Tweenies Room Lead
What if your next role didn't feel like just another nursery job?
We’re looking for a Tweenies Room Lead who wants to be a part of the Abbotswood magic.
4 day working week 7:45am – 6pm (39 hours) *fixed days off can be requested.
Starting wage: £29,000 *wage increase after passing 6 months’ probation.
Our Tweenies are aged 15 months–2 years old, a wonderful stage where curiosity, confidence and independence are beginning to flourish. With a 1:3 ratio, our practitioners have the time to get to know each child, responding to their individual interests, needs and developing personalities.
Our walking babies spend their days investigating bugs, tending to their allotment, mixing potions in the mud kitchen and testing their growing independence through climbing trees and heading off-site for adventures in our nature reserve. We embrace the outdoors as an important part of everyday life, including opportunities for children to sleep outdoors, supporting their individual routines and helping them experience the calm and comfort of fresh air and nature.
Transitions are gentle and led by each child. We work closely with families from the very beginning, building strong parent partnerships so that home routines, interests, comforters, sleep patterns and emerging independence are understood and supported consistently between home and nursery.
Inside, our Tweenies have warm, inviting spaces that feel like home, somewhere to slow down and recharge after a busy morning of exploring. It is a space where children can be nurtured and encouraged to take those first exciting steps towards independence, always supported by familiar adults who know them well.
As our Tweenies Room Lead, you will...
Lead a passionate team of 7 and create a culture where children and practitioners thrive.
Take children beyond the four walls of the room and make the most of our outdoor environment.
Build strong relationships with families and make them feel part of their child's journey.
Lead and develop your team (with our support), helping them become confident, reflective early years professionals.
Bring our Abbotswood curriculum to life through meaningful interactions, experiences and environments.
We are looking for someone who...
Is a nurturing practitioner, who enjoys working with children under 2.
Can lead a team with warmth and confidence.
Is excited by the thought of spending your working day outside.
Wants to develop their own practice.
Come & grow with us
At Abbotswood, we want our team to feel the same sense of belonging that we create for our children.
You'll be joining a team who genuinely love what they do.
You'll have the opportunity to develop your leadership, shape practice and make your mark on your room.
Minimum Requirements:
Level 3 (or above) full & relevant early years qualification
Room Leader experience
Experience working with children in the early years
Secure safeguarding knowledge
Enhanced DBS and update service (initial DBS paid for by us)
Must drive/have own transport. Due to our countryside location, we are not near any public transport
Employment is subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including verification of the right to work in the UK, receipt of two satisfactory references (one of which must be from the applicants most recent employer or education setting)
All statutory training and certificates can be obtained through us, including first aid, safeguarding, enhanced DBS *these are paid for by us and will be claimed back if you leave within one year of employment.
Benefits:
4-day working week
Free on-site parking
Uniform provided
Meals and healthy snacks provided
Unique support from a highly qualified, experienced leadership team, including mentoring by our early years consultants/trainers
Annual pay reviews
Paid for summer & Christmas parties - we love to party!
Birthday gifts
Childcare discounts
28 days holiday including one week at Christmas
Employee of the month rewards
Secret fairy system (ask us more about this at our interview)
Paid for DBS & first aid training (if needed)
The Interview Process
At Abbotswood Forest School and Day Nursery, the safeguarding of the children we care for is paramount to everything we do. To help us with this, we have a robust recruitment process. Here’s what to expect when applying to work with us:
Telephone chat: This is a short, informal chat, to get to know you and make sure we are right for each other. We will read the job description and think about why you want this role.
Nursery Tour and Stay & Play: You will be invited to nursery during opening hours for a tour of our site, and the chance to spend some time in the Tweenies room. It’s your chance to demonstrate your experience; following children’s interests, getting stuck into outdoor learning or simply showing us how you build genuine connections.
Face to Face Interview with the Nursery Managers: We will book the interview another suitable day. During the interview, we will read through your CV, discuss examples of when you have performed well at work or in education, research some details about the company and the role. We’d love for you to make sure that working with us is important to you. Make sure you know why this is the perfect job for you and ask lots of questions!
A Further Opportunity to Showcase your Skills: As part of our interview process, you may be invited to prepare and deliver a short presentation. This is an opportunity to showcase your knowledge, creativity and passion for early years, while giving us a little more insight into you. We’ll be interested in how you communicate your ideas, your understanding of high-quality practice and your ability to engage and inspire others.
Job Offer: We will email you with the outcome of your interview. If successful, we will ask you to complete further information to send back to us, including details to complete your enhanced DBS (criminal check) certificate. We will also ask you to provide us with two references.
About Us:
For over 30 years, Abbotswood Forest School & Day Nursery has been creating a special place for children to grow. While our roots are firmly established, we have never stood still; we are continually evolving our approach, our spaces and our curriculum to reflect what childhood looks and feels like today.
Set within the extensive grounds of a beautiful converted Victorian property, Abbotswood offers 2 acres of outdoor space to discover. Winding paths beneath the trees, secret corners, cosy nooks, natural spaces and woodland adventures create an environment where children can explore at their own pace. Alongside our traditional, home-from-home feel, our hygge-inspired approach brings warmth, comfort and a sense of belonging.
Our children spend much of their day immersed in the great outdoors, exploring our beautiful gardens, woodland and natural surroundings. Outdoor learning is woven into every day, with daily opportunities for adventure, discovery and hands-on experiences in nature, whatever the weather. From climbing, creating and investigating to discovering seasonal changes, embracing muddy adventures and enjoying quieter moments in the fresh air, no two days are ever quite the same.
Salary Terms:
Our salaries are calculated on a 39-hour week over 4 days. Other nursery salaries are calculated over 5 full days or 45 hours. Salaries are paid hourly. Your hourly wage will always be agreed and discussed with you as part of the interview process. We pride ourselves on paying our staff their value and are committed to offering continuous pay increases for up-skilling and annual pay increases. Subject to your age and experience, the offered wage for this role may be below this wage.
