THIRD IN CHARGE (ASSISTANT dEPUTY MANAGER) for Forest School Nursery
Little Forest Folk are looking for a Third in Charge (Assistant Deputy Manager) to join our exceptional team at our Wimbledon Village and Twickenham sites.
Come and join our beautiful fully outdoor forest nurseries, where we are providing 2-5 year olds with an exemplary early years learning experience, to help them become the children most likely to succeed in today’s world.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone with deputy manager, room leader or other leadership experience, who is passionate about early years education and the outdoors to join an “Outstanding” outdoor nursery organisation, recognised by the Queen for their innovation.
The Role
As a Little Forest Folk Third in Charge you will be tasked with ensuring the smooth running of the day in the forest and at the indoor site. You will directly report to the Manager on site, and liaise with this person daily about logistics, routines and required tasks. You will be a role model to other staff onsite, mentoring the team and promoting the setting’s philosophy and ethos among the children and staff team. You will be co-responsible for ensuring the safety, safeguarding and wellbeing of the children and staff, and will step up to manage the site in the absence of manager or deputy.
Key Responsibilities
Safeguarding
Adhere to any relevant policies about keeping children safe, ongoing safeguarding, equal opportunities, data protection and confidentiality,
Advise the Deputy Manager or Manager of any concerns, e.g. over children, parents, the safety of the environment, preserving confidentiality as necessary
Read, understand and adhere to all policies and procedures relevant to your role and the safe running of the setting
Keep completely confidential any information regarding the children, their families or other staff that is acquired as part of the job
Ensure good standards of safety, hygiene and cleanliness are maintained at all times
Care & Education
Supervise, observe, mentor and support children aged 2-5
Be responsible at all times for high standards of care and education
Effectively deliver the EYFS ensuring that the individual needs and interest of children in the setting are met (in conjunction with other team members)
Ensure the provision of a high quality environment to meet the needs of individual children having an awareness of any disabilities, family cultures and medical histories.
Keep records of your key children’s development and learning journeys and share with parents, practitioners and other key adults in the child’s life.
Take regular photographs of all children for records and their Tapestry Journal and complete an observation sheet for each child.
Support the manager and deputy manager in 2-year-old checks, assessment on entries and assisting/planning for SEN children
Develop and maintain strong partnerships and communication with parents/practitioners to facilitate day-to-day caring and early learning needs.
As a management team, ensure children’s developmental learning journeys are tracked and documented appropriately.
Operations
Assist in managing the Little Forest Folk site set-up to include, carry out a risk assessment, ensure logistics are communicated e.g. ensure food/snacks, activities and walk-outs are done in time
Assist in managing the Little Forest Folk indoor site to include, changing waterproof clothes of children, dinner, planning of activities as well as staff breaks and closing of the nursery are done in time
Assist the manager and deputy manager in signing in staff in the morning and preparing the lockboxes as well as signing out staff in the evening and filing documents
Assist the manager and deputy manager in ensuring children are signed in and out on a register in the morning and evening
Help maintain equipment and resources to include regular auditing of equipment for staff including bags, first aid kit, sunscreen and individual first aid kits and other supplies including nappies, kitchen roll, toilet paper, soap and any other items required daily.
Team Management
1. Support all staff and play a key part in keeping team morale high
2. Be responsible for mentoring staff in planning and documenting children’s learning
3. Give regular feedback on development of team members to the deputy and manager
4. Actively participate in team meetings
Little Forest Folk
1. Promote the Little Forest Folk and Outdoor Learning ethos
2. Be involved in out of working hours activities, e.g. training, monthly staff meetings, and events
3. Work alongside the manager, deputy manager and staff team to ensure that the setting’s philosophy is fulfilled.
4. Be aware of the high profile of the setting and to uphold its standards at all times, both in work hours and outside
What we are looking for in our ideal Third in Charge:
· A minimum of Early Years Level 3 qualification
· Experience working with 2-5 year olds
· Forest school or outdoor experience is desirable but not essential
· A real passion for nature play and engaging children with the outdoors
· Sound knowledge of the EYFS statutory framework
· Good knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding children obligations
· Someone who is highly organised, reliable and a driven team-player
· Strong relationship-building and communication skills to build a rapport with parents and practitioners alike
· The ability to adapt quickly to changes, is flexible and uses initiative
We believe in looking after the people who look after our children, so our educators enjoy a range of perks such as;
28 days annual leave, inclusive of public holidays
1 additional day of annual leave after each full year of employment
A day off on your birthday – everyone should spend their birthday eating cake, not at work
Competitive salaries
Funded Level 3 Forest School Qualification
Career progression opportunities
Professional development and in house training with leading names in the Early Childhood industry
Social events throughout the year
A fit, healthy, active job
Discounts at our favourite outdoor retailers
Hours: 40 hours per week
Location: Wimbledon Village & Twickenham
Salary: £28,000 - £29,000 dependent upon experience
To apply please send your CV and a covering letter explaining why you would like to join our exciting venture to careers@littleforestfolk.com.
To learn more about what we do at Little Forest Folk, feel free to find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/littleforestfolk or try browse our website. Should you have any questions about the role, we'd love to hear from you!
Privacy notice for job applicants can be found on our website here.
