Room Leader

Overview

Kiddi Caru Sowton Day Nursery in Exeter, part of Grandir UK, is hiring a warm and motivated Room Leader. The position sits within a child-centred nursery environment where the focus is on supporting children’s development, sparking curiosity, and helping them flourish each day.

The role offers a salary of £13.30 to £14.50 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications, with regular pay reviews. The nursery is based in Exeter Business Park near Junction 30 of the M5.

What the Nursery Offers

• 33 days of annual leave, bank holidays included, with 3 days taken during the Christmas shutdown
• A Christmas and New Year closure period
• Flexible working arrangements
• Substantial childcare fee discount
• £500 bonus for successful staff referrals
• Pension plan with employer contributions
• Statutory Sick Pay available from day one
• Life cover for employees aged 18 to 65
• Recognition as a certified Great Place to Work, based on colleague votes

About the Nursery

The nursery is proud of its five-star RHS certification, reflecting a strong commitment to outdoor learning and high-quality early years education. It also holds Eco-Schools accreditation, highlighting a focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, the nursery was rated good across all assessed areas.

Key Duties

• Uphold excellent standards of quality across the nursery
• Guide and oversee room-based staff in their daily work
• Allocate staff effectively so required standards are consistently met
• Carry out nursery key carer arrangements effectively and assign children appropriately
• Make sure the room’s practice and provision meet EYFS expectations
• Share clear, professional feedback with parents and carers about their child’s progress
• Help promote the nursery to existing families and prospective customers
• Build strong, open working relationships with colleagues
• Ensure staff maintain friendly, professional communication with parents and carers

Additional Family and Wellbeing Support

• Maternity and adoption leave paid at 100% for the first 12 weeks
• Paternity leave paid at 100% for 4 weeks
• Parental bereavement leave paid for up to 4 weeks
• Compassionate leave paid for up to 2 weeks
• Miscarriage leave paid for up to 2 weeks
• An extra Wellbeing Day as additional time off
• The Grand Event allowance, offering up to one extra week of annual leave for a major life event after 2 years of service

More Benefits

• Access to a staff benefits portal with discounts from retailers and services including ASOS, gyms, cinemas, M&S, and major supermarkets
• 24-hour remote GP access
• Cashback support for dental care, physiotherapy, and alternative therapies
• Year-round appreciation initiatives, rewards, and team celebrations, with May set aside to celebrate teams
• In-house training tailored to development needs and real opportunities to progress
• A sustainability-driven culture supported by Carbon Literacy-trained teams and Eco Schools accreditation

Recruitment and Safeguarding

Grandir UK is committed to safeguarding children and young people. This position requires an enhanced DBS check. The employer is an equal opportunities organisation and selects candidates on merit. AI-assisted tools may be used during recruitment for tasks such as application screening and reference checks, while final hiring decisions remain with the team.

Applications are reviewed as they arrive, and the vacancy may close early.