Permanent Nursery Manager

at St Thomas of Canterbury CE Primary School, Lapford

 30 hours per week x 39 weeks per annum

Grade E (£15.82 to £17.47 depending on experience)

Required as soon as possible

Chulmleigh Academy Trust is excited to be expanding the Foundation Stage facility at St Thomas of Canterbury CE Primary School, Lapford.  The NEST (Nurturing Excellence at St Thomas), opening on 5 May 2026, will include nursery provision for children from 9 months to 2 years.   This will provide wrap around care from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm during term time.  The working pattern will be Monday to Friday from 11:30 am to 6:00 pm (with a 30-minute unpaid break).  Additional hours will be available once the Nursery provision is established.  There are also plans to open a holiday provision.  Therefore, flexibility is essential.

The Trust is looking to recruit an experienced and enthusiastic person to manage the day to day running of the Nursery, to include co-ordinating the provision of a caring, safe, secure and stimulating environment, in line with Ofsted requirements. 

Candidates should be able to:

• Provide outstanding leadership and operational management of the Nursery, ensuring standards are met and children receive excellent quality care and education.
• Plan a range of activities based on an observation and assessment cycle for children in the Nursery.
• Manage a team of staff working with the Head of School to ensure policies and procedures are implemented.
• Engage parents and the community in the Nursery

Candidates will have experience of leadership and the ability to motivate staff and experience within an early years and childcare setting.  Candidates will need experience working with other agencies and professionals.  Excellent written and verbal communication skills, good organisational and record keeping and the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively is required, along with strong interpersonal skills.  The successful candidate will have completed a full and relevant early years and childcare qualification at Level 3 or above and relevant Level 4 Management or Level 5 childcare qualification is desirable.

If you would like an informal conversation, please contact us on the email address below and we will be pleased to arrange a telephone call with our Head of School to discuss the role further.

We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity and access for all, irrespective of age, background, race, gender, religion, ability, disability, or sexuality. We welcome applications for employment from the whole community.

A full candidate pack has been published to support our recruitment and is available in the attachment section below. 

Please download and complete the application form and email it to personnel@chulmleigh.devon.sch.uk  by 10 am on Friday, 24 April 2026. All applications will be acknowledged.

As employers, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and in that regard, we have appropriate policies and procedures.  All staff undertake a criminal record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and interviews will include questions about safeguarding children.

In line with Government guidance, we may carry out online searches against shortlisted applicants’ names as part of our due diligence checks.

Closing date: 10 am Friday, 24 April 2026

Interview date: Friday, 1 May 2026