Early Years Childcare Manager

• Early Years @ Highfield
• Address: Chesterfield Drive, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 6DW
• Salary: £32,000 - £35,000 per annum
• Hours: 37.5 hours per week, 52.14 weeks per year
• Contact: Permanent 
• Reference: 0850

Early Years @ Highfield are looking for a Day Care Manager (Early Years Childcare Manager) to lead and manage a vibrant, successful day care setting for children aged 2 - 4 years in Northwest Ipswich.

Your responsibilities

• deliver and ensure an exceptional standard of learning, development and care.
• manage day to day running of the setting.
• ensure that children and staff are safeguarded at all times.
• collaborate with parents and carers as partners in the children's learning journeys

What you will need

• A minimum full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification
• Grade C/4+ Mathematics at GCSE level
• A minimum of 2 years recent experience working in an early years setting, ideally already in a senior practitioner, room leader or deputy role.  You may also be a manager looking for a new challenge.
• Excellent working knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage, local safeguarding procedures and current Ofsted statutory guidance.
• A passion for ensuring that all children are nurtured with consistent, innovative care that allows them to flourish and become lifelong lovers of learning.

About us

Early Years @ Highfield is a 24-place setting offering all year round, full day care for children aged 2 - 4 years in Northwest Ipswich.  The setting was established in January 2007 and has had consistently outstanding Ofsted inspections since that date.  The last inspection was carried out in February 2020.  It is a place that has a warm, welcoming and inclusive environment.

The setting benefits from close working relationships with, and the support of, the on-site maintained nursery school and children’s centre.

Early Years @ Highfield, together with a sister setting located in the Whitehouse area of Ipswich, is part of Highfield Children’s Centre company, a not-for-profit company.  The managers of both settings work closely together and report to a small team of directors.

The maintained nursery is the lead in the Elevate East of England Stronger Practice Hub and there are regular opportunities for the manager to work alongside the hub.

What we will offer you

• An ideal opportunity to work with like-minded individuals who are passionate about early years education.
• A wide range of CPD opportunities available to all staff through the Stronger Practice Hub.
• A working for a small organisation where you can have a positive influence on practice and outcomes.

For more information

Please read the Job Description (pdf) and Application Guidance (pdf).

To find out more or to arrange a visit, please contact Jannice Simpson by calling 01473 742534.

How to apply

To apply, please submit your completed Application Form (Word) to Karen Pringle, Business Manager, by emailing [email protected]

Closing date: 1.00 pm, 21 August 2026.

Interview date: 27 August 2026.

Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.

Our Setting is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children. All staff must share this commitment. An enhanced DBS and annual safeguarding audit is required for this post.