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Nursery manager

Nursery managers run early years childcare centres, providing day care for babies and young children from birth to 5 years.

Annual Salary

£23,000 to £35,000

Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

35 to 40 a week

You could work: early mornings; on a rota

4.3%
Future employment

There will be 4.3% more Nursery manager jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

As a nursery manager, you would:

  • create a safe and stimulating environment to promote learning
  • update parents and carers on children's progress
  • recruit staff and develop the nursery team
  • keep records and create reports
  • manage a budget
  • make sure safety and child protection regulations are met

Working environment

You could work in a nursery.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
University

You can do a foundation degree or degree in child development or a related subject, such as:

  • early years education
  • psychology
  • childhood studies

Some nurseries may prefer you to have early years teacher status (EYTS).

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
For more information
College

You could start by doing a Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce.

You can also take other childcare qualifications but they must be at least level 3 if you want to become a manager.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
For more information
Apprenticeship

You could do an Early Years Educator Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship or an Early Years Lead Practitioner Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship.

These can take from 18 to 24 months to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
For more information
Work

You could start as a nursery worker. With further training, for example, the Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner, you could apply for management jobs.

You'll usually need at least 2 years' work experience with children in a nursery to apply to become a manager.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

More information

Further information

You can get more advice about working in childcare from Early Years Careers and the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

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With experience, you could:manage a group of nurseries within an local area or region; become a trainer or assessor on childcare courses; move into nursery inspection; train as an early years teacher or children's social worker; set up your own private nursery

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • leadership skills
  • business management skills
  • customer service skills
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
  • the ability to work on your own
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
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