Nursery Manager

Part of the Tormead family, Rydes Hill Pre‑Prep and Nursery is a nurturing, home-from-home school where children are carefully guided through each stage of their early development, supported to flourish both academically and personally. At the heart of learning at Rydes Hill are the Five Cs:
Courage, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Curiosity. These values are embedded in every lesson, equipping children with essential life skills that extend far beyond the classroom and into adulthood. Teachers carefully capture children’s interests and imagination, fostering confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.

From September 2026, we are excited to be building upon the success of our current nursery classes by extending our provision to welcome babies from 6 months. We inspire imaginations, creating and nurturing capable, curious learners, preparing each child for a positive and happy transition to the next stage of their school journey. The Nursery operates for 48 weeks per year, from 7.30am to 6pm, in a bright, spacious, and inspirational learning environment with dedicated outside areas.

The Nursery Manager role is an exciting opportunity to shape the next stage of our School’s growth, as well as the care and education we provide in our nurturing, family-focused nursery.

As Nursery Manager, you will be responsible for the smooth, effective and compliant day‑to‑day running of the Nursery to deliver the highest standards of care, education and parental engagement. You will provide professional leadership and management, ensuring the Nursery has a strong, reliable and consistent team working to their full potential. The Nursery Manager acts as a key link between parents, Senior Management Team (SMT), Local Authority and external agencies.

Candidates will have a genuine love and passion for early years education, creating a sense of fun, joy and creativity for the children, ensuring a warm, happy home‑from‑home environment for our youngest learners. Your extensive knowledge, application and delivery of the EYFS and of high‑quality early years practice will ensure that every child has the ability to flourish.

Candidates will have a minimum of 2 years’ management experience in a good or outstanding nursery and childcare setting and will hold a Level 3 Early Years qualification or above. We are seeking a team player with proven experience of managing, motivating and developing outstanding teams of nursery professionals. Your excellent communication and customer service skills will underpin your daily practice with both the Nursery and wider school community.

This is a full‑time position, all year round, working from 7.15am to 6.15pm on a rotational basis. We offer a friendly and inclusive working environment, and our benefits package includes a competitive salary of £45,000 pa (negotiable for an exceptional candidate), 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays, professional development opportunities, and free lunch when Nursery is in session.

For an informal discussion or tour of Rydes Hill, please contact Faye Messinger, Head of Pre‑Prep and Nursery  or call

The closing date for applications is Monday 23 February 2026 at 9.00am
. However, applications will be considered in the order in which they are received, and the School reserves the right to make an appointment prior to the closing date should the ideal candidate(s) be identified.

Rydes Hill School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS check.