Bright Horizons UK

Third in Charge

In short

This is a leadership role at an Early Years nursery in Winchester, UK, requiring a Level 3+ Early Years qualification and prior experience as a Third in Charge, Room Leader or Early Years Educator. The role involves leading and mentoring a childcare team, ensuring child welfare, health and safety, and safeguarding, with occasional duties as Designated Safeguarding Lead. It demands strong safeguarding knowledge, decision-making confidence, and the ability to build trust with colleagues, parents and children.

Nursery – Bright Horizons Winchester Day Nursery
Salary – £31,990.40 - £39,894 per annum (dependent on qualification/s and experience)
Bonus - £2000 welcome bonus * Subject to T&Cs
Location – Winchester
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 Third in Charge to join our Winchester nursery, situated close to city centre, train station, bus station and M3 and M27. This nursery offers outstanding care and education, and is invested in professional development with a committed, supportive and longstanding team!
Our Benefits
•Childcare discount of 50% for first child
•Enhanced parental leave
•Competitive bonus of up to £1,500, awarded in line with Ofsted inspection outcomes
•20 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 Third in Charge, you will lead, mentor, support, and inspire a team to deliver exceptional care and education. You will promote and ensure child welfare, health and safety, and safeguarding, and maintain strong partnerships with colleagues, parents, and other professionals to meet each child's needs. When required, you will also act as Designated Safeguarding Lead at the nursery, promote the nursery to support retention and ongoing occupancy growth, and engage with the Local Authority to understand the local offering and support practice across all areas of the nursery.
What we're looking for
•Full and relevant Level 3 or above Early Years qualification
•Previous experience working within an Early Years setting – ideally as a Third in Charge, Room Leader, Early Years Educator or similar
•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.

Stop applying.
Get referred.

$10 in free credits

In just 60 seconds, fully on autopilot — Eraldt's AI agents read your CV, map the roles you fit, find live vacancies and the people who can refer you, write personal emails, and get you referred.

This isn't an application: your CV doesn't go to the company, and we don't promise a referral for this exact role.

Discover who else lands interviews on autopilot