Duns Community Nursery – Scottish Borders
Full-time, 40 hours per week
Pay – £ £14.00 an hour (£27,560 - £29,120 a year)
We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Room Lead for our 2–5s room, who will also take on the role of Assistant Manager within our vibrant, community-run nursery.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a passionate early years practitioner who is ready to take the next step in their career, combining room leadership with broader management responsibilities.
About the role
As Room Lead, you will:
* Take responsibility for the health, safety and wellbeing of every child in the 2–5s room.
* Lead and support your team to deliver high-quality care and learning, inspired by Realising the Ambition and the Curriculum for Excellence.
* Plan and implement engaging learning experiences and play opportunities, linked to relevant Es & Os and responsive to the children's interests.
* Ensure compliance with SBC environment audits.
* Monitor and support your team in recording children's learning, ensuring observations, learning trackers and developmental overviews are consistently high quality.
* Oversee the day-to-day routines – from meal and nap times to story sessions – ensuring a nurturing, calm environment.
* Maintain and update care plans and chronologies, implementing any changes suggested by management.
As Assistant Manager, you will:
* Support the Nursery Manager with the day-to-day running of the nursery, including staff rotas, parent queries and deployment.
* Take a lead in quality assurance and improvement planning, ensuring consistently high standards across the nursery.
* Assist with staff mentoring and educational planning, helping to develop practice and interactions.
* Take responsibility for the setting when the Manager is absent (including during school holidays, as the Manager is term-time only. There is an agreed 2 week break in the Summer holiday when the manager will be in the setting).
Key qualities we're looking for
* A nurturing and child-centred practitioner who brings warmth, kindness and patience to their work.
* Strong organisational skills and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
* A people person with excellent communication and customer service skills.
* A solution-focused leader, able to support and inspire colleagues.
* Commitment to continuous improvement and professional development.
Hours & holidays
* Full-time, 40 hours per week over 5 days.
* Majority of holidays to be taken during term time (as the Manager is off during school holidays) but there is an agreed 2 week break during the Summer holiday when the manager will be back in the setting.
Requirements
* Relevant SVQ Level 3/4 or HNC in Early Learning & Childcare (or equivalent).
* Experience in a senior/lead practitioner role, with proven ability to support and manage a team.
* Knowledge of Curriculum for Excellence, Realising the Ambition and Care Inspectorate requirements.
Why join us?
At Duns Community Nursery (DCN), we pride ourselves on being a warm, welcoming and supportive team, deeply rooted in our community. You'll have the opportunity to make a real difference in children's early learning and care, while also developing your leadership and management skills.
To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter to:
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £27,560.00-£29,120.00 per year
Work Location: In person