Early Years Lead / Nursery Manager
Ide Primary School, Exeter, Devon, EX2 9RN17 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
28 September 2026 at 9am
Date listed
11 September 2026
Job details
Job role
- Head of year or phase
- Head of department or curriculum
- Other leadership role
- Other support role
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Early years
Working pattern
- Full time, part time (Can be done as a job share): Full-time hours: 8am – 5.30pm Monday-Friday, Term time only Flexible hours and working arrangements, including job share, are available. Please let us know what working pattern you're interested in.
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £31,215 - £34,469
What skills and experience we're looking for
We're open to where your early years experience has taken you.
We're looking for an exceptional early years professional to lead and develop our nursery provision – and we're open to where that experience has come from.
You might be an experienced Nursery or Room Leader, EYFS teacher, EYFS-qualified practitioner, HLTA or TA with strong early years experience, or another suitably qualified professional ready to take their next step.
What matters to us isn't your job title. It's your understanding of young children, your early years experience and your belief in what children can achieve.
The foundations built in the early years can shape a lifetime of learning.
Before children learn to read, write or calculate, they learn whether school is a place where they feel safe, valued and capable of trying something new.
We're looking for someone who understands that learning through play is powerful and relationships come before results. Someone who can create an engaging, nurturing environment where children feel secure enough to explore, discover and thrive.
We're looking for someone who:
- holds a relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification or above
- has experience working with young children and a strong understanding of the EYFS
- has high expectations for children's learning, development, wellbeing and behaviour
- builds positive relationships with children, families and colleagues
- values inclusion, safeguarding and meeting the needs of every child, including those with SEND
- is reflective, collaborative and brings warmth, energy and enthusiasm to their work
- is ready to take responsibility for leading and developing our nursery provision
In this role, you will:
- lead and develop our nursery provision
- create a high-quality, play-based EYFS environment
- support strong foundations in language, communication, phonics and early mathematics
- monitor children's development and plan meaningful next steps
- work closely with families and support children's transition into Reception
- ensure high standards of safeguarding and statutory compliance
- contribute to breakfast and after-school provision, with arrangements agreed flexibly wherever possible
What the school offers its staff
About Ide Primary School
At Ide Primary School, we believe every child deserves the very best start in life. As a welcoming and inclusive school at the heart of its community, we are committed to nurturing confident, curious learners and providing enriching experiences that help children flourish. As part of Exeter Learning Academy Trust, you'll join a supportive and collaborative network where relationships matter, professional development is encouraged and every child is known as an individual. This is an exciting opportunity to make a lasting difference, helping young children develop the confidence, resilience and love of learning that will stay with them throughout their educational journey.
Flexible working opportunities
A flexible opportunity
We know great early years professionals come from different backgrounds, and that the right working pattern can make all the difference.
We're open to full-time, part-time, job-share or shared leadership arrangements. This could mean one Early Years Lead working across the full provision, or two professionals sharing responsibility across the morning and afternoon sessions.
We're not looking for a particular job title. We're looking for the right person – or people – to give our children the very best start.
If you have the qualification, experience and passion for early years, don't be put off if you've never been a Nursery Manager. We'd really like to hear from you.
Further information about the job
If you are passionate about early years education, believe in the transformative power of exceptional provision and want to make a meaningful difference to children's lives, we would love to hear from you.
To apply please complete our application form and return it to hr@elatschools.com.
Closing Date: 28th August 2026
Interview Date: w/c 8th October 2026
The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, this role involves directly working with children and significant contact with children, and therefore we expect all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Please ensure a full work history is completed in your application form including any gaps of employment. Applicants will be required to complete satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for this post prior to commencement. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The Trust is an equal opportunities employer.
If successfully shortlisted the HR Department will also be conducting an individual online search of your ‘name, education and employment’, to demonstrate due diligence following ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ guidance. The search will not form part of the actual shortlisting process and any concerns arising from the search will be discussed directly with you.
Commitment to safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. This role also requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Ide Primary School
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 2 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary school
- Size
- 143 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Website
- Ide Primary School website
- Email address
- hr@elatschools.com
Ide Primary School is a village school located on the edge of Exeter. We enjoy all the benefits of the rural location, whilst also making the most of the opportunities that the city of Exeter has to offer. Our staff ‘know children as individuals’ and we are proud of the way that every child is included, known and valued. Our caring ethos is underpinned by the school values or kindness, respect, individual best and curiosity. Children are welcomed into Ide from age 2 and the children throughout the school enjoy having lots of opportunities to interact across the age groups
Arranging a visit to Ide Primary School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email hr@elatschools.com.
School location
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