Manager-in-Training (Ark Start)

Reporting to: Headteacher

Location: Various locations across London

Contract: 12-month fixed term with potential for permanent manager position

Working Pattern: Full-time (37.5 hours per week) but part time roles considered

Closing date: 16/08/2024 at 10am

Interviews: Interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised

Salary: Competitive

About the role:

As we expand, we are looking for a Manager-in-Training to join the founding team at Ark Start Nurseries. In this role, you will have the opportunity to work with existing managers and our head of teaching and learning to prepare to take on the management of a brand new Ark Start nursery.  

We are looking for individuals ambitious to progress into leadership roles and eager to learn more about how to run an exceptional nursery. Successful candidates will have a genuine passion for young children and a deep commitment to the mission and values of Ark Start.

Your training will combine management experience in a particular setting along with bespoke training, coaching and a programme of training and experiences that will mean you are fully prepared to take on your very own nursery.

Our offer will give you time each week to complete some specific training, whilst also having more informal mentoring and coaching as you go.  We anticipate that you will become a manager, with enhanced salary and opportunities, within twelve months or sooner.  We will provide hands-on, guided and supportive help throughout your journey through to manager level and beyond.  We are committed to helping you thrive and develop, whilst also enjoying your work and feeling confident in the support of all your colleagues.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Encouraging young children to enjoy learning about their environment through fun games and activities
• Encouraging the development of social awareness through interactions with other children
• Ensuring that classrooms and outside play areas are child-friendly and safe
• Promoting high standards of the nursery at all times to parents, staff, and visitors 
• Keep records of all children’s development and learning journals and share this with parents and carers and ensure all record keeping is up to date and accurate 

Training on offer

• Mentoring and coaching 1:1 from an experienced early years leader
• Visiting high quality settings and schools
• Training from our Headteacher on:
• Leading people
• Leading change
• Family engagement
• Child development
• Pedagogy, Assessment and Curriculum intent and implementation
• The Ark Start coaching model
• Safeguarding and managing risk
• SEND and EAL provision
• School readiness

Key Requirements:

• Minimum Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care or equivalent
• Deputy manager, class teacher or room leader experience
• Right to work in the UK
• An awareness of keeping children safe, noticing safeguarding and welfare concerns, and knowing how and when to take appropriate action
• A team player that can work collaboratively as well as using own initiative

View the full job description and person specification here

About Ark Start:

Our dedicated team work together to ensure that every child has a joyful, engaging, and secure nursery experience and leaves us ready to start school happily and confidently. We are driven by our values in everything we do: Aim High, Be Brave, Be Kind and Keep Learning.

Ark Start is at an exciting time in its evolution. We have four nurseries in London and aim to expand our reach over the coming years. As we expand, we are looking for a Deputy Manager to join our founding team. We are looking for someone with a genuine passion for young children and with the skill, creativity, commitment, and energy to deliver excellent provision at Ark Start.

Benefits:

• A Real Living Wage Employer: We are a Real Living Wage employer with a minimum salary of £13.15 per hour for all roles in London. We also pay 11% pension contributions
• Ongoing Learning: We are committed to providing the best development for all our staff. We close the nurseries for five days each year to focus on staff training and ensure there is protected time for training and supervision each week for every adult. We work hard to ensure there are clear career progression routes
• Annual leave: We are proud of our staff and want everyone to feel valued for playing their part. That’s why staff receive 25 days holiday each year, excluding bank holidays
• Wellbeing: Staff wellbeing is incredibly important to us. We know that while incredibly rewarding, working in a nursery can be challenging. We therefore work hard to ensure all staff have the support and infrastructure they need to take care of their wellbeing
• Part of a Network: Ark Start is part of Ark, a charity that aims to transform children’s lives through education. Ark operates a network of 39 schools across London, Birmingham, Portsmouth, and Hastings as well as a number of charitable ventures. Being part of a network means our staff get access to the opportunities, infrastructure, and support of a large organisation

How to Apply:

Apply with a CV and cover letter on our online recruitment portal. Applications to be submitted by Friday 16^th August 2024 at 10am but please note: we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response.

If you would like to hear more about this role or about Ark Start, please contact HR@arkstart.org.uk

This ATS application form should take no longer 20 minutes to complete. At any time, you can pause, save, and log back in. If you have any difficulty with your application, please contact recruitment@arkonline.org

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.  

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link. 

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.