Nursery Manager / Early Years Practitioner

About bambooh

bambooh is family-owned. Every director has been on the floor. Has worked the hours. Is still hands on in the settings every day. The policies, decisions, and systems shaping your day are written by people who know what your day actually is.

bambooh Hook Norton is a calm, homely, teaching led nursery in a beautiful village in north Oxfordshire. Our pedagogy is rooted in current developmental science. Practice here is genuinely teaching led, not improvised.

Nursery Manager

• Hook Norton, Oxfordshire
• From £35,000 per year
• Full Time Monday to Friday
• Start: May 2026

We want you back in the room. Back in the game. Back in the fun and play.

At bambooh Day Nurseries, our managers lead from the floor. Not from behind an office door. You are far too valuable and important to the future of our children to be buried in paperwork and admin.

Why this matters now

The NFER Early Years Workforce in England Annual Report 2026 found that early years staff report higher life satisfaction, lower anxiety, and a stronger sense that their work is worthwhile than almost any comparable group of workers in England, and the gap is widening year on year. The same report found that early years workers are more likely than similar workers to say their manager genuinely involves them in decisions (61% vs 53%).

We are recruiting a manager who already reflects that finding, and protects it.

What you will actually do

• Lead the day to day running of the nursery from the floor, alongside your team
• Build strong, professional, trust based relationships with families
• Coach your team with warmth, clarity, and consistency
• Hold the line on safeguarding, health and safety, hygiene, and staffing
• Embed strong EYFS practice across every room
• Create a calm, organised, welcoming environment children settle into easily
• Be the visible, reliable presence the setting depends on

What we offer

• Pay from £35,000, with progression linked to performance and qualification
• A dedicated Education Lead supporting staff training and quality of practice, so you are not the only voice on pedagogy
• Head Office support with funding, rotas, and enrolments, so your time is spent leading rather than firefighting admin
• A confidential Employee Assistance Programme
• A 24/7 online GP service for you and your household
• Childcare discount
• Employee mentoring programme
• Free on site parking

Who we are looking for

• Full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification or above
• Leadership or management experience in an early years setting, or a strong Senior Deputy ready to step up
• Confident, current knowledge of EYFS, safeguarding, ratios, and compliance
• A warm, professional, calm under pressure leadership style
• Genuinely good with people: families, staff, children, and Ofsted inspectors
• Valid Paediatric First Aid and safeguarding training, or willingness to obtain quickly
• Enhanced DBS, or willingness to obtain one
• Right to work in the UK

Level 3 Early Years Practitioner

• Hook Norton
• £13 to £14 per hour
• Full time, 40 to 45 hours per week
• Start: May 2026

You came into early years for the work itself: the development, the play, the moments that matter. So did we.

At bambooh , your Level 3 is treated as the professional qualification it is. You will be trusted with real practice and real responsibility from your first week, and your planning is taken care of for you.

Why this matters now

The NFER Early Years Workforce in England Annual Report 2026 found that early years staff report higher life satisfaction, lower anxiety, and a stronger sense that their work is worthwhile than almost any comparable group of workers in England. The same report found that workplace culture in early years scores higher than in comparable sectors. We have built bambooh so the practitioners on our floor get to feel that, in full.

Your role: Showtime

At bambooh , the planning is done for you. Our dedicated Education Lead writes the curriculum, builds the activities, and hands you a developmentally sound week of practice every week. Your job is to deliver it. Brilliantly. With energy, calm, and presence.

We call it Showtime, because that is what the children deserve and what our practitioners are paid to bring. You bring the performance, the warmth, and the relationship. We take care of the rest.

What you will actually do

• Deliver the curriculum and activities prepared by our Education Lead
• Run high quality care routines as the developmental moments they are
• Support each child's emotional wellbeing and learning
• Build warm, professional relationships with families
• Follow safeguarding procedures and best practice with confidence
• Be a real, contributing member of a strong team

What we offer

• £13 to £14 per hour, with progression linked to performance and qualification
• Full time contracted hours (40 to 45 per week)
• Planning written for you, so your time is spent with children
• 30% staff childcare discount
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• 24/7 online GP service for you and your household
• Paid on the job training and genuine continued professional development
• Real internal progression routes (we promote from within wherever we can)
• Staff days and team events
• Free on site parking

Who we are looking for

• Full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification or above
• Confident, current knowledge of the EYFS
• A calm, consistent, child centred approach
• Strong communication and teamwork
• A genuine interest in child development, not just childcareThe presence and energy to deliver Showtime, every day
• Valid Paediatric First Aid, or willingness to update
• Safeguarding training
• Enhanced DBS, or willingness to obtain one
• Right to work in the UK
• Safeguarding

bambooh Day Nurseries is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS checks, references, and safer recruitment procedures.

How to apply

Send your CV and a short note about why you came into early years to , or apply directly through Health Jobs UK.

We read every application personally. Shortlisted candidates are invited to a setting visit so you can see how we work before any formal interview.