Join Our Team at Busy Bees – One of the UK's Leading Nursery Groups

About the Role

Are you an enthusiastic and experienced early years professional with strong leadership and management skills? As an Assistant Centre Director at Busy Bees, you will work closely with the Centre Director to support the successful running of the nursery, helping to oversee daily operations and ensure the highest standards of childcare, education and staff development.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys taking responsibility, motivating others and working in a busy, rewarding environment. You will play an important part in leading and developing the nursery team, maintaining high-quality practice and ensuring the setting operates effectively. Working alongside the Centre Director, you will help create a positive culture where both children and employees can flourish.

About Busy Bees

Busy Bees is one of the UK's largest and most established nursery groups, with almost 400 nurseries across the UK and additional settings overseas. We are passionate about providing every child with the best possible start in life through high-quality early years education and care.

We also recognise the importance of our employees and the contribution they make to our success. We are proud of our award-winning workplace culture and are committed to ensuring every team member feels valued, respected and supported, with opportunities to develop and progress throughout their career.

Why Work at Busy Bees?

At Busy Bees, we believe in investing in our people and creating an environment where employees feel empowered to grow professionally and achieve their ambitions.

As an Assistant Centre Director, you will have the opportunity to strengthen your management experience, develop your leadership skills and work alongside an experienced leadership team. You will help inspire colleagues, promote high standards and contribute to creating an environment where children receive outstanding opportunities to learn and develop.

You will also gain experience with our unique Bee Curious curriculum, which encourages children to explore, discover and build confidence through engaging and purposeful learning experiences.

About Our Nursery – Busy Bees East Grinstead

Busy Bees East Grinstead is an Ofsted-rated Good nursery with a capacity of 88 children. Our established and dedicated team is passionate about providing high-quality care and education, ensuring every child receives the best possible start in life.

The nursery benefits from an experienced manager who has been part of its journey since opening in December 2019. Their leadership has helped create a welcoming, nurturing and supportive environment where staff are encouraged to work together and deliver the best outcomes for children.

Our location is particularly convenient, with the train station just a 10-minute walk away, offering direct connections to London. The town centre is also within a five-minute walk, and we are situated directly opposite a local leisure centre.

We offer a range of benefits to support our employees, including free on-site parking and the option of a four-day working week, helping to promote a healthy work-life balance.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join an established nursery team, develop your management career and make a real difference to the quality of early years education and the experiences of both children and staff.

Busy Bees Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Ongoing professional development and career progression
• Our ‘Hive’ benefits and wellbeing hub, with discounts across a huge range of retailers
• Up to 28 days holiday per year (including bank holidays)
• Your birthday off – it’s our gift to you!
• 50% childcare discount
• Enhanced family leave and return to work bonus
• Menopause support through Peppy
• Financial support through Salary Finance
• Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health First Aiders
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Easy access to your workplace pension through Cushon
• Discounted Private Medical Insurance (PMI)
• Opportunities to travel to other countries, experience different cultures and learn new practices.

But wait, there’s more! You'll also enjoy access to our Benefits and Wellbeing platform, Hive - offering huge array huge of retail discounts helping your money to go further, along with a Wellbeing Hub featuring resources to support your physical and mental health. A Celebrating You section showcasing the ways we recognise and reward our valued team members. Plus, a dedicated Grow with Us area sharing the exciting development opportunities and training designed to support you to thrive and grow at Busy Bees.

Join our supportive and collaborative work environment, learn from experienced colleagues, and make meaningful connections.
If you are ready to make a positive impact in the field of early childhood education and childcare, we encourage you to apply for the Nursery Manager position at Busy Bees.
Apply now to be part of our dynamic team and take the next step in your career.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Centre Director in overseeing the daily operations and maintaining educational standards.
• Assist in developing and delivering an engaging, high-quality curriculum tailored to the needs of children.
• Ensure the centre complies with all relevant regulatory requirements and maintains high safety and health standards.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to staff, ensuring a cohesive and motivated team.
• Lead efforts to enhance customer satisfaction by delivering exceptional service and promoting a positive centre experience for families.
• Assist with administrative tasks, including scheduling, payroll, and recruitment.
• Manage operational records and support financial planning to ensure sustainability.

• An approved Level 3 qualification or above in early years education.
• Experience within an early years setting, with leadership or supervisory experience ideally as either a Assistant Nursery Manager or Deputy Nursery Manager.
• Proven track record of ensuring educational excellence and curriculum development.
• Strong communication and organisational skills, with a focus on teamwork.
• Experience in maintaining compliance with regulatory standards and health and safety protocols.