Manager, Wee Wild Sparks Outdoor Nursery

• Location: Coupar Angus
• Hours: Flexible, with core hours of 8.30am - 4.30pm on 2 days.
• Salary: 26,000 - 27,000 Pro Rata

Wee Wild Sparks Outdoor Nursery are seeking an inspirational manager with the ability to lead a small team of dedicated staff and role model exemplary child-led, outdoor, early years practice. This post will involve an equal split of contact and non-contact time, working two days during term time in the woods, and the remaining time in the office.

This post is 4 - 4.5 days per week during PKC term time, with some additional evening, weekend and school holiday commitments. 

We will offer you:

• A passionate committed team and positive working environment
• CLPL and mentoring to develop your career
• A challenging and varied role. 
• Flexible working hours & home working options (outside core hours)
• The chance to grow with our evolving organisation
• Regular access to nature and associated health benefits

Key duties will involve:

• Delivering exemplary childcare and learning opportunities in line with Curriculum for Excellence
• Leading a small team, delivering peer reviews and setting appropriate training and professional development targets
• Engaging families in nursery life and supporting families through transitions and challenges
• Overseeing our woodland site, engaging contractors as required, providing resources to meet learners needs and ensuring the site is safe and fit for purpose
• Working in partnership with Perth and Kinross Council
• Facilitating inspections to a high standard and working with Care Inspectorate
• Writing, reviewing and implementing policies and procedures
• Writing, Implementing and evaluating an annual nursery improvement plan
• Consulting with children, families and staff and ensuring their needs are reflected in planning and change
• Managing a budget and supporting directors to set appropriate financial targets for the service

Nursery manager- To be considered for this opportunity:

You will need to be a dynamic individual that can demonstrate the ability to work to prioritise a busy workload

• Minimum SVQ or NVQ Level 3 in childcare, playwork or equivalent qualification / experience
• Hold, be working towards or willing to undertake a degree in Childhood Practice, or equivalent
• Significant experience in, and passion for Early Years, particularly play based learning
• Committed to outdoor learning with an understanding of nature pedagogy
• Motivated and interested in the management and leadership aspects of the role, as well as working directly with children and families.
• Flexible, adaptable and creative. Professional and reliable.
• A good listener that actively seeks and considers the views of others (children, parents and colleagues) and can collaborate effectively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to communicate confidently and sensitively and produce reports, training materials etc
• Able to work on own initiative, with excellent organisational, time management and IT skills.
• Working knowledge of child protection procedures and regulations
• Knowledge of Care Inspectorate regulations and inspection criteria
• Familiar with risk assessment and management, using a risk benefit and dynamic risk assessment approaches
• Ability to remain calm and confident in a range of challenging or emergency situations
• Physically fit and mobile; able to traverse our woodland site and carry a heavy rucksack 
  
  

Find out more about Wee Wild Sparks at:  
www.wildsparks.co.uk/nursery

www.facebook.com/Wild-Sparks-Outdoor-Play-Careers-103702177914864/

If you think you have the right skills and experience please contact alice@wildsparks.co.uk for a full job appication pack.

Start date: Due to the impacts of COVID-19 we cannot set a clear start date for this role, and understand that applicants may have similar uncertainties around their own personal and professional commitments. Never-the-less we are inviting enquiries and applications now and will set interview and appointment dates as and when key information becomes clear.