Nursery manager
Nursery managers run early years childcare centres, providing day care for babies and young children from birth to 5 years.
What you'll do
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.
Career path and progression
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
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
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
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to:
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
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
More Information
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
More Information
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
More Information
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.
Further information
You can get more advice about working in childcare from Early Years Careers and the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.
You can contact Early Years Careers by phone or email to get answers to questions about starting a career in early years education.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.