You don't have to choose between leading and being with the children.
A good Room Leader isn't somebody who spends the day telling everyone else what to do.
They're still on the floor.
Still building relationships with children.
Still noticing when something isn't working.
They just have the confidence and experience to bring the rest of the room with them.
Tiny Tots Recruitment is looking for a Nursery Room Leader in Surbiton to take responsibility for a room within an established nursery just a short walk from Surbiton Station.
The salary is £29,952 to £31,200 per year, depending on experience and qualifications, plus a £1,000 welcome bonus.
What does leading the room actually mean?
You'll be trusted to make sure the quality of care and education stays consistently strong across the room, not only within your own key group.
You'll:
Lead and support practitioners within the room Organise staff effectively throughout the day Maintain high standards of care and education Make sure practice meets EYFS requirements Support the Key Person system Allocate children appropriately to key practitioners Give staff guidance and constructive feedback Build strong relationships with parents and carers Monitor the quality of the learning environment Model positive interactions with children Support observations, assessment and children's next steps Help less experienced practitioners develop Maintain strong safeguarding practice Work closely with the wider nursery leadership team
The employer's exact Claremont Road vacancy specifically places responsibility on the Room Leader for quality, staff supervision, deployment, EYFS practice and relationships with families.
You've got a lot to work with
This isn't a nursery where outdoor learning means opening the door to a small patch of artificial grass.
Children have access to a spacious free-flow garden, growing areas and regular community outings.
The setting also has a dedicated Forest School programme, including den building, nature walks and wildlife exploration.
Inside and outside, children also experience:
PE and physical activity Daily music activities Cooking Investigation and exploration Growing and gardening Languages Yoga A dedicated library Fresh meals prepared by an on-site chef
As Room Leader, you have the opportunity to make those experiences meaningful rather than treating them as extras around the edges of the curriculum.
The package is stronger than the salary alone
You'll receive:
£29,952 to £31,200 per year £1,000 welcome bonus 33 days' annual leave including bank holidays Christmas and New Year shutdown Flexible working options Significant childcare discount £500 referral bonus Employer-contribution pension Statutory Sick Pay from day one Life assurance Additional wellbeing day Enhanced maternity and adoption leave Four weeks' fully paid paternity leave Paid parental bereavement leave Paid compassionate leave Paid miscarriage leave Medical cashback for dental treatment and physiotherapy 24-hour remote GP access Retail, supermarket, cinema and gym discounts Recognition and reward schemes Tailored in-house training Genuine progression opportunities
After two years' service, the employer also offers its Grand Event, giving eligible staff up to an additional week of leave for a significant life event.
Who would suit this?
You'll need a full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification or above and enough nursery experience to confidently guide other practitioners.
You could already be a Room Leader.
Or you might be a strong Senior Practitioner who's reached the point where you're unofficially leading the room anyway and wants the title, salary and responsibility to match.
You'll need:
Strong EYFS knowledge Confident safeguarding practice Experience working as a Key Person Good communication with families The ability to support and motivate other practitioners Strong organisation A calm leadership style A genuine desire to stay hands-on with children And you're five minutes from Surbiton Station
The setting is at 62 Claremont Road, KT6 4RH, within walking distance of Surbiton Station and close to Claremont Gardens and local amenities.
The nursery is currently rated Good by Ofsted and supports children from babies through to preschool.
If you're looking for a Nursery Room Leader job in Surbiton, Senior Early Years role in KT6 or the next step after Level 3 Nursery Practitioner near Kingston, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today through Tiny Tots Recruitment for a confidential conversation about the opportunity.