Deputy Manager
| Posting date: | 12 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £13.70 per hour |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 11 April 2026 |
| Location: | Colchester, CO2 7HE. |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Fun 4 Kids Colchester Ltd |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | DM SJG |
Summary
St John’s Green School
St John’s Green
Colchester
CO2 7HE
Job summary: Deputise for the manager in their absence
Support other practitioners and the continuous improvement of the
setting.
Provide the highest level of care ensuring the individual needs and
safety of the children is met in accordance with Ofsted welfare
requirements and our company safeguarding policy.
Line manager: Club Manager
Responsible for: Play workers and volunteers in the absence of club manager
Hours of Work: 2.30pm-6.00pm Monday to Friday term time only (option for additional hours in the company holiday club)
Rate of Pay: £13.70ph (salary is split over 12 months so you get the same basic pay all year round) The pay is increasing in April 2026.
Main duties include:
• Being the Deputy Designated safeguarding lead for the setting.
• Ensure safeguarding practices are always adhered to. This includes following the safeguarding (child protection) policy, supporting and advising staff and students on matters of safeguarding and attending regular face to face safeguarding forums delivered by the Essex Safeguarding Team.
• Prepare walking lists and lead the walk between two school sites safely delivering the children to the club.
• Signing staff and children in, out and absent on NIB.
• Support and encourage your team with planning for the EYFS, preparing and delivering quality play opportunities.
• Positively support and encourage staff with all aspects of their role.
• Facilitating good communication and build positive relationships with all members of the organisation, parents, schools and childcare and play related agencies.
• Complete all mandatory training and be prepared to complete additional training keeping up to date with documentation and legal requirements for your own continuous professional development.
• Support the manager with daily paperwork e.g. parent queries and responding to emails.
• Support the manager with team meetings, write the minutes and distribute amongst the team and ADM.
• Support the manager when conducting fire drills and lock down procedures. Take an active role as a fire marshal ensuring records are kept.
and complete peer observations with the staff team.
• Be an active Keyworker observing children and recording their development, share your knowledge to support your team working within the framework of the EYFS and the club’s policies and procedures.
• Undertake the manager role in the managers absence this includes attending Managers meetings if they cannot attend, reporting safeguarding concerns and having difficult conversations with parents.
• Implement risk assessment and ensure ongoing risk assessments are used and updated as necessary, keeping the work environment healthy, safe and secure.
• Set up the play space moving furniture and play equipment, set up activities to ensure a welcoming environment is prepared and ready for the children to access on arrival, a rich environment with learning opportunities.
• Providing comprehensive care for the children including collecting them from school and delivering them safely to parents/carers.
• Delivering an effective circle time, covering wellbeing, rules and activities on offer.
• Support children to develop their independence and emotional regulation and manage children's behaviour with positive reinforcement.
• Consult with children regarding club activity choices, snacks, behaviour and wellbeing.
• Implement good hygiene practices into the setting to ensure that health and safety standards are met and ensuring the environment is clean and tidy at the end of each session.
• Take responsibility for the ambience of the setting eg wall displays, general appearance of the setting.
• Prepare and collect a shopping list for snacks and resources, ensure a variety of healthy breakfasts and snacks offered are in line with current government guidelines and the schools food standard guide.
• Take turns to serve snack following food safety practices.
• Administering first aid and complete the required paperwork.
• Checking the first aid box contents regularly and request stock for replenishing.
• Storing and administering medication correctly and recording it accurately.
• Assist with intimate care of a child (when necessary).
• Regular checking of toilets and cleaning if necessary.
• Take turns in laundering the club tea towels and cloths.
• Actively promote the club via Facebook and attend school open evenings as required.
• Each half term you should be available to contribute to the sanitisation of the club and its resources, ensuring they are clean and safe to use (this may involve coming in to setting during the holiday or inset days). You will receive overtime if this is in your own time.
Person specification
Essential qualities
• Experience of working with 4 to 11 year olds
• Appropriate Level 2 or 3 qualification or valid experience
• You will be organised and adaptable, with the ability to lead by example in providing exceptional care for the children as a senior practitioner as well as supporting with management tasks as required across the provision.
• A substantial knowledge of the EYFS, with a good track record of supporting other staff in a senior position.
• Ability to communicate professionally with peers and parents
• Understanding the varied needs of children and their families
• Ability to communicate on all levels with children
• Sufficient understanding and use of English to ensure the well-being of the children
* Para 3.40 of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2025
St John’s Green
Colchester
CO2 7HE
Job summary: Deputise for the manager in their absence
Support other practitioners and the continuous improvement of the
setting.
Provide the highest level of care ensuring the individual needs and
safety of the children is met in accordance with Ofsted welfare
requirements and our company safeguarding policy.
Line manager: Club Manager
Responsible for: Play workers and volunteers in the absence of club manager
Hours of Work: 2.30pm-6.00pm Monday to Friday term time only (option for additional hours in the company holiday club)
Rate of Pay: £13.70ph (salary is split over 12 months so you get the same basic pay all year round) The pay is increasing in April 2026.
Main duties include:
• Being the Deputy Designated safeguarding lead for the setting.
• Ensure safeguarding practices are always adhered to. This includes following the safeguarding (child protection) policy, supporting and advising staff and students on matters of safeguarding and attending regular face to face safeguarding forums delivered by the Essex Safeguarding Team.
• Prepare walking lists and lead the walk between two school sites safely delivering the children to the club.
• Signing staff and children in, out and absent on NIB.
• Support and encourage your team with planning for the EYFS, preparing and delivering quality play opportunities.
• Positively support and encourage staff with all aspects of their role.
• Facilitating good communication and build positive relationships with all members of the organisation, parents, schools and childcare and play related agencies.
• Complete all mandatory training and be prepared to complete additional training keeping up to date with documentation and legal requirements for your own continuous professional development.
• Support the manager with daily paperwork e.g. parent queries and responding to emails.
• Support the manager with team meetings, write the minutes and distribute amongst the team and ADM.
• Support the manager when conducting fire drills and lock down procedures. Take an active role as a fire marshal ensuring records are kept.
and complete peer observations with the staff team.
• Be an active Keyworker observing children and recording their development, share your knowledge to support your team working within the framework of the EYFS and the club’s policies and procedures.
• Undertake the manager role in the managers absence this includes attending Managers meetings if they cannot attend, reporting safeguarding concerns and having difficult conversations with parents.
• Implement risk assessment and ensure ongoing risk assessments are used and updated as necessary, keeping the work environment healthy, safe and secure.
• Set up the play space moving furniture and play equipment, set up activities to ensure a welcoming environment is prepared and ready for the children to access on arrival, a rich environment with learning opportunities.
• Providing comprehensive care for the children including collecting them from school and delivering them safely to parents/carers.
• Delivering an effective circle time, covering wellbeing, rules and activities on offer.
• Support children to develop their independence and emotional regulation and manage children's behaviour with positive reinforcement.
• Consult with children regarding club activity choices, snacks, behaviour and wellbeing.
• Implement good hygiene practices into the setting to ensure that health and safety standards are met and ensuring the environment is clean and tidy at the end of each session.
• Take responsibility for the ambience of the setting eg wall displays, general appearance of the setting.
• Prepare and collect a shopping list for snacks and resources, ensure a variety of healthy breakfasts and snacks offered are in line with current government guidelines and the schools food standard guide.
• Take turns to serve snack following food safety practices.
• Administering first aid and complete the required paperwork.
• Checking the first aid box contents regularly and request stock for replenishing.
• Storing and administering medication correctly and recording it accurately.
• Assist with intimate care of a child (when necessary).
• Regular checking of toilets and cleaning if necessary.
• Take turns in laundering the club tea towels and cloths.
• Actively promote the club via Facebook and attend school open evenings as required.
• Each half term you should be available to contribute to the sanitisation of the club and its resources, ensuring they are clean and safe to use (this may involve coming in to setting during the holiday or inset days). You will receive overtime if this is in your own time.
Person specification
Essential qualities
• Experience of working with 4 to 11 year olds
• Appropriate Level 2 or 3 qualification or valid experience
• You will be organised and adaptable, with the ability to lead by example in providing exceptional care for the children as a senior practitioner as well as supporting with management tasks as required across the provision.
• A substantial knowledge of the EYFS, with a good track record of supporting other staff in a senior position.
• Ability to communicate professionally with peers and parents
• Understanding the varied needs of children and their families
• Ability to communicate on all levels with children
• Sufficient understanding and use of English to ensure the well-being of the children
* Para 3.40 of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2025