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Nursery manager

Alternative titles for this job include Pre-school manager

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

Average salary (a year)

£23,000 Starter

to

£35,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

35 to 40 a week

You could work

early mornings on a rota

Meet Louise

Louise talks about how fulfilling her career as a nursery manager is.

For more information on how to become an early years educator visit the 'Do something big' campaign site.

1 minute 40 second watch

View transcript

Once you've got a little bit of experience, you can go anywhere with it.

My name's Louise and I've been in childcare since I was 16.

So I've always wanted a career in childcare. I come from quite a large family, so it's something I always knew I wanted to do.

In my current role as a nursery manager, no two days are the same. You really get to know the children, to follow their interests, to speak to the parents and bring it in from home about their likes, their dislikes.

The application process into childcare was really straightforward. As a nursery manager or any member of staff you have to be really adaptable, and you have to be able to change plans quite quickly depending on the needs and interests of the children. Our parents have noticed a change in the children's development.

Think that there are courses that would always be relevant in some way. Maybe if that's if you going to have your own children or for your family members. But also for me. I learned a lot about myself through the courses as well.

It did surprise me when I started in childcare to see how much progression there was. You can just keep going in and it's quite good because once you've started in a nursery, you're in a nursery and once you've got a little bit of experience, you can go anywhere with it.

When you're sort of in that kind of environment out of it, I don’t think you realise how much there is to it and how quickly you can progress as well.

We do quite a lot with the children, we have extracurriculars.

A good thing about childcare is you learn on the job as well that you learn as you’re going. My advice to anyone thinking to step into childcare would be definitely go for it.

Trust your team, support each other, bond with the children and the parents (They’re just as important) and everything else will come naturally.

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

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

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

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

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.

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.

You can contact Early Years Careers by phone or email to get answers to questions about starting a career in early years education.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

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:

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

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

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could:

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Level 3 Early Years Apprenticeship

  • Wage: £13,741 a year Annually
  • Location: MILL HILL, LONDON

Childcare Level 2 Apprentice

  • Wage: £12,563.20 a year Annually
  • Location: London
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

T Level Education and Early Years - Education and Early Years

  • Provider: HARTLEPOOL COLLEGE OF FURTHER EDUCATION
  • Start date: 01 September 2025
  • Location: HARTLEPOOL

T Level Education and Early Years - Education and Early Years

  • Provider: ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE
  • Start date: 08 September 2025
  • Location: Abingdon
Find courses near you

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