Job Title: Early Years Manager

                     

Reports to: Directors 

    

Annual Salary: £ 30,000 - £34000 - depending on experience, leadership and impact

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Location: Kidderminster​

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EARLY YEARS MANAGER – OUTDOOR KINDERGARTEN

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The World Outside Kindergarten – Kidderminster

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Full Time | 40 Hours Per Week

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ABOUT US

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We’re not a traditional nursery.

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The World Outside is a specialist outdoor kindergarten set within secure woodland on a secondary school site in Kidderminster. We are rated Good by Ofsted and work with families who actively choose independence, resilience and a childhood rooted in real experiences.

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We don’t spend our days indoors.
We don’t rely on plastic provision.
We don’t follow rigid timetables.

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We climb trees.
We light fires.
We build dens.
We follow children’s curiosity.

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We take safeguarding, child development and professional standards seriously.

And we run a business that has to work.

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THIS IS A LEADERSHIP ROLE

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This is not just a step up from room leading.

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You will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the setting, leading a small team, maintaining high standards, and making sure the setting works both operationally and financially.

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There is a lot to manage behind the scenes — staffing, ratios, compliance, enquiries, parent communication — and you will be expected to take ownership of it.

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At the same time, this is not a desk-only role.

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You will be in the woodland, supporting your team, leading practice and making sure standards are maintained on the ground.

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You need to be comfortable doing both.

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WHAT MAKES THIS ROLE DIFFERENT

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A setting with a clear ethos — not a generic nursery
Daily outdoor provision in a secure woodland site
A team that works hard and supports each other
Strong relationships with families who actively choose this approach
Real input into how the setting runs and develops
The opportunity to shape occupancy, standards and direction

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WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

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• Leading the daily operation of the setting in line with EYFS and Ofsted

• Managing, supporting and developing the team

• Taking responsibility for safeguarding, compliance and safer recruitment

• Overseeing observations, assessment and curriculum delivery

• Building strong, professional relationships with families

• Managing enquiries and supporting occupancy

• Understanding how staffing, ratios and funding impact the business

• Making decisions that balance quality with long-term sustainability

• Leading from the front in the woodland — not from behind a desk

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THE PERSON WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You will have experience in a leadership role, such as Room Leader, Deputy or Manager

• You will hold a full and relevant Level 3 qualification as a minimum with at least 2 years experience

• You will have a strong understanding of safeguarding, EYFS and Ofsted expectations

• You will have experience as a DSL and SENCO

• You will be confident making decisions and taking responsibility

• You will understand that a nursery must be sustainable, not just full

• You will be organised, proactive and solutions-focused

• You will be physically capable of working outdoors in all seasons

• You will be honest, resilient and able to lead a team with clarity

• You will have a good understanding of how a nursery operates as a business, including staffing, ratios and financial sustainability

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If you bring additional strengths in SEND, forest school, behaviour support or leadership — we want to hear about them

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Passion for outdoor childhood is essential

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WHAT A TYPICAL DAY LOOKS LIKE

Morning woodland checks and a thorough site risk assessment

Team check-in — staffing, ratios, priorities for the day

Supporting the team in the woodland and leading practice where needed

Welcoming families and managing the flow of the day

Responding to the unexpected — because every day is different

Balancing time between the children, the team and the operational side

Handling enquiries, parent communication and decision-making

Working closely with the owner on key operational and business decisions, taking responsibility for implementing them within the setting

Observing standards, supporting staff and addressing issues early

Fire circle, outdoor learning, real experiences

End-of-day reflection, planning and preparation for tomorrow

You will be supported by the owner, with regular communication and guidance, while maintaining responsibility for the day-to-day running of the setting

You will go home physically tired
You will go home muddy
You will go home carrying responsibility

And you will know your work matters

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SALARY AND HOURS

This is a full-time position, 40 hours per week

Salary range: £30,000–£34,000 depending on experience, leadership and contribution

This reflects the level of responsibility — this is a key role within the setting

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WORKING WITH THE OWNER

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• You will be working closely with the owner, who is hands-on, honest and expects high standards.

• You will be given responsibility and trusted to do your job, but also supported when needed.

• Ideas are welcomed, but so is accountability.

• You will not be expected to work outside of your contracted hours — we believe in working hard, but keeping things sustainable.

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NEXT STEPS

Think this might be the role you’ve been looking for?

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Complete our short online pre application questionnaire

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It won’t take long, but it will tell us far more than a CV ever could.

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If shortlisted, you will complete our formal safer recruitment application form.

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And if everything aligns, we will invite you into the woodland to meet the team and spend time with us properly — because choosing the right person works both ways.

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