Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Nursery Teacher Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Nursery Teacher Coordinator is a senior leadership role central to the educational heart of our nursery. This individual acts as the pedagogical leader, bridging the gap between management and the teaching floor. They are responsible for driving the quality of teaching and learning, mentoring and developing the practitioner team, and ensuring the curriculum is vibrant, engaging, and effectively implemented. This role requires a unique blend of hands-on teaching expertise, inspirational leadership, and sharp administrative skill to cultivate an outstanding early years environment where both children and staff can thrive.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Lead Early Years Practitioner / Senior Nursery Nurse
Experienced Nursery Teacher with mentorship responsibilities
Room Leader / Third-in-Charge

Advancement To:

Nursery Manager / Head of Centre
Early Years Area or Regional Manager
Curriculum Director for a nursery group

Lateral Moves:

Early Years Quality Improvement Consultant
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for a larger organization or group
Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Spearhead the development, implementation, and ongoing review of a rich, child-led curriculum in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework.
Act as the pedagogical leader within the nursery, modelling outstanding teaching practice and providing inspirational guidance to the entire educational team.
Mentor, coach, and professionally develop a team of nursery teachers and practitioners through regular observations, constructive feedback, and personalized training plans.
Conduct formal performance appraisals and support the professional growth and well-being of all teaching staff, fostering a collaborative and positive team culture.
Oversee the planning and assessment cycle, ensuring that observations of children’s development are high-quality, informative, and used effectively to plan for next steps.
Champion an inclusive environment, working closely with the SENCO to ensure tailored support and strategies are in place for children with additional needs.
e as the primary educational point of contact for parents, fostering strong partnerships through regular communication, parent meetings, and workshops.
Lead the monitoring of children's progress and attainment, analyzing data to identify trends and implement strategic interventions to close any identified gaps.
Ensure the learning environments, both indoors and outdoors, are stimulating, safe, well-resourced, and thoughtfully organized to promote exploration and discovery.
Manage the day-to-day running of the teaching floors, including staff deployment and ratios, to ensure smooth and effective operational delivery at all times.
Act as a Designated Safeguarding Lead (or Deputy), ensuring all safeguarding and child protection policies are deeply embedded in practice and all staff are fully trained and vigilant.
Develop and maintain robust systems for tracking and documenting children's learning journeys, utilizing digital platforms like Tapestry or Famly where applicable.
Drive the nursery's self-evaluation process, critically reflecting on practice and leading the creation and implementation of ambitious quality improvement plans.
Guide and support staff in managing children's behaviour positively and consistently, in line with the nursery's established policies and ethos.
Take a lead role in preparing the nursery for regulatory inspections (e.g., Ofsted), ensuring all documentation and educational practices meet and exceed required standards.
Innovate and introduce new educational ideas, resources, and methodologies to keep the nursery's practice current, fresh, and at the forefront of the early years sector.

Secondary Functions

Collaborate with nursery management on budget planning and resource allocation for educational materials, classroom equipment, and staff training initiatives.
Organize and lead community engagement events, open days, and parent workshops to promote the nursery's educational philosophy and build a strong community.
Liaise with external agencies and professionals, such as speech therapists, educational psychologists, and local authority advisors, to support children and enhance provision.
Contribute to the development and regular review of all nursery policies and procedures, particularly those related to the curriculum, teaching, and learning.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Deep and comprehensive knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum and statutory framework.
Certified Safeguarding training (Designated Safeguarding Lead Level 3 or equivalent is highly desirable).
Valid Paediatric First Aid qualification.
Proven ability in planning, observing, and assessing children's learning and development to inform future teaching.
Proficiency in using nursery management and observation software (e.g., Tapestry, Famly, iConnect).
Experience in conducting staff observations, giving feedback, and leading professional development sessions.
Strong understanding of the requirements and procedures for Ofsted inspections.

Soft Skills

Exceptional leadership, mentoring, and team motivation skills to inspire and guide a diverse team of practitioners.
Outstanding interpersonal and communication abilities, with the confidence to engage effectively with children, staff, parents, and external bodies.
High degree of emotional intelligence, empathy, and patience, especially when handling sensitive situations.
Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks in a busy environment.
Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking capabilities to make sound decisions under pressure.
A creative and innovative mindset with a genuine passion for child development and early years education.
Resilience and a proactive, "can-do" attitude to drive continuous improvement.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

A full and relevant Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (or equivalent).

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Studies, Education, or a related field.
Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) or Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Early Childhood Education
Child Development
Education Studies

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:
3-5 years of post-qualifying experience in a nursery or early years setting, with at least 1-2 years in a leadership capacity (e.g., Room Leader, Senior Practitioner).

Preferred:
Demonstrable track record of mentoring staff, leading curriculum implementation, and contributing to quality improvement in a 'Good' or 'Outstanding' rated setting.