Third in Charge - Educational Lead

Description

At Little Elms, Educational Leads bridge curriculum leadership and nursery leadership.
They play a vital role in ensuring consistency, supporting staff development and delivering exceptional educational experiences for children across each stage of development.
Our Educational Leads play a key role in ensuring exceptional educational experiences for children across each age phase of the nursery. This is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the quality of education, curriculum implementation and practice standards across all rooms within a designated year group (e.g. Babies, Toddlers or Preschool). Educational Leads work closely with Room Managers and educators to drive high-quality practice, support staff development and ensure consistency across the age group. They act as curriculum champions, role models and mentors, helping teams deliver inspiring learning experiences in line with the EYFS and the Little Elms Curriculum. As members of the nursery Leadership Team, Educational Leads work in partnership with the Nursery Manager and Deputy Manager to support the overall quality, culture and success of the nursery.

Key Responsibilities

• Supporting and coaching Room Managers within the designated year group
• Providing guidance and leadership to educators across the age phase
Leadership & Quality of Education
• Lead and oversee educational practice across all rooms within the designated age group.
• Ensure the Little Elms Curriculum is implemented consistently, effectively and with clear intent.
• Drive high-quality teaching, learning and assessment practices in line with the EYFS and Little Elms values.
• Support teams to create ambitious, engaging and developmentally appropriate learning experiences.
• Monitor the quality of interactions, teaching strategies and children’s experiences across the year group.
• Ensure children’s individual needs, interests and next steps are effectively planned for and supported.
• Promote inclusive practice and support strong outcomes for all children.
• Champion the Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning throughout practice.
Coaching, Mentoring & Staff Development
• Act as the lead mentor and coach for Room Managers within the designated age group.
• Support Room Managers with curriculum planning, practice development and team leadership.
• Carry out regular learning walks, practice observations and quality reviews.
• Provide constructive feedback, coaching and modelling of best practice.
• Support teams to continuously improve through reflective practice and professional discussions.
• Identify training and development needs and support ongoing professional growth.
• Support the induction and onboarding of new staff within the age group.
• Promote a positive, collaborative and high-performing culture. Curriculum & Learning Environments
• Ensure learning environments are inspiring, language-rich, inclusive and developmentally appropriate.
• Monitor planning and assessment systems to ensure consistency and quality across the age phase.
• Support teams to deliver experiences that promote communication and language, wellbeing, creativity, physical development and critical thinking.
• Ensure continuous provision reflects children’s interests, developmental needs and curriculum goals.
• Champion meaningful outdoor learning opportunities and child-led experiences.
Safeguarding, Welfare & Compliance
• Ensure safeguarding and child welfare responsibilities are consistently understood and implemented across all rooms.
• Promote nurturing, safe and emotionally secure environments for children.
• Support teams to maintain compliance with EYFS requirements, nursery policies and Little Elms procedures.
• Work alongside Room Managers to maintain high standards of organisation, hygiene and safety.
Leadership Team Responsibilities
• Be an active member of the nursery Leadership Team alongside the Manager and Deputy Manager.
• Contribute to nursery self-evaluation, quality improvement and action planning.
• Attend leadership meetings and contribute to strategic discussions regarding quality, staffing and nursery development.
• Support the nursery during inspections, audits and quality assurance visits.
• Promote consistency of practice, expectations and standards across the nursery.
Parent Partnerships
• Support teams in building strong and professional partnerships with parents and carers.
• Assist with parent meetings, discussions and concerns where needed.
• Promote high levels of customer service and positive parent experiences throughout the nursery.

Person Specification

Essential
• Full and relevant Level 3 qualification in Early Years.
• Strong knowledge of the EYFS and child development.
• Experience working in an Early Years leadership role.
• Strong coaching, mentoring and leadership skills.
• Ability to inspire and support teams to improve practice.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and child welfare requirements.
Desirable
• Level 5 qualification or above in Early Years or Leadership.
• Experience overseeing multiple rooms or teams.
• Experience supporting inspections, audits or quality improvement initiatives.
• Paediatric First Aid qualification

Key Attributes

• Passionate about high-quality Early Years education.
• Warm, approachable and supportive leader.
• Strong role model for professionalism and practice.
• Reflective and committed to continuous improvement.
• Organised, proactive and solution-focused.
• Able to build positive relationships with children, families and colleagues. Little Elms is an established nursery that aims to provide the highest standards of care for children aged between 3 months and 5 years.
A family-run business, we believe that a fun and a caring environment is crucial to happy and healthy development.

Our nurseries offer state-of-the-art facilities, combining bright and spacious rooms indoors with fabulous outdoor areas. Our experienced and motivated team provides a stimulating yet safe environment for creative play. Little Elms takes pride in being a friendly setting in which each child’s physical, emotional and developmental needs are met. Every child is special and is encouraged to achieve his or her full potential in the precious pre-school years.

Established in 2009, we have 11 nurseries across South London.