Pre-school Deputy Manager
| Posting date: | 11 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £14.66 per hour |
| Additional salary information: | Pension contributions, pay is pro rata |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 10 April 2026 |
| Location: | SO19 2JB |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Ladybirds Pre-school (Porchester Road) |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
Responsible to: Preschool Manager and Directors
Responsible for: The preschool staff and children in the Manager’s absence
Purpose of the job: Working as a key person and as part of the preschool team under direction of the preschool Manager to provide safe, high quality education and care for the children
As we continue to grow, we are looking for motivated individuals who share our passion, to join our team and make a difference in the lives of children and their families. In return, we offer our commitment to your personal development, fulfillment, and career.
So if you have the following...
A warm, smiling face that makes every child feel special and loved.
The skills required to rapidly count the heads of moving small people!
The ability to laugh at jokes that you don't understand - child humour can be unique!
The ability to remember the names of many children, their parents, siblings, grandparents, pets, and special soft toys. This is a key component of the job.
You must be prepared to have a lot of fun in the workplace. Laughter is something you can expect to engage in for a large part of your working day.
Finally, if you are prepared to feel loved, special, and important to many young children and their families. There is simply no other job quite like this.
Requirements
· Minimum of a level 3 qualification in Early Years.
· Working knowledge & understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
· Ideally, we would like you to have a DBS certificate on the update service, if however, you do not, you will be required to have a criminal check (DBS) as part of the job offer
Desirable
· Previous experience in a similar role.
· Previous experience in Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) or a passion to take on one of these roles in a deputy capacity.
· In date paediatric first aid certificate
· Management or leadership training completed or willingness to undertake.
Role and responsibilities
· To support the Manager, to ensure that the setting operates in an effective and efficient financial manner within its set budget.
· To support the Manager with the planning, delivery, and monitoring of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework.
· Prepare Preschool for the daily programme and help clean/tidy at the end of day.
· Provide personalised care for each child at Preschool.
· Act as the Key Person to a group of children.
· Confidence to communicate effectively with parents/carers and other professionals.
· Maintain accurate records on Key children, using our secure online journal, making observations, and writing up reports.
· Provide input and assistance with curriculum planning.
· Maintain high levels of professional behaviour, adhering to all safeguarding, confidentiality and health and safety policies.
· Demonstrate awareness and understanding of a child’s additional needs and engage in appropriate learning plans.
· To manage the setting and undertake all the necessary duties in the absence of the Manager.
· To manage staff in the absence of the manager, ensuring quality at all times.
SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT
· At Ladybirds Preschool we work with children, parents, external agencies, and the community to ensure the welfare and safety of children and to give them the very best start in life. Children have the right to be treated with respect, be helped to thrive and to be safe from any abuse in whatever form.
· We support the children within our care, protect them from maltreatment and have robust procedures in place to prevent the impairment of children’s health and development. In our setting we strive to protect children from the risk of radicalisation and we promote acceptance and tolerance of other beliefs and cultures (please refer to our inclusion and equality policy for further information).
Hours:-
Full time/Term time only. Start date ideally by May 2026 – if we can we can recruit earlier for a smooth handover.
Monday to Friday 8am – 4pm
Responsible for: The preschool staff and children in the Manager’s absence
Purpose of the job: Working as a key person and as part of the preschool team under direction of the preschool Manager to provide safe, high quality education and care for the children
As we continue to grow, we are looking for motivated individuals who share our passion, to join our team and make a difference in the lives of children and their families. In return, we offer our commitment to your personal development, fulfillment, and career.
So if you have the following...
A warm, smiling face that makes every child feel special and loved.
The skills required to rapidly count the heads of moving small people!
The ability to laugh at jokes that you don't understand - child humour can be unique!
The ability to remember the names of many children, their parents, siblings, grandparents, pets, and special soft toys. This is a key component of the job.
You must be prepared to have a lot of fun in the workplace. Laughter is something you can expect to engage in for a large part of your working day.
Finally, if you are prepared to feel loved, special, and important to many young children and their families. There is simply no other job quite like this.
Requirements
· Minimum of a level 3 qualification in Early Years.
· Working knowledge & understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
· Ideally, we would like you to have a DBS certificate on the update service, if however, you do not, you will be required to have a criminal check (DBS) as part of the job offer
Desirable
· Previous experience in a similar role.
· Previous experience in Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) or a passion to take on one of these roles in a deputy capacity.
· In date paediatric first aid certificate
· Management or leadership training completed or willingness to undertake.
Role and responsibilities
· To support the Manager, to ensure that the setting operates in an effective and efficient financial manner within its set budget.
· To support the Manager with the planning, delivery, and monitoring of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework.
· Prepare Preschool for the daily programme and help clean/tidy at the end of day.
· Provide personalised care for each child at Preschool.
· Act as the Key Person to a group of children.
· Confidence to communicate effectively with parents/carers and other professionals.
· Maintain accurate records on Key children, using our secure online journal, making observations, and writing up reports.
· Provide input and assistance with curriculum planning.
· Maintain high levels of professional behaviour, adhering to all safeguarding, confidentiality and health and safety policies.
· Demonstrate awareness and understanding of a child’s additional needs and engage in appropriate learning plans.
· To manage the setting and undertake all the necessary duties in the absence of the Manager.
· To manage staff in the absence of the manager, ensuring quality at all times.
SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT
· At Ladybirds Preschool we work with children, parents, external agencies, and the community to ensure the welfare and safety of children and to give them the very best start in life. Children have the right to be treated with respect, be helped to thrive and to be safe from any abuse in whatever form.
· We support the children within our care, protect them from maltreatment and have robust procedures in place to prevent the impairment of children’s health and development. In our setting we strive to protect children from the risk of radicalisation and we promote acceptance and tolerance of other beliefs and cultures (please refer to our inclusion and equality policy for further information).
Hours:-
Full time/Term time only. Start date ideally by May 2026 – if we can we can recruit earlier for a smooth handover.
Monday to Friday 8am – 4pm