Bright Horizons UK

Deputy Manager (Mat cover)

In short

Deputy Manager role at a Bright Horizons day nursery in Chingford, London, covering a maternity leave contract for around 9-12 months. The role involves leading and mentoring the nursery team, acting as Designated Safeguarding Lead, and supporting succession planning, retention, and occupancy growth. Requires a Level 3+ Early Years qualification and prior Early Years leadership experience (e.g. Deputy Manager, Assistant Manager, Third in Charge), plus strong safeguarding knowledge and experience with regulatory inspections.

Nursery
Bright Horizons Chingford Day Nursery & Preschool, 76 Station Road, Chingford, London, E4 7BA
Salary – Starting from £36,088 per annum (dependent on qualification/s and experience)
Hours - Full time, 40 hours, Monday - Friday.
Location – Chingford, E4 7BA
Are you looking to work for an organisation whose culture is driven by our HEART principles – Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork? Where you can be yourself, feel supported, and help to make a difference to the next generation? Somewhere you can say: “I did that.”
We’re looking for a Deputy Manager to join our Chingford nursery covering a maternity leave contract for a period of around 9-12 months.
Internal applications closing Monday 18th May 2026
Our Chingford setting has many different outdoor area’s of all children of ages along with a lovely forest area. Our setting is located close to Chingford Train station.
Our Benefits
•Starting from £36,088 per annum
•Childcare discount of 75% for first child
•Enhanced parental leave
•25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and paid Christmas closure. Ability to also purchase additional leave*
•Pension
•Financial and wellbeing benefits including 24/7 virtual GP appointments, early access to wages, and more
•Professional development programme access for every stage of your career, including access to a careers coach
Subject to T&Cs
The Role
As a Deputy Manager, you will lead, mentor, support, and inspire a team to deliver exception care and education. You will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, overseeing day to day running of the nursery and management of safeguarding and child protection policies. You will contribute to succession planning, training, and supporting team professional development plans, maintain strong partnerships with colleagues, parents, and other professionals (such as the Local Authority), and support the commercial success of the nursery through retention, occupancy growth, and maintaining budgets.
What we’re looking for
•Full and relevant Level 3 or above Early Years qualification
•Experience within an Early Years leadership role (ideally as a Deputy Manager, Assistant Manager, Third in Charge or similar)
•Experience of participating with a regulatory inspection, leading to a ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ outcome
•Confident decision maker, with previous experience providing support and leadership to others
•Strong knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding, Child Protection, and the wider legislative requirements for working with children
•Ability to develop trust and strong working partnerships with both colleagues and parents/ carers
•Ability to use a variety of communication techniques with both children and adults
Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.
We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants. Please note, due to our sector all roles are subject to an Enhanced DBS.

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