Deputy Nursery Manager

EXCITING NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR NEW SETTING!

About Us

‘Building a Culture of Compassion, Confidence & Consistency’

At All Stars Nursery Newcastle we are passionate about creating a joyful, safe and enabling environment where children thrive through play, wonder and discovery. We are looking for an enthusiastic, experienced Nursery Deputy Manager who brings warmth, leadership and a growth mindset to our team and the All Stars Community.

As Nursery Deputy Manager, you’ll be the manager’s right hand — helping to lead and grow the setting with energy, warmth and professional expertise. You’ll support day-to-day operations, help ensure top‑tier care and learning across the setting and take on the lead role of manager in their absence. You’ll play a key role in quality improvement, team development, family engagement and regulatory compliance, working in line with the EYFS statutory framework.

• Support the setting manager in leading, mentoring and developing the team.
• Act as a role model for high‑quality early years practice.
• Contribute to recruitment, induction, supervisions and continuous professional development.
• Deputise for the manager in their absence, ensuring continuity of leadership.

• Assist with planning, implementing and evaluating the EYFS and All Stars Curriculum so children thrive and progress.
• Support staff to maintain strong assessment, observation and planning systems.
• Promote reflective practice and ongoing quality improvement.

• Promote a culture of safeguarding where every child feels safe, valued and supported.
• Create a strong safeguarding culture across the whole setting.
• Support the Manager to ensure all safeguarding, health & safety policies and procedures are understood, implemented and regularly reviewed.
• Support the Manager to lead risk assessments, emergency plans and reviews of practice.
• Support compliance with safeguarding, health & safety and welfare requirements.
• Help ensure smooth day-to-day operations and a safe, enabling environment for children, families and staff.

• Support policy review and development in line with regulatory updates.
• Help maintain accurate records, support inspection readiness and uphold all relevant policies and procedures.

• Build strong, collaborative relationships with families — sharing progress, listening, and tailoring support. Promoting a culture of transparency, honesty and confidence.
• Act as an ambassador for the setting within the local community, partners and external agencies.
• Work collaboratively with local authorities and other early years professionals.

• Hold a DFE Full & Relevant qualification at Level 3 or above (or equivalent).
• Strong understanding of the EYFS statutory framework and child development.
• Excellent communication, organisational and people‑leadership skills.
• Experience working in an early years setting with leadership responsibility (e.g., Room Leader, Senior Practitioner).
• Excellent knowledge of safeguarding, child protection, health & safety in early years practice.
• Enhanced DBS Checklist with barred checklist and suitable to work with children.
• Full and Relevant 12 Hour Paediatric First Aid Training or willingness to complete before being counted in ratio.
• Good spoken & written English.
• Food Safety Level 2 or willingness to complete before handling food.

The EYFS does not specify an absolute mandatory qualification level for a deputy — but you must be "capable and qualified to take charge in the manager’s absence" in the provider’s judgment, and Level 3 is typical & highly recommended in practice.

• Level 4, 5 or 6 qualifications in Early Years, Leadership & Management or Early Childhood Studies.
• Level 4 or above Maths’s qualifications (e.g., GCSEs or Functional Skills) — supporting broader leadership capability.
• Experience supervising staff and students or supporting performance management.
• Knowledge and/or specialism (e.g., SENDCO training).
• Experience contributing to setting policies, self‑evaluation…