Early Years Strategy Lead (Interim) Fixed-Term Assignment Flexible Working Chichester Competitive Salary
Are you an experienced early years leader with a strong commercial mindset? I m looking for a strategic consultant to help unlock growth, strengthen workforce capacity, and build a sustainable future across three nursery settings.
The Role
You ll work closely with senior leadership to tackle one of the biggest challenges in early years provision: staffing and capacity.
Despite strong demand and full registration capacity, current staffing levels are limiting occupancy to around %. One rural setting faces additional recruitment challenges creating a unique and impactful brief.
This is a high-impact, short-term assignment where your expertise will directly shape future growth and sustainability.
What You’ll Deliver
* A full diagnostic review of staffing, deployment, and workforce capacity
* A targeted recruitment plan for a hard-to-staff rural nursery
* A costed 3-year workforce and capacity strategy across all settings
* Practical recommendations to improve:
o Staffing models
o Leadership capacity
o Recruitment and retention
* A clear action plan with risks, priorities, and next steps
What You’ll Be Doing
* Reviewing current staffing structures, ratios, and leadership capacity
* Analysing how staffing impacts occupancy and financial performance
* Identifying barriers to recruitment and retention (including rural challenges)
* Designing innovative, realistic recruitment solutions, such as:
o Flexible working models
o Apprenticeships and grow your own pathways
o Employer branding and attraction strategies
* Building a phased plan to safely increase occupancy while maintaining quality and compliance
What We’re Looking For
* Significant senior leadership experience in early years education
* Proven success in: Commercial nursery operations and Workforce planning and scaling capacity
* Strong knowledge of: EYFS statutory framework Ofsted requirements Staffing ratios and operational delivery
* Experience solving recruitment and retention challenges, ideally in rural or hard-to-fill settings
Desirable Experience
* Multi-site nursery leadership
* Financial or commercial planning expertise
* Developing apprenticeship or workforce pipeline models
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