Operations Manager (preschool and wrap around)

Purpose of the Role

To provide full strategic and operational leadership across the entire organisation, ensuring outstanding standards across all breakfast clubs, after-school clubs, holiday clubs and preschool settings. The role holds responsibility for safeguarding, Ofsted compliance, quality assurance, staff management, operations, finance oversight and all statutory and organisational paperwork.

This role ensures the business runs smoothly every day and is always inspection-ready.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Company Management

• Oversee daily operations across all settings
• Provide clear direction, leadership and professional guidance
• Ensure consistent standards, expectations and culture across sites
• Lead meetings, strategic planning and continuous improvement
• Ensure safe staffing, deployment and rota management
• Make confident operational decisions to protect children, staff and the business

Authority & Accountability

• Holds senior decision-making responsibility across the organisation
• Authority to close a room or site if unsafe
• Authority to suspend or restrict staff duties where necessary
• Responsible for escalating serious concerns appropriately to Owner / Ofsted / LADO
• Accountable for compliance, quality and operational standards business-wide

Ofsted & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with EYFS, Ofsted and statutory requirements
• Maintain organisation-wide Ofsted readiness at all times
• Lead oversight of all Ofsted documentation, evidence and audits
• Must attend ALL Ofsted inspections across any setting
• Lead post-Ofsted actions, improvement planning and implementation

Safeguarding & Child Protection

• Lead safeguarding standards across all settings
• Oversee DSL practice and ensure policy compliance
• Ensure accurate safeguarding recording and secure storage
• Ensure MARFs / referrals are completed correctly when necessary
• Lead serious incident management and follow-up
• Promote a culture of vigilance and child-centred practice

Paperwork, Administration & Quality Assurance

• Oversee all organisational paperwork and compliance documentation
• Ensure registers, safeguarding records, accident logs and operational forms are accurate
• Lead regular compliance audits
• Ensure policies are updated, communicated and embedded
• Maintain Risk Assessments and Health & Safety compliance
• Ensure robust evidence trails to support practice

Health & Safety

• Lead Health & Safety compliance across all sites
• Oversee risk assessments and emergency procedures
• Ensure legally required First Aid cover across all settings
• Monitor incident trends and implement improvements

Finance & Business Oversight

• Oversee financial processes relating to childcare provision
• Support budgeting and sustainability
• Monitor spending, staffing cost effectiveness and resource allocation
• Ensure funding compliance (FEEE / PSOU / 30 hours etc.)

Staff Management & HR

• Support recruitment, induction and safer recruitment practices
• Lead staff performance oversight and standards
• Support disciplinary or capability processes when required
• Promote professional development and positive workforce culture

Parent, School & External Relationships

• Lead high-quality communication with parents when required
• Support settings with complaints and complex situations
• Maintain strong working relationships with schools, churches, councils and partner agencies
• Represent the organisation professionally

Complaints & Serious Incident Management

• Lead complaint responses and investigations
• Oversee allegation management in line with safeguarding expectations
• Maintain full chronology and evidence management

GDPR & Confidentiality

• Ensure GDPR compliance across the organisation
• Oversee secure handling and storage of sensitive data
• Ensure confidentiality standards are adhered to by all staff

Quality Improvement & Curriculum Oversight

• Lead Quality Improvement and development planning
• Support settings to meet and exceed Ofsted expectations
• Monitor provision standards, environment quality and learning experiences

Performance Monitoring

Responsible for monitoring company performance including:

• Compliance standards
• Occupancy / attendance
• Staff performance
• Parent satisfaction
• Inspection readiness

Crisis & Emergency Leadership

• Lead emergency response such as severe weather, closures or staffing shortages
• Ensure safe and professional handling of unexpected

Working Pattern & Presence Across Settings

This is a flexible role that involves a balance of working from home and on-site presence across all company settings.

The post holder will:

• Work from home to complete strategic planning, paperwork, compliance tasks, financial oversight and administrative duties.
• Regularly visit each breakfast club, wrap-around provision and preschool setting to provide visible leadership, support teams, carry out audits, monitor quality and ensure compliance standards are being consistently met.
• Be available to attend settings at short notice where necessary, including supporting staff, responding to incidents, or addressing operational needs.
• Be physically present at all Ofsted inspections and any significant external meetings relating to compliance, safeguarding or regulatory matters.

This role requires a proactive presence across the business, ensuring strong relationships with teams, a clear understanding of day-to-day practice, and continuous high standards across every site.

Person Specification

Essential

• Proven leadership and management experience
• Excellent understanding of EYFS and Ofsted requirements
• Strong safeguarding knowledge
• Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail
• Confident decision maker able to work under pressure
• Excellent communication skills
• Experience managing compliance and paperwork

Desirable

• Level 3 or above Early Years qualification or leadership qualification
• DSL training
• Multi-site management experience

Personal Qualities

• Reliable and trustworthy
• Calm, resilient and confident
• Child-centred and passionate about quality
• Positive, supportive and professional leader

Job Type: Permanent

Pay: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Childcare
• Flexitime

Work Location: On the road