Third in Charge

Third in Charge

About Grandir UK

Part of Grandir UK

Join a supportive, child focused nursery offering strong benefits, flexible working and genuine career progression.

Our Elan Preschool in Haywards Heath is looking for a caring and enthusiastic Third in Charge to join our team in the New Year as a maternity leave cover. You will play a key role in caring for, supporting and inspiring our children, encouraging curiosity and helping them thrive every day. The role will form part of the Management team as a Third in Charge but will also be a Room based Preschool Room Leader, so a great role for someone wanting that step into nursery management.

Why You’ll Love Working at Elan Preschool

Children enjoy a large, secure garden with slides, climbing frames, a mud kitchen, and water play, with free-flow access between indoors and outdoors. Weekly yoga sessions and regular sports activities support physical development and wellbeing.

We are proud of our strong reputation for preparing children for school, with excellent feedback from local schools and a Nursery of the Year award in 2025.

Parking available 2 minute walk away at Clair Hall. We are also across the road from the train station and many local bus links. We are also within walking distance of our Elan Haywards Heath Nursery | Grandir UK

Responsibilities

• Supervising and supporting children at all times
• Preparing and supporting activities under the guidance of Level 3 qualified practitioners
• Maintaining a safe, engaging and welcoming environment
• Following company policies, safeguarding procedures and operational practices
• Building positive relationships with children, parents and colleagues
• Attending staff meetings, planning sessions and training as required

Pay

Salary £30,264-£33,280 (depending on experience and qualifications with regular pay reviews)

Benefits

• At Elan, you will be part of a welcoming and supportive team who genuinely care about one another. We create a positive working environment where everyone feels valued, respected and supported to grow.
• 33 days annual leave including bank holidays, with 3 days used during the Christmas shutdown period
• Christmas and New Year shutdown
• Flexible working options available
• Big childcare discount
• £500 refer a friend bonus
• Company pension scheme with employer contributions
• Statutory Sick Pay from day 1
• Life assurance for employees aged 18 to 65
• Certified Great Place to Work, voted for by our current colleagues

About Our Nursery

• Our Preschool was rated a Strong Standard across all areas in their recent Ofsted inspection and is a beautiful converted home with two bright, spacious rooms for children aged 2–5.
• Our experienced, long-standing team creates a positive, supportive environment for both children and staff.

Enhanced Family and Wellbeing Benefits

• Maternity and adoption leave paid at 100 percent for the first 12 weeks
• Paternity leave paid at 100 percent for 4 weeks
• Parental bereavement leave up to 4 weeks paid
• Compassionate leave up to 2 weeks paid

Miscarriage leave up to 2 weeks paid

• Wellbeing Day, an extra day off just for you
• The Grand Event, up to an additional week of annual leave to attend a significant life event after 2 years’ service
• Employee benefits portal with hundreds of retail discounts including ASOS, gym memberships, cinema, M and S and major supermarkets

24 hour remote GP appointments

• Medical cashback for dental treatment, physiotherapy and alternative therapies
• Recognition, rewards and team celebrations throughout the year, with May dedicated to celebrating our teams

Tailored in house training and genuine progression opportunities

• Sustainability focus with Carbon Literacy trained teams and Eco Schools accreditation
• Grandir UK is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. An enhanced DBS check is required for this role and will be carried out by our approved third party provider.

Even More Benefits

We are an equal opportunity employer and recruit based on merit. To support our recruitment process, we may use AI-assisted tools for tasks such as application screening and reference checks. These tools help us manage applications efficiently, and all hiring decisions are made by our team.

INDQJ

Apply today. We review applications as they are received and may close the role early.