Childcare Leader at Damers First School Job at Dorchester, England, United Kingdom Full Time NEW

Dorset Grade 7 £13.90 – £15.31 pay award pending

Hours per week 33.75 / Term Time only including Training Days

Interviews will be held mid June

Join us at the very start of something special

Damers First School is thrilled to offer a unique opportunity for an experienced Childcare Leader

to play a key role in shaping our brand-new, school-based nursery, opening September 2026.

Damers School is a unique, child-centred, caring school with high aspirations for all pupils. We

are an Eco school with big ideas and pride ourselves in helping every child thrive with a broad

and balanced curriculum that offers many opportunities for each child to achieve their potential.

We are delighted to be now adding provision for children aged 2 and up from September.

Damers is located in the heart of Poundbury, an extremely supportive community in a fantastic

Dorset location.

This exciting new provision will extend our current offer for children aged 4-9 and will be rooted

in the strong ethos that defines Damers. Everything we do is guided by the Damers Way of Being: Brave, Unique, Caring & Kind. Alongside this, we have a long-standing commitment to

environmental responsibility and proudly hold Eco Green Flag status.

If you are passionate about early childhood education and excited by the idea of helping to

design and grow a new nursery from the ground up, this role offers a rare and rewarding career

opportunity.

As a Childcare Leader, you will play a key role in shaping the very first steps of our children’s

learning journeys. Working within a safe, nurturing, and stimulating purpose‑built environment,

you will help create the foundations for future success, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.

We are seeking practitioners who

• Are enthusiastic, nurturing, and deeply committed to early childhood development.
• Build warm, positive relationships with children and families.
• Bring creativity and energy to designing engaging learning experiences.
• Champion inclusion, equity, and high‑quality practice for every child.
• Thrive as part of a collaborative, supportive school team.

If you are excited by the opportunity to help establish and shape a brand‑new Early Years setting

within a well‑respected and forward‑thinking school, we would love to hear from you.

Duties

• To work with the EYFS lead and nursery teacher to maximise the development of each

child.

• Create a warm, welcoming, and inclusive atmosphere for children, ensuring their

emotional and physical well-being.

• Support the preparation and implementation of engaging educational activities that

promote children’s development in line with early years curriculum standards.

• Observe and assess children’s progress, providing feedback to parents and guardians on

their development.

• Foster positive relationships with children, encouraging their social skills and

independence.

• Collaborate with colleagues to maintain a high standard of care and education within

the nursery setting.

• Manage behaviour effectively, ensuring a positive learning environment for all children.
• Drive initiatives that promote parental involvement in their child’s learning journey.
• Promoting and safeguarding the welfare of all children.

Essential Requirements

• Relevant level 3+ qualification in Early Childhood Education.
• Be able to act under own initiative and make decisions.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and written, to engage effectively

with children, parents, and staff.

• Experience working with children in a nursery or educational setting is essential.
• Strong organisational skills to manage daily activities efficiently while ensuring high

standards of care.

• A genuine passion for working with young children and supporting their growth and

development.

What We Offer

• A rare chance to be part of a brand new, aspirational nursery project from the very

beginning.

• The opportunity to work alongside a highly experienced and supportive team within the

main school.

• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities.
• Outstanding support from our skilled and welcoming administrative team.
• A large, modern and purpose designed learning environment in the heart of Poundbury.