Nursery Deputy Manager (FTC-12 months)

Nursery – Bright Horizons Whetstone Day Nursery and Preschool

Salary – Starting from £36,088 per annum (FTC - From May 2026 for 12 months) (dependent on qualification/s and experience)

Location – Whetstone, London

Are you looking to work for an organisation whose culture is driven by our HEART principles – Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork? Where you can be yourself, feel supported, and help to make a difference to the next generation? Somewhere you can say: “I did that.”

We’re looking for a Deputy Manager to join our Whetstone nursery, situated in Whetstone, North London, commutable by car or public transport. The nearest station is Totteridge & Whetstone Underground Station, which is on the Northern Line making it easily commutable from Barnet, Finchley, Mill Hill, Camden, Euston and surrounding areas! This is a fixed term contract from May 2026 for 12 months.

Our 46 place nursery is Ofsted rated ‘Good’, with a beautiful rooftop terrace, which allows children to continue their learning journey outdoors. With a wide range of age-specific activities and toys, there is always so much to discover and explore, including our exciting sand and water trays.

Our Benefits

• Childcare discount of 75% for first child*
• Enhanced parental leave
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and paid Christmas closure. Ability to also purchase additional leave*
• Pension
• Financial and wellbeing benefits including 24/7 virtual GP appointments, early access to wages, and more
• Professional development programme access for every stage of your career, including access to a careers coach

*Subject to T&Cs

The Role

As a Deputy Manager, you will lead, mentor, support, and inspire a team to deliver exception care and education. You will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, overseeing day to day running of the nursery and management of safeguarding and child protection policies. You will contribute to succession planning, training, and supporting team professional development plans, maintain strong partnerships with colleagues, parents, and other professionals (such as the Local Authority), and support the commercial success of the nursery through retention, occupancy growth, and maintaining budgets.

What we’re looking for

• Full and relevant Level 3 or above Early Years qualification
• Experience within an Early Years leadership role (ideally as a Deputy Manager, Assistant Manager, Third in Charge or similar)
• Experience of participating with a regulatory inspection, leading to a ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ outcome
• Confident decision maker, with previous experience providing support and leadership to others
• Strong knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding, Child Protection, and the wider legislative requirements for working with children
• Ability to develop trust and strong working partnerships with both colleagues and parents/ carers
• Ability to use a variety of communication techniques with both children and adults

Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants. Please note, due to our sector all roles are subject to an Enhanced DBS.

If you want to make a difference, with a company who has been voted Great Place to Work every year since 2006, apply today!

INDCLH

We look forward to receiving your application!

If you experience any problems, please email [email protected] and we will be happy to help.