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Deputy Nursery Manager
full-time•Stockton-on-Tees
About this role
Deputy Nursery Manager
Location: Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees
Salary: Up to £29,000 per annum
Contract/Hours: Permanent/Full Time – 40 hours per week
Closing Date: Midnight on the 6th of February 2026
Benefits:
- Time off to recharge – 25 days plus bank holidays
- 24/7 Confidential Helpline - speak to trained counsellors any time, 365 days a year, for emotional, wellbeing or mental health support.
- Enhanced Wellbeing -8 sessions In-Person, Phone, or Online Counselling or CBT
- Treat yourself - Staff discounts portal and blue light card with 15,000 & retailers
- Childcare Discount – Enjoy 60% off childcare within our nurseries and out of school clubs
- Up to 3 Days Dependency Leave – to care for dependents in an emergency.
- Paid maternity, adoption, and paternity leave
- Gain professional qualifications - with excellent training/development opportunities
- Salary Finance - access to financial advice and the ability to manage savings or loans directly from your salary
- Secure your future - Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover
Why Spring Nurseries
Imagine a place where laughter echoes, imaginations run wild, and every day is new adventure. At Spring Nurseries, where more than a collection of settings, we are a family, dedicated to nurturing children to thrive and supporting staff through a clear career pathway.
About the nursery
Spring Layfield is based at Layfield Primary School, caring for children aged 3 months to 4 years with a wrap around and holiday provision including breakfast and after school clubs for children up to 11 years.
Our two bright, child-centred rooms encourage independence and exploration, with free flow access to beautiful outdoor areas, a forest school, and allotment. We're proud of our strong partnership with the primary school being fully engaged with the local community.
About the Role
The Deputy Manager is a full-time role, combining direct work with children and leadership responsibilities. You will work predominantly with the children while also supporting the Nursery Manager with the day-to-day management, administration, and leadership tasks.
You will help lead and support the staff team, maintaining high standards of care, learning, and safeguarding, and contribute to the smooth and effective running of the nursery.
This role requires strong communication, organisation, and the ability to balance direct work with children alongside managerial responsibilities.
What we need from you
Our successful candidate will have an enthusiastic and pro-active mindset with a positive attitude and have the ability to assist in leading a team to form strong and supportive relationships with the parents, children and the team.
Our Job Description outlines the requirements of the role, but the ‘must haves' are:
- Minimum level 3 qualification in Childcare or Early Years.
- Leadership or management experience, in a childcare setting.
- Experience of working in a senior role within a nursery setting or centre working with children aged 0 to 5 years and their families.
- Knowledge and understanding of the EYFS, Ofsted requirements and relevant current legislation.
- Understanding of child protection processes, safeguarding and working with vulnerable children.
- Commitment to inclusive and non-discriminatory working practice with children, families, colleagues and the community.
Whether this is a career change for you or the next step in your journey, we'd love to hear from you.
We work together to reach our mission to give children a healthy start in life.
Good luck! We can't wait to hear from you.
Contact: If you need support with your application, please contact our Recruitment Team at [email protected] quoting reference 12542.
We'll be happy to give you any support you require.
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
At Spring Oscars we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within the organisation. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups.
Male staff are often under-represented within this sector, and we would like to encourage more male applicants for our roles.
We are committed to safer recruitment practices to protect our service users; therefore, all applicants are expected to have an understanding of and commitment to safeguarding best-practice.
Don't meet every single requirement?
If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with the job description, we'd love you to apply anyway. You might just be the perfect person for this role, or another role within the Action for Children family.
Application Process
Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
There are 5 sections for you to complete - Personal Details, CV, Supporting Statement & Information, Equality & Diversity, Submission & Declaration – please refer to the Job Description when applying.
We also want to know what unique qualities you can bring to help us reach our vision for children and families.
Talent Pool: We're sure you've got what it takes to join our ambitious team. If you're unsuccessful this time around, we'd like to hold your details in case similar jobs come up that you might be better suited for. But feel free to let us know if you'd rather we didn't do that.
Want to know more about Spring and Oscars?
Check out our socials on Linkedin, Facebook or Youtube.
See below for further information about working with us:
Spring Early Years Career Pathway
What you'll do
- The Deputy Manager will work directly with children while supporting the Nursery Manager in day-to-day management and leadership tasks. They will help lead the staff team, maintain high standards of care, learning, and safeguarding, and contribute to the effective running of the nursery.
About Spring
Modern, high quality childcare provision for children from birth to 11 years
across 49 centres in the UK.Settings that feel fresh, warm, and cheerful - a nurturing, positive and energetic atmosphere that feels like a sociable breath of fresh air.
A bright place where a professional and caring team inspire and enable children to discover their individuality and creativity giving them a positive attitude to learning and confidence to move on to primary school.
A place where parents are involved in their children’s learning, have the confidence that their children will begin their journey through educational play, early
language, healthy lifestyles and an understanding of the world, learning all the skills they need to help them grow and flourish.
Ready to join Spring?
Take the next step in your career journey
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Deputy Nursery Manager do at Spring?
As a Deputy Nursery Manager at Spring, you will: the Deputy Manager will work directly with children while supporting the Nursery Manager in day-to-day management and leadership tasks. They will help lead the staff team, maintain high standards of care, learning, and safeguarding, and contribute to the effective running of the nursery..
Is the Deputy Nursery Manager position at Spring remote?
The Deputy Nursery Manager position at Spring is based in Stockton-on-Tees, England, United Kingdom. Contact the company through Clera for specific work arrangement details.
How do I apply for the Deputy Nursery Manager position at Spring?
You can apply for the Deputy Nursery Manager position at Springdirectly through Clera. Click the "Apply Now" button above to start your application. Clera's AI-powered platform will help match your profile with this opportunity and guide you through the application process.