Director of Early Years

The Co Operative Academies Trust, Manchester, M60 0AG

17 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  12 October 2026 at 12am (midnight)

• Date listed

  25 September 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Head of department or curriculum
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 1, Key stage 2
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: L10–L14 (£66,956-£73,827)

Director of Early Years job summary

Director of Early Years 

Transform Early Years Education Across Cumbria and Beyond

Are you an exceptional Early Years leader with the vision to drive systemic change, inspire educators, and deliver outstanding outcomes for young learners?

Co-op Academies Trust is seeking a Director of Early Years to lead, innovate, and raise standards across our primary academies. Based primarily in South Cumbria (Barrow region), this high-profile executive role combines targeted local leadership with strategic, Trust-wide impact.

You won’t be working in isolation. You will join an established Directorate alongside two other Directors of Early Years, tapping into a rich pool of specialised knowledge, high-quality resources, and shared expertise across our collaborative network.

Predominantly based in South Cumbria (Barrow-in-Furness), with an expectation to work at other schools across the Trust when requested, alongside monthly collaboration in Manchester.

Why Choose Co-op Academies Trust?

Autonomy & Innovation: We give you the freedom to challenge conventions, introduce cutting-edge practice, and shape curriculum design, while aligning with our overarching Trust strategy.

True Collaboration: Benefit from strong peer support through regular directorate meetings and monthly trust-wide strategic sessions in Manchester.

Professional Growth: As a key trust-wide leader, you will be empowered to deliver high-impact CPD to a diverse audience from classroom teachers and senior leaders to Headteachers and Trustees.

Values-Driven Culture: Work within an organisation rooted in co-operative values, dedicated to improving life chances for children in diverse communities.

The Role & Your Impact

As Director of Early Years, you will act as a champion for early childhood education, holding our academies accountable for excellence while providing the support needed to achieve it.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Driving Force: Predominantly support our South Cumbria academies, leading target setting, progress meetings, and moderation to secure strong pupil outcomes.

Capacity Building & CPD: Design and deliver engaging, high-quality professional development to diverse groups across the Trust, building sustainable leadership and teaching capacity.

Curriculum & Provision Development: Model outstanding Early Years practice, ensuring curriculum and provision exceed Ofsted and Education Inspection Framework expectations.

Accountability & Quality Assurance: Hold school leaders and academies to account for school improvement priorities, supporting overall outcomes across the region.

Trust Directorate Contribution: Work closely with the Regional Director, fellow Early Years Directors, and central teams to embed best practices across all Trust primary academies.

What We Are Looking For

Proven Track Record: Demonstrable success in driving measurable improvements in Early Years provision and pupil outcomes across multiple classes or school settings.

Expert Knowledge: Deep expertise in the EYFS statutory framework, early reading/phonics, curriculum design, and Ofsted inspection criteria.

Influence & Accountability: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to combine high expectations, rigorous accountability, and constructive challenge with tact and empathy.

Leadership & Coaching: Experience in coaching educators, leading diverse teams, and delivering impactful CPD.

Mobility: Full driving licence and willingness to travel regionally across South Cumbria and to central Trust meetings in Manchester.

How to Apply

If you have the passion, expertise, and drive to shape Early Years education across our Trust, we’d love to hear from you. Please follow the online application process detailing how your experience meets the job description and person specification.

Closing Date: 9am on Monday 12th October. Interviews are scheduled to take place on 20th or 21st October. 

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Co-op Academies Trust as an aware employer is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults as its number one priority. This commitment to robust recruitment, selection and induction procedures extends to organisations and services linked to the Trust on its behalf. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. We value variety and individual differences, and aim to create a culture, environment and practices at all levels which encompass acceptance, respect and inclusion. All our colleagues are expected to demonstrate a commitment to co-operative values and principles.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About The Co Operative Academies Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-co-operative-academies-trust

Why us?
Co-op Academies Trust is a place where you are part of something bigger, through a leading education and opportunities to serve our community, we are working together to make a better world.

From ages 3-19 Co-op Academies Trust supports students in Primary, Secondary and Special schools across the North of England, giving children the skills and experiences they need to succeed, no matter where they come from.

What makes our Trust unique is that we are sponsored by the Co-op Group. That close relationship means that we benefit from all the business expertise that has seen the Co-op grow to one of the most respected, successful businesses in the country.

Everyone in the Trust honours our fundamental commitment to the Ways of Being Co-op. They are our DNA; they represent our culture and reflect the rationale behind our decision-making. No matter what we do, they are how we do it.

Our ways of being are:

Be Yourself, Always
Show You Care
Do What Matters Most
Succeed Together
In 2025, we have 38 academies as part of the Co-op family, across 4 regions.

Our Values
Being part of the Co-operative Group, we are both guided and driven by the Co-op values which are embedded in everything that we do within our Academy - We strive to demonstrate the following ethical values in everything we do - they are our ‘Ways of Being’:

Succeed together

Do what matters most

Be yourself, always

Show you care

So, if you believe in our values, we would love to hear from you!

We offer a wide range of benefits and rewards to recognise the part you play in our success:
Benefits include:

You’ll get being a Co-op member, you’ll get a Co-op colleague discount card. This gives you a 10% discount in our Co-op Food stores.
Co-operative flexible benefits (discounted line rental and broadband package, family care advice and cycle to work scheme)
Discounted gym membership and leisure activities which includes discounts on Merlin Entertainments (Sea Life, Legoland etc), Virgin Experience Days, SuperBreak and many more
Co-operative Credit Union: save directly from your salary and receive a competitive dividend. Borrowers can benefit from very competitive interest rates & terms (in comparison with other high street lenders)
Co-op Funeralcare benefit
Season ticket and rental deposit loans
And More!

For more information about the Co-op Academies Trust, please visit: www.coopacademies.co.uk

The Trust is also committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage or civil partnerships.

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