line with the EYFS, whilst ensuring high standards of practice and positive partnerships with families.**

The new nursery space will be in its own dedicated building with outside space, close to the large Pre-Prep woods for Forest School play, and with the extensive Farleigh grounds on the doorstep of the nursery building. This is a new venture with a chance to evolve and develop a successful all round nursery within a successful independent school. We are excited to bring the Farleigh ethos to even the youngest of children “this is where it all begins”. With close links to the Kindergarten and Pre-Prep, we believe that the new Farleigh nursery will bring something special for both children and nursery staff.

The Nursery Room Leader will play a key role in the daily running of our warm, engaging, and child‑centred early years environment. Working closely with the Nursery Manager and Deputy Nursery Manager, you will lead and support the room team, champion high‑quality childcare, and ensure that all practice aligns with regulatory standards and safeguarding expectations. You will act as a positive role model, inspiring best practice, building strong and trusting relationships with families, and creating a nurturing, stimulating space where children feel safe, confident, and excited to learn. This role is an excellent opportunity for a dedicated early years professional who is passionate about making a real difference and ready to take the next step within a supportive, forward‑thinking nursery setting.

• We are seeking an individual to work full-time, ideally for up to 50 weeks per year. The core requirement is Monday to Friday, based on a 4‑day rota, working 40 hours per week between 7:30am and 6:00pm.
• However, for the right applicant with the necessary skills and experience, we are flexible regarding the number of weeks worked and will also consider alternative working patterns — including the possibility of distributing hours across 5 days. Applicants are encouraged to outline their preferred working hours and pattern within their application.

**The ideal candidate will have:**

**Essential Qualifications and Experience:**

• A relevant NVQ level 3 qualification or above
• Grade 4 or 5 English and Maths GCSE’s or equivalent level 2 functional skills.
• Level 3 diploma in management (Desirable)
• Valid Paediatric First Aid certification (Desirable)

**Knowledge and Skills:**

• Strong communication, organisational and interpersonal skills with the ability to work in a team
• Be committed to providing the best possible outcomes for every child
• Confident in building relationships with parents, children and colleagues
• Up to date knowledge of safeguarding
• Demonstrate a strong knowledge and understanding of the EYFS
• Passionate about early childhood development and committed to delivering outstanding care and education
• Supportive, approachable, and highly organised
• A team player with a proactive, “can-do” attitude
• High attention to detail and a commitment to continuous improvement
• A sense of humour, resilience, and the ability to remain calm under pressure

**Particular Tasks & Responsibilities:**

• Lead a team of colleagues to deliver the best possible outcomes for children
• Managing the daily routine of the room, including safety, cleanliness, and complying to health and safety policies.
• Implement and maintain the key worker system
• Ensure all mandatory assessments and observations are delivered
• Manage the implementation of the Farleigh curriculum and Ethos and ensure a full team understanding within your room.
• Assist in team development and performance reviews.
• Uphold the school’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policies.
• Mentor and supervise team members
• Prepare for and support inspections by regulatory bodies, implementing any recommendations for your room
• Deliver rich, age-appropriate learning experiences aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
• Represent the Nursery at events and engage with prospective and current families.
• Any other duties which may be assigned commensurate with the post and in keeping with the nature of the Prep school environment

**Equal Opportunities:**

Farleigh School is a co-educational organisation that believes strongly in equal opportunity for all.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: Up to £30,000.00 per year

Benefits

• Canteen
• Company events
• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Free flu jabs
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Work Location: In person