Early Years Quality & Compliance Auditor

Description Field based hybrid role, with regular UK-wide travel to Nursery Group and Franchised nursery settings.

Schedule:

5 days a week for 34 hours a week Role Summary The Early Years Quality & Compliance Auditor is responsible for assessing the quality, compliance and effectiveness of early years provision across Monkey Puzzles network of Nursery Group and Franchised nursery settings through a robust programme of quality and compliance audits. Through scheduled, risk based and follow up audits, the role will evaluate settings against the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework, relevant legislations and statutory guidance, Ofsted requirements, the Early Years Inspection Toolkit, and Monkey Puzzle policies, procedures and quality standards.

The role is responsible for conducting clear, objective and evidence-based evaluations of nursery performance, identifying strengths, areas for improvement, and any safeguarding, compliance or quality risks. It will produce high quality audit reports and SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound) quality and compliance improvement plans within agreed timescales, working closely with the Early Years Quality Team to ensure alignment with any existing quality support plans.

The role will communicate findings effectively to relevant stakeholders, undertake follow up activities, identify emerging risks, and support sustained improvements in quality and compliance across the nursery network.

Key Responsibilities Quality & Compliance Auditing Conduct scheduled, risk based and follow up quality and compliance audits across all Nursery Group and Franchised settings as part of a 12 month rolling programme. Support the Quality, Curriculum and Standards Lead in planning and delivering the audit programme, ensuring consistent, accurate and objective audit judgements. Evaluate settings through observation of practice and review of documentation against EYFS requirements, statutory guidance, Ofsted expectations and Monkey Puzzle quality standards.

Observe practice and review documentation, including safeguarding, safer recruitment, health and safety, curriculum implementation, SEND and inclusion, leadership and management, to evaluate the effectiveness of provision. Champion high quality provision, curriculum implementation and EYFS compliance across the nursery network, identifying and recognising strengths, effective practice and areas of excellence across safeguarding, SEND, leadership, management, compliance and wider operational practice. Identify areas of non compliance, emerging risks and opportunities for improvement, providing clear recommendations and actions to strengthen quality, compliance and inspection readiness.

Assess settings' readiness for Ofsted inspections and other regulatory visits, identifying strengths, areas for development and actions required to achieve the highest possible outcomes. Deliver tailored advice, guidance, training and support to Nursery Managers and Franchisees before, during and following Ofsted inspections and other regulatory visits. Audit Reporting & Improvement Planning Produce clear, accurate and evidence based audit reports and SMART quality and compliance improvement plans within seven days of each audit.

Ensure audit findings, judgements and recommendations are evidence based and clearly highlight strengths, effective practice, risks, areas of non compliance, opportunities for improvement and priority actions. Provide constructive feedback, professional guidance and appropriate challenge to Nursery Managers, Franchisees and relevant stakeholders, supporting sustained quality and compliance improvements. Work collaboratively with Early Years Quality Managers to ensure audit findings, improvement plans, support visits and reporting are aligned and deliver a coordinated approach to quality improvement.

Share reports and improvement plans with relevant stakeholders and maintain accurate records using organisational systems, including Monday .com and SharePoint. Follow-Up, Monitoring & Quality Improvement Agree and coordinate follow up activity with the Quality, Curriculum and Standards Lead and Early Years Quality Managers, ensuring audit findings, improvement plans, support visits and reporting are aligned. Complete follow up visits and re-audits to evaluate whether improvements have been implemented, embedded and sustained.

Monitor progress against improvement plans, identifying where additional support,…