Early Childhood Manager
Role Details:
* Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, plus weekly faculty meetings. The role also includes occasional evening and Saturday commitments for school events and may require participation in school trips.
* Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent
* Holiday: School holidays
* Salary: £37,575 – £40,279 (Dependent on experience)
* Start Date: 05 January 2026
* Probationary Period: 12 months
Required Behaviours and Responsibilities
Behaviours
The business professional holding this role needs to demonstrate the following essential personal behaviours in order to undertake their role:
* Agile and Resourceful: Communicates with impact, and makes complex issues clear, to enable a way forward.
* Leads: Challenges constructively and confidently.
* Collaborative: Proactively develops and sustains relationships with key stakeholders.
* Decisive: Takes responsibility for mistakes that sit within their remit, encouraging learning and demonstrating ownership for the actions to make things right.
* Emotionally Intelligent: Tailors their influencing style and selects appropriate communication channels to engage and influence others effectively.
Personal and Professional Conduct
In line with the National Steiner Waldorf Teacher' Standards (July 2020), the teaching professional holding this role is expected to demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct. The following statements define the behaviour and attitudes which set the required standard for conduct:
* Treating pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times
* Having regard for the need to safeguard pupils' well‑being, in accordance with statutory provisions
* Showing appreciation of and respect for the rights of others
* Not undermining fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and appreciation for those with different faiths and beliefs
* Ensuring that personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit pupils' vulnerability or might lead them to break the law
Role Responsibilities
Main Purpose
To nurture the spiritual and anthroposophical life of the school, in collaboration with the College of Teachers.
To represent the school to the wider community by articulating and demonstrating the vision and mission of Waldorf education.
Under the overall direction of the Principal, to play a major role:
* In formulating the aims and objectives of the school and establishing the policies through which they are to be achieved.
* For the standards and curriculum of all pupils, including monitoring progress towards achievement.
* In the efficient and effective management of staff and resources.
Duties and Responsibilities
Shaping the future
* Support the Principal and Board of Trustees in establishing an ambitious vision and ethos for the future of the school, in the school improvement and school self‑evaluation planning process, through agreed priorities.
* Hold and articulate clear values and moral purpose, focused on providing a modern, world‑class education for every student.
* Demonstrate optimistic personal behaviour, positive relationships and attitudes towards students and staff, Trustees and parents.
* Contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of a range of policy and procedural developments, where appropriate.
* Lead by example to motivate and work with others, with integrity, creativity, resilience and clarity.
* Lead by example when implementing and managing change initiatives.
* Promote a culture of inclusion within the school community where all views are valued and taken into account.
Leading teaching and learning
* Support all students by upholding Waldorf pedagogy.
* Ensure that the curriculum, its resourcing and delivery meet today’s students.
* Be an excellent role model, exemplifying a high standard of teaching and promoting high expectations for all members of the school community.
* Raise standards through staff appraisal, with appropriate training.
* Assist with the development and delivery of training and support for staff in the areas of teaching and learning.
* Lead the development and review of agreed aspects of the curriculum including planning, recording, reporting, assessment for learning and the development of a creative and appropriate curriculum for all students.
* Ensure the systematic teaching of basic skills and the recording of impact are consistently high across your specified faculty.
* Ensure robust evaluation of school performance, progress data and actions to secure improvements, comparable to appropriate national and Waldorf standards.
* Ensure, through leading by example, the active involvement of students and staff in their own learning.
Teaching
Up to 40% teaching loading, dependent on role.
Managing the organisation
To play a major role under the overall direction in formulating and reviewing the School Improvement Plan and the aims and objectives of the school by:
* Establishing the policies through which they shall be achieved.
* Leading and managing staff and resources to that end.
* Monitoring progress towards their achievement.
To contribute to:
* Maintaining and developing the ethos, values and overall purposes of the school.
* Planning improvement which will translate school aims and policies into actions.
* Implementing the Board of Trustees’ policies on equal opportunity issues for all staff and students in relation to sex, gender, race, disability, special needs and other protected characteristics.
* The efficient organisation, management and supervision of school routines.
* Regular reviews of the school’s systems to ensure statutory requirements are being met.
* Ensuring the effective dissemination of information and the maintenance of agreed systems for internal communication.
* To ensure a consistent approach to standards of behaviour, attendance and punctuality are implemented across the school.
* To be responsible for the smooth running of co‑ordinating agendas, activities within the faculty and ensure that these do not conflict with wider school priorities.
* To create a robust transition programme for children moving on to the next phase of education, including the delivery of parents evenings, transition group curriculum, facilitating handover meetings and mentoring throughout the Autumn Term.
* To ensure that comprehensive transfer records are provided when pupils move on to the next phase of the School.
* To write or collaborate on all statutory policies appropriate to Faculty.
Curriculum Development
To contribute to:
* The development, organisation and implementation of the school’s curriculum.
* Ensuring the curriculum is of a high standard and is widely desirable (beyond the Waldorf community), providing young people with the education required to thrive in the 21st Century.
* School policies on curriculum, teaching and learning, assessment, recording and reporting.
* Ensuring that the learning and teaching provided by different faculties and teaching teams form a co‑ordinated, coherent curriculum entitlement for individuals.
* Ensuring that information on pupil progress is used to improve teaching and learning, to inform and motivate students, to inform parents, to provide necessary references for other educational institutions and employers and to aid Trustees in their management of the school.
* Monitoring the completion of records on pupils and reports, ensuring that deadlines are met.
* Ensuring that the individual student’s continuity of learning and effective progression of achievement are provided.
Student Care
To contribute to:
* The development, organisation and implementation of the school’s policy for the personal and social development of students, including pastoral care and guidance.
* The active promotion of all aspects of student safeguarding, including physical safety and wellbeing.
* The provision of an environment of social and spiritual awareness.
* The process of interviewing potential students and their families and play an active role in making admissions decisions.
* The effective induction of students.
* The determination of appropriate pupil groupings.
* The promotion among students of standards of conduct/discipline and proper regard for authority and the encouragement of good behaviour.
* The development of a culture of independent learning.
* The handling of individual student cases, where additional support is needed.
Development of self and others
* Support the development of collaborative approaches to learning within the school, Waldorf UK and beyond.
* Participate in the selection and appointment of teaching and support staff as appropriate.
* Support the induction of staff new to the school and those being trained within the school as appropriate.
* Be an excellent role model for both staff and students in terms of being reflective and demonstrating a desire to improve and learn.
* Ensure an appropriate programme of professional development for staff, in line with the school development plan and appraisal cycle, including coaching and mentoring as appropriate.
* Appraisal process for all identified support and teaching staff, as appropriate.
* Support colleagues who are falling short of performance, to reach expected level.
Strengthening relationships in the community
* To be responsible for fostering positive relationships across the school community.
* To help in maintaining and developing effective communications and links with parents and to provide positive responses to concerns and problems regarding their children’s educations and wellbeing.
* Promote positive relationships and work with colleagues in other schools and external agencies.
* To develop and maintain positive links and relationships with the community, local organisations and employers.
* Maintain contact with all specialist support services as appropriate.
* In support of teachers, Guardians and Tutors, act as an initial point of contact for parents and maintain open communication with them.
* Support parents by communicating existing and developing Waldorf pedagogy within a culture of educational enquiry, knowledge and commitment.
* Organise and conduct meetings where appropriate with parents and carers to ensure positive outcomes for all parties.
* Attend meetings with parents and carers as appropriate to ensure positive outcomes for all parties.
* Support Admissions Manager with Open Days, parent talks and evening event suitable to your faculty.
* Support transition events, parents evenings and festivals for your faculty.
Faculty‑specific roles and responsibilities:
Early Childhood
Children Attendance & Staffing
* Monitor attendance, ensure morning registers are completed, and follow up on absences or lateness.
* Arrange cover for staff absences and maintain setting ratios.
Health, Safety & Compliance
* Report maintenance or health & safety concerns to the Maintenance Team or Director of Finance.
* Ensure adherence to Health & Safety and Food Hygiene policies.
Special Educational Needs & Inclusion (EY SENCO)
* Collaborate with the Head of Inclusion on SEN legislation and practice.
* Ensure all staff understand and implement SEN policies.
Safeguarding & Child Protection (EY DSL)
* Liaise with the School’s DSL and refer safeguarding concerns to the relevant authorities.
* Participate in inter‑agency meetings and strategy discussions.
* Act as the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns, including the Prevent Duty.
* Maintain accurate and secure safeguarding records, supporting staff in using CPOMS effectively.
* Monitor CPOMS entries with professional curiosity to ensure robust safeguarding practice.
Marketing & Outreach
* Work alongside the Marketing Manager to promote Early Childhood education through articles, social media, and networking.
* Engage parents and the wider community in the school’s vision and values.
Early Years Sector‑Specific Regulatory Compliance
* Promote high‑quality play‑based learning in line with Early Years pedagogy.
* Ensure compliance with EYFS statutory requirements and Ofsted expectations.
* Lead reflective practice and professional development for Early Childhood staff.
* Foster strong parent partnerships, ensuring smooth transitions for children.
* Champion inclusive practice, ensuring all children can access learning opportunities.
* Develop and maintain positive relationships with County Council Early Years Services including SEN, Funding, and Advisory Services.
* Formulate and implement policies that align with the school’s vision and promote continuous improvement in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
* Ensure Early Childhood meets all legal and statutory requirements, including health and safety regulations and early years standards.
Please note that this is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It’s not a comprehensive list of all tasks that the Early Childhood Manager will carry out. The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role.
Application process
To apply for this role, please complete our standard online application form (available on the Job Opportunities page of our website).
You are welcome to attach a CV if you wish, but a fully completed application form is required.
You will be notified shortly after the closing date if you have been selected for interview. If you do not hear from us within five working days, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.
Previous applicants need not apply.
We reserve the right to appoint before the closing date.
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