Head of Nursery

Head of Nursery

Location: Tornagrain Nursery Inverness, IV2 7JG
Salary: £34,215 per annum
Contract: Permanent, Year Round

Benefits:

• 28 days holiday, with the opportunity to increase based on length of service,
• Free onsite parking,
• Cycle to work scheme,
• Wellbeing programme

Are you passionate about shaping the lives of Scotland's youth? Do you believe in the power of early education to make a lasting impact on children's lives? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

About us:

At Stramash we believe that all children deserve an early year at play, in nature. We are champions of place based, and child directed learning, as such there is no ‘standard’ Stramash site.

It makes sense really, when the site, environment, resources, culture, team and children are all different why would any 2 nurseries be the same?!

Job Role:

Stramash Nursery is seeking a dedicated and experienced Head of Nursery to lead our Tornagrain team into the future. We are looking for someone who shares our commitment to providing a holistic approach to education, centred on building strong relationships and nurturing a child's natural curiosity.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to shape the vision and direction of the nursery, empowering your team to develop their own unique practices. You will also have the chance to be part of a growing organisation, with access to internal training programs and tailored support from experienced nursery heads.

Main Responsibilities:

• To lead and manage the nursery and its team in a largely outdoor setting,
• To provide a high-quality ELC environment for every child, and to ensure parents and all major stakeholders are well engaged throughout.  
• To manage the team on a day-to-day basis, with all that is involved in the management of individuals and a team
• Ensuring very high standards and quality are always maintained and that all procedures, policies and processes are being implemented and followed.
• To ensure that all records and reporting are regularly kept up to date and are of high quality, including, but not limited to, daily records, children’s portfolios, improvement plans and self-evaluations.
• To implement and monitor the self-assessment and review processes.
• To take responsibility for the effective business management of the nursery, ensuring record-keeping is timely, well-organised and accurate.  
• To work with the CEO and Finance Manager on producing and using monthly reporting covering the nursery’s operational and financial performance.
• To promote and embed a culture of continuous improvement within the team and ensure the nursery’s continued readiness for successful future inspections from the Care Inspectorate and/or Education Scotland.   
• To contribute to the training and support of the team’s Modern Apprentice and (if appropriate) to undertake some assessments and independent verification.
• To prioritise your team’s CPD as well as your own.
• To participate in Stramash’s wider management team which meets regularly, and to contribute to Stramash’s strategic priorities and wider organisational life.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

Essential:

• Qualified to at least SVQ level 3 or equivalent in childcare or hold a teaching or education qualification
• Evidence of ongoing CPD and training
• Substantial experience of working with Early Years children and their parents
• Experience of managing and developing people
• Experience of planning and implementing stimulating and productive Early Years play and learning experiences,
• Very good working knowledge of the early level within the Curriculum for Excellence
• Excellent knowledge of outdoor learning, including the underpinning history, ethos and processes, and how it can be used to facilitate the development of children and young people
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work effectively within a team and collaborate with other team members
• Computer literate
• Registered, or eligible to register, with either SSSC or GTCS and able to provide membership of the PVG Scheme

Desirable:

• Additional qualifications, including in the areas of outdoor learning and also in supervision/management
• SQA Assessor qualification    
• Experience of working with children in an outdoor setting, including primary and secondary age
• Experience of managing budgets
• Experience of delivering training and CPD
• Experience of working with stakeholders, partners and volunteers
• Can evaluate and justify the approaches taken in successfully developing children and young people in the desired outcomes in the Curriculum for Excellence
• Ability to teach others (colleagues and peers) and to deliver that teaching in an engaging and stimulating way
• Hold a UK driver’s license, with D1 category

If you feel you have the necessary skills and experience to be successful in this role, click on “APPLY” today.

No agencies please.