Early Years Education Advisor
Fennies Day Nurseries · Kent · £47,000 (stated in the posting)
Early Years Education Advisor
- Regional – Kent area, Croydon area and Berks/Bucks area
- Salary: up to £47,000
- Annual bonus
As our Early Years Advisor, you’ll play a central role in shaping the quality of education across our nurseries.
Reporting to the Head of Education, you’ll work alongside Nursery Managers, Room Leaders and practitioners. You’ll help them bring our brand new 4D Pedagogy and Curriculum to life, translating research and child development theory into confident, high-quality everyday practice. Through regular nursery visits, hands-on coaching and engaging professional development, you’ll help teams understand what exceptional practice looks like and the difference it makes to children’s outcomes.
You’ll also be a key link between our education leaders and nursery teams. You’ll work closely with Regional Managers, our Regional SENDCo, our Learning and Development team and external partners, including the University of Warwick. Using quality data and insight from across our settings, you’ll spot trends, lead quality assurance activity and target support where it will have the greatest impact.
Why join Fennies?
We invest in our people, creating a culture where everyone has a part to play in delivering excellence every day.
Competitive salary and bonus
- Up to £47k annual salary
- Annual bonus
- Comprehensive pension scheme
- £500 referral bonus*
Childcare discount and support
- Generous childcare discount
Leadership Development and Research time
- As part of our forward-thinking Education Team, you will have allocated time within your role to contribute to research-informed practice and educational innovation, including research projects through Fennies' partnership with the University of Warwick.
- Personalised Clifton Strengths leadership coaching
- Dedicated learning and development programmes
- Mentoring and support from senior leadership
Wellbeing and Lifestyle benefits
- 25 days annual leave increasing by 1 day per year of service (up to 30) plus bank holidays
- BUPA wellbeing support
- Free daily meals from the Fennies Café
A community of committed, high-achieving educators
- Regular leadership forums and networking
- Summer BBQs, Christmas events and company celebrations
- Recognition and reward through the Fennies Club long service awards
You will:
- Drive excellence in teaching and learning across our nurseries, ensuring children experience consistently high-quality education that supports their learning and development.
- Translate theory into practice, turning educational policy, research and child development theory into practical, everyday approaches that teams can confidently apply.
- Embed our 4D Pedagogy and Curriculum (Dynamic Play, Dialogue-Driven Learning, Deep-Dive Exploration and Daily Real-World Encounters) so it is visible, understood and consistently delivered in every setting.
- Act as the key link between education leaders and nursery teams. You’ll work closely with the Head of Education, Regional Managers, the Regional SENDCo and Nursery Managers to make sure quality priorities are clearly communicated and embedded.
- Analyse quality data, including inspection outcomes, audits, assessments and cohort data, to identify strengths, spot trends and target support where it will have the greatest impact.
- Lead quality assurance activity, including audits, mock inspections and preparation for regulatory visits, providing guidance and constructive challenge.
- Coach and develop Nursery Managers, Room Leaders and practitioners through regular nursery visits, hands-on modelling and developmental feedback.
- Partner with nursery leadership teams to set clear improvement plans, monitor progress and secure lasting improvements in practice.
- Champion inclusive practice, working with the Regional SENDCo to ensure our curriculum meets the needs of children with SEND and EAL.
- Design and deliver engaging professional development, including workshops, training sessions and parent education events. You’ll work with our Learning and Development team and external partners, such as the University of Warwick, to keep practice research-informed.
What we’re looking for
You’re an experienced and inspiring leader who thrives on developing other leaders, driving performance and creating exceptional environments for children across multiple nurseries.
You will have:
- Early Years qualification at Level 6 or above (e.g. Early Childhood Studies degree, EYTS or QTS)
- Significant Early Years leadership experience, such as Nursery Manager, Deputy Manager or a quality or advisory role
- In-depth knowledge of the EYFS, the current Ofsted inspection framework and safeguarding requirements
- Proven track record of raising the quality of teaching and improving outcomes for children
- Strong understanding of child development theory and the ability to translate it into practical guidance
- Experience coaching, mentoring or developing practitioners and leaders
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with confidence working across multiple stakeholders at all levels
- Ability to analyse quality data and produce clear, actionable reports
- Sound knowledge of inclusive practice for children with SEND and EAL
- Able to travel regularly between nurseries across the region – full UK driving license
It would be great if you also have:
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) or an equivalent postgraduate qualification
- A leadership, management or coaching qualification
- Experience supporting nurseries through Ofsted inspections and quality assurance processes
- Experience designing and delivering professional development programmes and training
- Knowledge of current Ofsted frameworks and wider developments within the early years sector
- For internal candidates, a strong understanding of the Fennies DNA and 4D Pedagogy and Curriculum
- Please note: Our 4D Curriculum is not yet launched to parents so information on our website will not yet reflect the new details.
Most importantly, you will bring educational expertise, a passion for developing others and a commitment to continuous improvement, helping educators strengthen their practice and creating meaningful learning experiences where children and teams can thrive.
Become part of the Fennies DNA
We’re family-owned and family-run; this guides our culture, our decision making, and what it feels like to be part of our team. We have a strong sense of community, with connections that bring us together and the systems and processes that mean our educators can focus on what they do best. Quality matters to us – starting with our people and curriculum - through to our beautiful buildings and inspiring environments. We’re investing into Fennies, into our teams, and into the education we provide our children. Our People Promise inspires us to build the kind of culture that is ambitious, passionate and supportive. We provide the environment where you can:
- Be Yourself
- Come Together
- Be All In
- Go Further
If this sounds like you, or you just want to know more about what it means to be part of the Fennies family, make contact with us today for a chat.
Take your next steps with Fennies
Our friendly Talent Recruitment team are here to answer any questions you may have about Fennies – call us to discuss the role, or if you’re just curious about what it’s like to work at Fennies, let us know and we’ll be happy to answer any questions. Our Talent Recruitment team can be contacted by:
Phone: 0208 770 322
By email: recruitment@fennies.com
Or by making an application: https://fennies.com/contact-us
Diversity and Inclusion
At Fennies, we celebrate diversity and believe inclusive teams create stronger learning environments for children. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.
Safeguarding
Fennies is committed toto safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check and provide proof of identity. In line with Safer Recruitment guidance, online searches (including social media) may be conducted for shortlisted candidates.
*T&Cs apply in relation to referral bonus eligibility
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