For nurseries
Recruit a room leader
Running a room: the children in it, the staff in it, the ratio, the planning and the parents. The first genuinely managerial job in a nursery. We find and match; your own vetting, DBS and reference checks run as normal.
What the role covers
- Leading a team of practitioners and assistants within one room
- Holding the ratio, including planning cover for lunches and absence
- Owning the room's planning, displays and learning environment
- Supervisions and day-to-day performance conversations with your team
- Being the parent's first escalation when a key person cannot resolve something
- Reporting to the deputy or manager on progress, concerns and safeguarding
What to look for
- Level 3 as a minimum, with real experience in the age group
- Evidence of leading people, even informally
- Someone who can hold a difficult conversation with a colleague and keep the room calm
- Understanding of how ratios really work on the morning someone calls in sick
Guide salary: £29,000 to £33,500 outside London. See how we work these out.
Questions
Hiring a room leader
What should we pay a room leader?
Our 2026 guide puts this role at £29,000 to £33,500 outside London outside London. Settings that advertise below the local band tend to wait considerably longer, which usually costs more than the difference.
How long will it take to fill?
Practitioner and room leader searches usually produce a shortlist within a week and an offer within three to four weeks. Manager and deputy searches run four to six weeks because the field is smaller and notice periods are longer.
Do you place temporary cover for this role?
No. We place permanent staff only.
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