Group Director of Nurseries

Lead with purpose. Inspire potential from the very beginning - Join us as Group Director of Nurseries As Group Director of Nurseries, you will play a key role in delivering our shared ambition to provide outstanding, inclusive early years education across our communities. You will provide strategic leadership across all nursery settings, ensuring a consistently high-quality experience for every child, rooted in the principles of the EYFS and aligned with Ofsted expectations. You will work collaboratively with Nursery Managers to build strong, high-performing teams, supporting them to deliver excellent outcomes across quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. Through clear direction, coaching and support, you will embed a culture where high expectations, continuous improvement and a child-centred approach are at the heart of everything we do. You will use data, insight and professional expertise to evaluate provision, identify opportunities for growth and drive improvements that enable all children to thrive and make strong progress from their starting points. Alongside this, you will foster effective partnerships with families, local authorities and external agencies, ensuring our provision is inclusive, responsive and fully compliant with safeguarding, SEND and funding requirements.

As a Group Director of Nurseries, you will be a values-driven leader with a genuine passion for early years education and the difference it makes to children, families and communities. You will bring significant leadership experience and a strong understanding of the EYFS, with the ability to translate this into high-quality, inclusive practice across multiple settings. You will be confident using data to inform decision-making and improve outcomes, with the ability to identify what works and support others to embed effective approaches. Your leadership style will be collaborative and supportive and you will build trust, develop others and create a positive culture where colleagues feel empowered to grow and succeed. You will have a strong understanding of safeguarding, SEND and Early Help, and will be confident working in partnership with local authorities, external agencies and families to ensure every child is supported. Your communication skills will enable you to engage a wide range of stakeholders and build meaningful, professional relationships. Resilient and reflective, you will approach challenges with a solutions-focused mindset and sound professional judgement. You will be committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to creating environments where every child and colleague feels they belong. You will also bring:

• Significant experience in early years leadership
• A proven track record of improving quality and outcomes
• Experience of leading and developing staff through coaching and performance management
• A strong commitment to safeguarding and PREVENT
• A relevant Level 6 Early Years qualification with QTS, alongside English and Maths at Level 2
Above all, you will share our commitment to transforming lives through education, ensuring every child has the best possible start and the opportunity to achieve their potential. Ready to apply?

Alongside our priority of excellent student experience, we also focus on our employees. Here are just some of our benefits when working for the East Kent Colleges Group:
• Generous annual leave allowance - 38 days per year
• Learning and Development Opportunities - 3-4 annual paid group development days, bespoke training programmes and strong internal progression -1 in 3 roles are filled internally
• Flexible Personal Leave - Time off for your child's first day at nursery or school, moving homes and for interviews
• Competitive Pension Scheme - 18% employer contribution
• Exclusive Discounts & Perks - Inc. restaurant, grocery, retail and holidays discounts as well as car leasing and tech purchasing schemes, on-site nursery (if based at relevant site)
• Wellbeing and Health Support - Generous sick pay, counselling services, discounted gym membership at Canterbury College, free eye tests and glasses vouchers, flexible support for medical appointments and return-to-work support
• Culture and Recognition - Being part of Community Days, an Annual Staff Celebration Day, and an eco-friendly organisation dedicated to reaching net-zero by 2030