Join to apply for the Nursery Manager role at Happy Days Nurseries & Pre-Schools
St Austell, Saint Austell PL25, UK • £32,115.20 GBP / Year
About the Role
Happy Days Nursery at St Austell (Penrice) is seeking a passionate and commercially astute Nursery Manager to lead our vibrant setting on a maternity cover basis—with the exciting opportunity to transition into a permanent roaming management role across our Cornwall estate.
As Nursery Manager, you will be responsible for the overall leadership, quality, and commercial performance of the nursery. You will lead a dedicated team, ensure compliance with all statutory requirements, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.
This is a maternity cover position, with the potential to continue in a permanent peripatetic capacity—covering other Happy Days settings in the Cornwall area with leadership, quality assurance, and operational continuity.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the nursery team to deliver outstanding care and education in line with EYFS and Ofsted standards
* Champion our SHINE values—Support, Honesty, Inspiration, Nurturing, Empowerment—in all aspects of leadership
* Manage nursery occupancy, budgets, and commercial performance
* Build strong partnerships with parents, carers, and the local community
* Oversee recruitment, induction, supervision, and development of staff
* Ensure robust safeguarding, health & safety, and compliance practices
* Represent the nursery and the wider Happy Days group with professionalism and integrity
What We’re Looking For
* Level 3 Early Years qualification (or equivalent)
* Paediatric First Aid qualification
* Proven leadership experience in a nursery or early years setting
* Strong commercial acumen and ability to manage budgets and occupancy
* Excellent communication, organisational, and decision‑making skills
* Deep understanding of EYFS, Ofsted, and statutory frameworks
* A collaborative, empathetic, and empowering leadership style
Benefits
* Salary £32,115.20
* Quarterly paid performance‑related bonus
* 50% childcare discount
* Blue Light Card Membership
* Life Assurance
* Christmas On Us – Up to 4 gifted days off during Christmas closedown
* Health and Wellbeing services through SPARK
* Ongoing professional development and career growth
* A supportive, inclusive team culture
* A chance to be part of a nursery where children are truly at the heart of everything we do
Legal & Contact
Happy Days Nurseries are committed to the safety and well‑being of the children in our care, and the successful post holder will be required to undergo a robust vetting process, including an enhanced DBS Check and reference history checks.
To apply for this job, email your details to recruitment@happydaysnurseries.com.
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