Baby Room Leader

Early Years Practitioner (Qualified)

Hoppers of Dinton, a boutique nursery based in Dinton, is seeking a Qualified Baby room Leader to play a key role in creating a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment where children can learn and grow.

You’ll be responsible for supporting children's development, managing daily activities, and meeting each child's individual needs with care and attention.

So why would you want to work for Hoppers of Dinton? We are independent and proud of it - we don't do things the corporate nursery way (apart from all the important legal bits, of course). If you have been there, done that with the bigger companies and are looking for a role where you can really make a difference and have more say, then this is the place for you.

We want our team to feel like family and we’re all about keeping long-term staff who can grow alongside the children we care for. Big enough to serve, but small enough to care!

Hours

36–45 hours per week across 4 or 5 days

Shifts between 7:30 am and 6:00 pm Monday to Friday

Contract

Year-round, permanent

Reporting to

Manager / Business Owner

Responsibilities

Provide a safe and nurturing environment for children under 2, ensuring their well-being and development.

Plan and implement engaging educational activities that promote early childhood learning.

Maintain cleanliness and hygiene standards, including holding a Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate.

Communicate effectively with parents and caregivers regarding children's progress and needs.

Handle concerns professionally and escalate when needed

Lead parent meetings or progress reviews where appropriate

Maintain children’s records, development files, and planning documentation

Manage room resources, equipment, and stock levels

Ensure the room is clean, safe, and well-organised daily

Contribute to policies, audits, and inspections preparation

Assist with rotas if required

Supporting the Manager / Business Owner

Act as second-in-charge on the floor when the manager is absent

Support with staffing decisions, cover, and day-to-day problem-solving

Help implement nursery policies and changes

Assist with inspection readiness (documentation, practice standards)

Provide feedback on staff performance and room improvements

Be flexible

You may step into multiple roles during the day

Help across rooms if ratios require it

Maintain high standards

The Ideal Candidate Will...

Genuinely enjoy working with children and want to make a real difference in their early education.

A team player who’s committed, reliable, and ready to become part of our close-knit family.

Be full of energy, creativity, and fun

Make every child feel special and valued

Be prepared to

Sing songs

Read the same story again (and again!)

Eat an imaginary ice-cream at the park

Fly to the moon, find the Gruffalo, or enjoy pretend tea parties

Sprinkle a little magic every day!

Essential requirements

Hold a Level 3 Early Years Qualification or above

Have at least 2 years of experience working with children under 2.

A good standard of education, with GCSE English and Maths at grade 5/C or above (or an equivalent qualification - Level 2 Functional Skills

Benefits

6 weeks of annual leave

Extra day off on your birthday

Additional leave for long service (after 2 years, T&Cs apply)

Complimentary lunch

Company pension

Free parking / On-site parking

Childcare discount

Team building and company events

Long service awards

Introduce-a-colleague scheme (bonuses from £250–£500)

Opportunities for professional growth

Internal & external training

Ongoing CPD with no set training budget

Note

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. A DBS check and suitability checks (by Ofsted and Hoppers of Dinton) will be required.