Deputy Director
First Steps Childcare Group (FSCG) has an exciting opportunity for you to join us as a Deputy Director at our Chichester Nursery. You will join us on a full‑time, permanent basis. In return, we will offer a competitive salary pro rata of £39,493 – £41,885 per annum, 37 hours per week, 52 weeks per year.
Deputy Director role
First Steps Childcare Group (FSCG) is seeking an experienced and inspirational Deputy Director to support the operational leadership and strategic development of our nurseries. Working closely with the Director, you will oversee the day‑to‑day operational running of all FSCG settings and provide effective leadership and support to Nursery Managers. You will play a key role in ensuring consistently high‑quality early years provision, strong safeguarding practice, regulatory compliance, and a culture of continuous improvement across the Group.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide overall leadership for the daily operations across all settings, ensuring smooth, efficient and effective running.
* Support Nursery Managers with daily queries, incident resolution and operational decision‑making.
* Line‑manage the Nursery Managers, providing regular supervision, coaching, performance monitoring and development planning.
* Support managers with staff supervision to ensure consistency and ongoing development.
* Lead staff training and continuous professional development, including:
o liaising with apprentice coaches and trainers to ensure apprentices receive high‑quality training and maximise the 20% job training time;
o planning and delivering content for staff development days to keep staff up to date with sector and government changes and provide CPD to enhance their knowledge of child development and the curriculum.
* Ensure that all settings deliver the best possible nurturing and learning environment for all children and meet the required regulatory standards in line with Ofsted and the Department for Education.
* Provide expert knowledge and lead and monitor the delivery of the Group’s curriculum to ensure consistency and high‑quality teaching.
* Ensure all settings meet Ofsted requirements, EYFS statutory guidance and relevant regulatory frameworks.
Qualifications and Experience
* Level 5 in Early Years Care and Education or willingness to work towards it.
* Detailed knowledge of the EYFS statutory framework and Ofsted EIF/toolkit.
* Previous experience coaching and mentoring staff.
* Clear vision of quality provision and experiences for children.
Benefits
* Competitive annual leave scheme plus bank holidays and closure days over Christmas not deducted from leave entitlement.
* Significant discount at FSCG nurseries.
* Other discount schemes including shopping, restaurants, travel and onsite facilities.
* Family‑friendly policies, including enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave (dependent on continuous service).
* Continuous professional development opportunities.
* And more – see the Staff Benefits booklet for details.
Apply now to join a fantastic team!
All posts are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, which may include a check of the barred lists and any relevant overseas checks. The Chichester College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds.
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