Third in Charge

Third in Charge (Room Based)

Beckenham, Kings Hall

Salary: up to £34,000

Potential to earn a further £1,600 in bonus

Take the next step in your early years career and grow into nursery leadership.

At Fennies, our Third in Charge plays a key role in supporting the leadership of the nursery while continuing to deliver exceptional care and education within their room. You’ll work closely with the management team, helping to maintain high standards across the setting while developing your own leadership skills.

If you’re ready to step beyond a Room Leader role and build your future, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Why join Fennies?

We believe future leaders deserve the right support, development and recognition.

Competitive salary and bonus

Up to £33,000 annual salary

Up to £1,600 performance-related bonus

Comprehensive pension scheme

£500 referral bonus

Career Development

Targeted professional development programmes

Mentoring and support

Talent mapping to support your progression to Deputy or Manager roles

Wellbeing and Lifestyle benefits

20 days annual leave, increasing by 1 per year of service (up to 25) plus bank holidays

BUPA Wellbeing Support

Free daily meals from the Fennies Café

A community of committed, high-achieving educators

Regular leadership forums and networking

Summer BBQs, Christmas events and company celebrations

Recognition and reward through the Fennies Club long service awards

About the Role

As Third in Charge, you’ll support the leadership team while continuing to lead high-quality practice within your room.

You will:

Support the day-to-day running of the nursery alongside the management team

Lead your room, ensuring high-quality care and education

Step up in the absence of senior leaders to support operational responsibilities

Build strong partnerships with families and maintain open communication

Support and mentor team members to develop their practice

Maintain high standards of safeguarding, health and safety and compliance

This role offers a clear pathway into leadership, giving you exposure to both room-based and nursery-wide responsibilities.

What we’re looking for

You’re a confident and caring early years professional who is ready to take your next step into leadership.

You will have:

Level 2 or 3 Early Years qualification (or above)

Strong knowledge of EYFS, Birth to 5 Matters and child development

Experience of working in an early years setting, ideally as a senior practitioner or room leader

A track record of delivering high standards of care and education

Experience of strong practice as a Key Person and in implementing safeguarding, health and safety, first aid and critical care policies.

Strong organisational, communication and teamwork skills

GCSE Maths and English (Grade 4 /C or above); or equivalent

Most importantly, you will bring ambition, initiative and a passion for developing both children and your team.

Become part of the Fennies DNA

We’re family-owned and family-run; this guides our culture, our decision-making, and what it feels like to be part of our team. We have a strong sense of community, with connections that bring us together and the systems and processes that mean our educators can focus on what they do best. Quality matters to us – starting with our people and curriculum - through to our beautiful buildings and inspiring environments. We’re investing in Fennies, in our teams, and into the education we provide our children. Our People Promise inspires us to build the kind of culture that is ambitious, passionate and supportive. We provide the environment where you can:

Be Yourself

Come Together

Be All In

Go Further

If this sounds like you, or you just want to know more about what it means to be part of the Fennies family, make contact with us today for a chat.

Take your next steps with Fennies

Our friendly Talent Recruitment team are here to answer any questions you may have about Fennies – call us to discuss the role, or if you’re just curious about what it’s like to work at Fennies, let us know and we’ll be happy to answer any questions. Our Talent Recruitment team can be contacted by:

Phone: 0208 770 3222

By email: [email protected]

Or by making an application: https://fennies.com/contact-us

Diversity and Inclusion

At Fennies, we celebrate diversity and believe inclusive teams create stronger learning environments for children. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.

Safeguarding

Fennies is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check and provide proof of identity. In line with Safer Recruitment guidance, online searches (including social media) may be conducted for shortlisted candidates.

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Third in Charge 4