Brighton College Prep School is seeking to appoint a Nursery and After School Lead to start in February or March 2027. This is an exciting opportunity to join our Early Years team as a Nursery and After School Lead. The successful candidate will be part of a broader team and will lead and manage the Nursery provision through the holidays and Rockhoppers afterschool and Holiday activity camps, as a fully integrated member of the school’s staff team. This position will be responsible to the Assistant Head (Nursery to Year 1).
This role would suit someone from either a nursery background or from within the education sector. Due to the nature of the role the candidate must hold at least an NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector.
Key Responsibilities:
LeadershipTasks
• To liaise with Nursery Lead Teacher and staff and act as a link with the Assistant Head (Nursery to Year 1) on matters relating to the management of staff schedules, recruitment, rotas and staff absence for non term time nursery provision and Rockhoppers provision.
• To have a lead role in managing 50-week nursery provision.
• To be responsible for the progress and performance of pupils in Nursery, including monitoring activity via progress trackers and provision of pupil targets.
• To devise an excellent curriculum for the Nursery, ensuring a rich programme of educational visits and workshops exists
• To champion enquiry-led learning and ensure an outstanding outdoor learning programme is in place.
• To take a lead role in the rockhoppers after school club for reception to year 3.
• To take a lead role in the rockhoppers holiday clubs for reception to year 6.
• To devise an excellent activity programme for the Rockhoppers holiday clubs.
• To have oversight of pastoral care for pupils in the Nursery, after-school club and holiday clubs.
• To analyse year-group academic data in order to track attainment and progress.
• To carry out a planning & assessment folder check for staff within the year group, ensuring that relevant class/pupil information is available, plans are being followed, weekly timetables are written and plans are evaluated/ adapted to suit the needs of the class.
• To arrange and oversee year-group weekly planning meetings for non-term time provision.
• To carry out Assistant Teacher supervision meetings as required.
• To liaise with relevant educational advisors for advice and best practice (e.g. the LEA for Early Years).
Administrative Tasks
• To liaise with key departments across the College, including Finance, Admissions, Marketing, HR and the Bursary.
• To manage and oversee all administration associated with the Nursery curriculum, educational visits and workshops.
• To oversee the publication of all Nursery-related information, including content on the website and MSP.
• To contribute to year-group handbooks, the annual review of policies and the School Improvement and Development Plans.
• To attend weekly staff meetings.
• To assist with arrangements for Nursery taster/familiarisation sessions.
• To manage the associated year-group budgets, including the submission of budget bids.
• To be first point of call for parent queries throughout the holiday period
Teaching
• To ensure a high standard of care and education for all children, so that they are looked after in a happy, safe and stimulating environment.
• To maintain excellent levels of communication, with both staff and parents and to work collaboratively and supportively with all colleagues in school and other linked organisations.
• To plan creatively and resource effectively for indoor and outdoor continuous provision and engaging learning, working closely as a team regarding termly and weekly planning to ensure continuity and progression.
• To support children’s learning through interaction, extension, reinforcement and sensitive intervention, ensuring every pupil has the opportunity to meet their potential and all pupil abilities are catered for.
• To ensure monitoring, recording, assessment and reporting are undertaken in accordance with school policies.
• To be responsible for robust pastoral care of the children and ensure good personal relationships are fostered between the children themselves and with the staff.
• To participate in overseeing the behaviour and discipline of the children in accordance with the school behaviour policy.
• To undertake observations of children individually and in groups and upload comments and assessments on to Tapestry, their online learning journal.
• To promote self-help skills and personal, social and emotional development in children.
• To meet with parents as required and foster good professional relationships and communication at all times.
• To market the school by speaking to prospective parents visiting the classroom, attending Open Mornings/weekend events and acting as ambassadors for the school.
• To follow and take an active part in school policies, procedures and professional development.
• To liaise closely with relevant members of the Senior Management Team, The DSL the Head of Learning Support and other staff members regarding any children for concern.
• To ensure that the classroom provides a stimulating and interesting learning environment; displays should be changed regularly and be relevant to or the result of current classroom work.
• To ensure that communication diaries are read daily and comments are written, as appropriate, to ensure good communication.
• To ensure all pupil related paperwork is up-to-date and accurate (eg: child profiles, health matters etc.)
• To attend parents' evenings, Speech Day, school functions and Parent Association events (sometimes evenings/weekends) as required.
• To be responsible for care, security, and maintenance of resources and equipment in the classrooms throughout the school.
• To undertake all duties and procedures as specified in the current staff handbook.
• To attend weekly staff meetings.
• To participate in the supervision and appraisal process.
• To attend INSETS (sometimes evenings/ weekends) and undertake continuous professional development.
• To be a good role model in respect of speech, dress, behaviour and care of equipment.
Essential Qualities
• To have vast experience teaching 3 and 4 year olds, and the ability to deliver high-quality nursery and reception provision for 2 to 3 year olds.
• An interest and commitment to the education and happiness of young children.
• An ability to lead collaboratively and sensitively.
• An excellent knowledge of relevant teaching curricular, including any recent changes.
• A positive approach to assisting and teaching.
• A caring attitude towards children and peers.
• Patience and tolerance when dealing with others.
• Energy and enthusiasm within a busy workplace.
• A creative outlook and a ‘can do’ attitude.
• The ability to be fair and objective.
• The ability to work as a team member and independently.
• The ability to use initiative.
• A flexible approach and willingness to be flexible with others.
• A willingness to further own professional development.
• To be a good communicator.
• To have a sense of humour!