Nursery Room Leader – Baby, Toddler and Preschool Rooms

Locations: Lewisham, Vauxhall, Tooting and Balham Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week Shifts: Between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, including 8:00 am–6:00 pm or 9:00 am–6:00 pm depending on the nursery Salary: Competitive and dependent on location and experience Are you an experienced Nursery Room Leader, Baby Room Leader, Toddler Room Leader, Preschool Room Leader or Early Years Room Leader looking for a new challenge? Perhaps you want a nursery closer to home, a more supportive team, better career progression or a working environment where your ideas and leadership are valued. This is a hands-on Room Leader position for someone who wants to shape the atmosphere of their room, bring out the best in a small team and ensure children receive thoughtful care and meaningful learning every day. You will not lead from the office. You will be present in the room—observing what children need, setting the pace for the team, stepping in when routines become busy and helping practitioners understand not only what to do, but why it matters. The impact you will make As a Nursery Room Leader, you will: * Create a room where children feel secure, curious and confident to explore * Give practitioners clear direction while keeping the team positive, involved and accountable * Turn observations into meaningful next steps instead of paperwork completed for its own sake * Maintain calm and organised routines during arrivals, meals, sleep, toileting, outdoor play and collection times * Build honest relationships with parents so they feel informed, listened to and confident in the room team * Notice gaps in practice early and coach staff before small issues become repeated problems Leading your room and team Choose where your leadership fits best Baby Room Leader You will lead a calm and responsive baby room where strong attachments guide the day. You will oversee bottles, feeding, weaning, sleep routines, nappy care and sensory experiences while ensuring every practitioner understands each baby’s individual routine. You will monitor care records, support settling-in plans and provide parents with detailed and reassuring handovers about their baby’s meals, sleep, mood, care and development. Toddler Room Leader You will lead a lively room where language, movement, independence and emotional development are changing quickly. You will help the team manage transitions, toilet training, group routines and challenging moments with consistency. Planning should respond to the children’s genuine interests and give toddlers opportunities to communicate, make choices and build confidence. Preschool Room Leader You will lead purposeful learning that prepares children for school without turning the nursery room into a classroom. You will strengthen communication, early literacy, maths, independence and problem-solving through play. You will oversee accurate observations and next steps while working with parents and other professionals to support smooth transitions into Reception. Standards you will own As an Early Years Room Leader, you will take responsibility for: * Safeguarding practice, including immediate reporting, accurate recording and confident escalation of concerns * High-quality EYFS planning, observations, assessments and next steps across every key group * Safe room organisation, daily checks and ongoing risk awareness * Medication, allergies, accidents and care procedures * Consistent and professional parent communication * Sensitive conversations with parents and agreed follow-up actions * An inclusive environment where additional needs, home languages, cultures and individual routines are understood * A professional room culture where staff communicate well, support one another and remain focused on the children What we are looking for You should have: * A recognised Level 3 or higher Early Years qualification * Strong nursery experience, ideally with Room Leader, Deputy Room Leader or senior responsibilities * A practical understanding of the EYFS, safeguarding and the role of the key person * Confidence delegating responsibilities and giving staff feedback * The ability to hold colleagues to agreed standards * A warm and visible leadership style that motivates rather than intimidates * The judgement to remain calm, prioritise and make sound decisions during a busy nursery day We will also consider experienced Nursery Practitioners and Senior Early Years Practitioners who are ready to progress into their first Room Leader position and can demonstrate strong leadership potential. Why apply through Tendly? We will discuss the type of setting, room, team culture, location, salary and progression you want before introducing you to a nursery. Opportunities are available across Lewisham, Vauxhall, Tooting and Balham for leaders who want to make a genuine difference to children and the practitioners they support. Apply today to discuss your next Nursery Room Leader, Baby Room Leader, Toddler Room Leader, Preschool Room Leader or Early Years Room Leader opportunity