Quality Specialist (Early Years)

Job Title: Quality Specialist (Early Years)

Type: Full Time / 37.50 Hours per week / Field based / *Travel to HO and to our nurseries

Salary: From £43k per annum plus £4k car allowance

*Travel is Regional based and this is for role based in Division South: Areas to visit include Brighton and Crawley*

Car and Driving Licence is essential for this role

Purpose of the Role

• Support nursery teams to deliver outstanding early years education and care across the region.
• Provide hands‑on coaching, mentoring, and training to drive best practice and continuous improvement.
• Work closely with Nursery Managers and operational teams to maintain high-quality learning environments and strong regulatory outcomes.
• Lead the implementation of the Bright Beginnings Curriculum, Quality Improvement Framework, SEND/ASN, and Nurture approaches to ensure every child has the best start in life.

What We Can Offer You:

• Flexible working and holiday entitlement
• Discounted childcare
• Discounts on shopping, groceries, holidays, and entertainment
• Wellbeing support and resources to help you thrive at work and home

Why Bright Horizons?

At Bright Horizons, our support teams play a vital role in helping over 10,000 children across the UK access outstanding care and education. With 98% of our nurseries rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, we’re proud to make a positive difference to children, families, and communities. We are committed to creating a supportive workplace that champions flexibility, wellbeing, and a healthy work-life balance for all our employees.

Key Accountabilities

• Support nursery teams to deliver outstanding care and education.
• Coach, mentor, and develop colleagues to drive best practice.
• Conduct nursery visits to monitor quality and identify improvement opportunities.
• Support the delivery of the Bright Beginnings Curriculum, SEND/ASN, and Nurture programmes.
• Work with Nursery Managers and regional teams to improve outcomes and maintain compliance.
• Promote a positive culture of safeguarding, wellbeing, and continuous improvement.
• Help nurseries achieve strong inspection and quality audit outcomes.

Essential / Desired Experience & Qualifications

• Significant Early Years leadership experience, driving quality improvement and achieving strong inspection outcomes across multiple settings (Essential)
• Experience coaching, mentoring, and developing high-performing nursery teams (Essential)
• Strong understanding of safeguarding, child protection, inspection frameworks, and early years best practice (Essential)
• Experience using data, audits, and reporting to drive continuous improvement (Essential)
• Level 3 Early Years qualification and evidence of ongoing professional development (Essential)
• Previous Nursery Manager, Local Authority, or Early Years Quality Improvement experience (Desirable)
• Experience as an Ofsted/Care Inspectorate Inspector (Desirable)
• Experience delivering training and supporting practitioner networks (Desirable)
• Early Years degree, QTS/EYTS/EYPS, Leadership qualification, or Thrive Practitioner status (Desirable)
• Full UK Driving Licence (Desirable)

Personal Attributes

• Strong communicator with the ability to influence and drive change.
• Motivated, organised, and able to meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Builds positive relationships and develops high-performing teams.
• Positive, proactive, and solutions-focused approach.
• Uses data and insights to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Flexible and willing to travel across the UK as required.

Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre‑employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants.

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