Early Years Career Pathways
All colleagues will be required to hold a clear and valid DBS check.
Level 1 Childcare Student
As well as starting you on a new career path the Level 1 Student position is a fun, interactive and a practical way of learning. By undertaking a level 1 qualification you will gain valuable work experience, mentor and tutor support on a 1:1 or group basis.
Take a look at the benefits here!
Qualifications & Experience
Required:
• Working towards Level 1 Childcare.
Progression Opportunities:
• Level 2 Early Years Childcare Diploma upon completion.
• Level 3 Early Years Educator Childcare Apprenticeship upon completion.
What We Expect:
Unqualified Childcare Apprentice
Working as a team with colleagues in the nursery to provide a high standard of childcare by undertaking various duties around the nursery, whilst studying towards your Level 2 Childcare qualification. A keenness to progress with Early Years/Childcare Qualifications.
To view a list of our current apprenticeship vacancies, please click here!
Qualifications & Experience
Required:
• Working towards Level 2 Early Years Childcare Diploma.
• Paediatric First Aid Course (or willingness to complete upon appointment, renewable 3 yearly).
Progression Opportunities:
• Level 3 Early Years Educator Childcare Apprenticeship upon completion.
What We Expect:
• The Tops and Aspire Team Member Checklist!
Level 2 Practitioner/Nursery Assistant
Contribute to the development and execution of activities within the nurseries, providing support to colleagues where necessary and providing a safe, nurturing environment for all children. A keenness to progress with Early Years/Childcare Qualifications.
To view a list of our current level 2 and nursery assistant vacancies, please click here!
Qualifications & Experience
Required:
• Post-Qualifying experience with children ages 0 to 5 years old.
• Level 2 Early Years Childcare Diploma upon completion.
• Paediatric First Aid Course (or willingness to complete upon appointment, renewable 3 yearly).
Progression Possibilities:
• Level 3 Early Years Educator Childcare Apprenticeship.
• Level 2 Early Years Customer Service Practitioner Apprenticeship.
What We Expect:
Level 3 Practitioner
You will be responsible for delivering the Early Years Framework, ensuring individual needs of the children in the setting are met through various plans and activities, whilst providing support to staff within the setting. A keenness to progress with Early Years/Childcare Qualifications.
To view a list of our current level 3 practitioner vacancies, please click here!
Qualifications & Experience
Required:
• Post-Qualifying Experience with children ages 0 to 5 years old.
• Level 3 Early Years Educator Childcare Diploma.
• Paediatric First Aid Course (or willingness to complete upon appointment, renewable 3 yearly).
Progression Opportunities:
• Level 2 Early Years Customer Service Practitioner Apprenticeship.
• Level 3 Early Years Educator Childcare Apprenticeship.
What We Expect:
Senior Practitioner
Exercising enhanced responsibilities and levels of practice within the nursery. You will support the Room Manager with various tasks, whilst also ensuring staff within the room are trained and mentored effectively, acting as a role model to colleagues. A keenness to progress with Early Years/Childcare Qualifications.
To view a list of our current apprenticeship vacancies, please click here!
Qualifications & Experience
Required:
• 2 + years’ experience with children ages 0 to 5 years old.
• Experience acting as a ‘Key Worker’ to a group of children.
• Experience mentoring and supporting team members, alongside senior management.
• Level 3 Early Years Educator Childcare Diploma.
• Paediatric First Aid Course (or willingness to complete upon appointment, renewable 3 yearly).
• Willing to work towards Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship or Level 2 Customer Service Apprenticeship.
Progression Opportunities:
• Level 3 Customer Service Specialist Apprenticeship.
• Level 3 Early Years Team Leader/Supervisor Apprenticeship.
What We Expect:
• The Tops and Aspire Team Member Checklist!
Room Manager
You will manage the day-to-day running of a specific room within a nursery, leading and motivating the team and providing a positive environment for the children. A keenness to progress with Early Years/Childcare Qualifications.
To view a list of our current apprenticeship vacancies, please click here!
Qualifications & Experience
Required:
• 3 + years’ experience with children ages 0 to 5 years old.
• Previous experience of managing a nursery unit.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Strong leadership skills, to inspire both children and colleagues.
• Level 3 Early Years Educator Childcare Diploma
• Paediatric First Aid Course (or willingness to complete upon appointment, renewable 3 yearly).
• Willing to work towards Level 3 Early Years Team Leader/Supervisor Apprenticeship or Level 2 Customer Service Practitioner.
Progression Opportunities:
• Level 3 Customer Service Specialist Apprenticeship.
• Level 3 Diploma in Management.
• Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner.
• Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement.
What We Expect:
• The Tops and Aspire Team Member Checklist!
Deputy Manager
You will assist and support the manager with the running of the nursery and will be responsible for providing leadership and management to nursery staff in absence of the Nursery Manager. A keenness to progress with Early Years/Childcare Qualifications and Customer Service Qualifications.
To view a list of our current deputy manager vacancies, please click here!
Qualifications & Experience
Required:
• Strong leadership skills, to inspire both children and colleagues.
• Strong experience managing and mentoring colleagues within a similar environment.
• Health & Safety Certificate.
• Level 3 Early Years Educator Childcare Diploma
• Paediatric First Aid Course (or willingness to complete upon appointment, renewable 3 yearly).
• Willingness to work towards Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner.
• Willingness to work towards Level 3 Diploma in Management.
Progression Opportunities / Requirements:
• Level 3 Diploma in Management.
• Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner.
• Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement.
What We Expect:
• The Tops and Aspire Team Member Checklist!
Trainee Manager
You will learn how to manage by being given the training and experience of running various aspects of the nursery. Your job title may still be room manager or deputy manager, but you will have enhanced access to training and a senior nursery manager will coach you. In this way, you will be very well placed to step into management roles as they become available in this expanding nursery group.
A keenness to progress with Early Years/Childcare Qualifications and Management Qualifications
We do not advertise vacancies for trainee managers – if you are ambitious and aspire to become a Manager just apply. Your current manager will be contacted for a reference and if successful you will be matched with the next senior manager who has a vacancy to support your career progression and development.
Qualifications & Experience
Required:
• Strong leadership skills, to inspire both children and colleagues.
• Strong experience managing and mentoring colleagues within a similar environment.
• Health & Safety Certificate.
• Level 3 Early Years Educator Childcare Diploma
• Paediatric First Aid Course (or willingness to complete upon appointment, renewable 3 yearly).
• Willingness to work towards Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner.
• Willingness to work towards Level 3 Management Apprenticeship
Progression Opportunites / Requirements:
• Level 3 Customer Service Specialist Apprenticeship.
• Level 3 Diploma in Management.
• Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner.
• Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement.
What We Expect:
• The Tops and Aspire Team Member Checklist!
Nursery Manager
You will lead and manage a team of Childcare practitioners and apprentices to deliver high quality, flexible childcare for parents within the local community and strive to achieve ‘Outstanding’ at Ofsted Inspections. A keenness to progress with Early Years/Childcare Qualifications and Management Qualifications.
To view a list of our current manager vacancies, please click here!
Qualifications & Experience
Required:
• Previous experience managing a nursery setting, or strong experience as a Deputy Manager within a similar environment.
• Health & Safety Certificate.
• Level 3 Early Years Educator Childcare Diploma.
• Paediatric First Aid Course (or willingness to complete upon appointment, renewable 3 yearly).
• Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner.
• Willingness to work towards Level 3 Management Apprenticeship.
Progression Opportunities / Requirements:
• Level 3 Customer Service Apprenticeship
• Level 3 Diploma in Management
• Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner.
• Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement
What We Expect:
•The Tops and Aspire Team Member Checklist!
Senior Nursery Manager
You will support local Nursery Managers with delivering high quality, flexible childcare service for parents within the local community, through supporting them in regards to staffing, Ofsted Inspections and Developing resources within the nurseries, supporting their nursery managers to achieve/maintain ‘Outstanding’ at Ofsted Inspections.
A keenness to progress with Early Years/Childcare Qualifications and Management Qualifications
Qualifications & Experience
Required:
• Health & Safety Certificate.
• Previous experience managing a nursery setting.
• Tops Coaching Training & Qualification.
• Valid Driver’s License & Own Transport.
• Level 3 Early Years Educator Childcare Diploma.
• Paediatric First Aid Course (or willingness to complete upon appointment, renewable 3 yearly).
• Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner.
• Level 3 Management Apprenticeship.
Progression Opportunities / Requirements:
• Early Years Teacher Status.
• Early Years Professional.
•Level 3 Customer Service Apprenticeship.
•Level 3 Diploma in Management.
•Level 5 Childcare Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner.
•Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement.
What We Expect:
•The Tops and Aspire Team Member Checklist!
Area Manager
You will be responsible for line managing our Nursery Managers across any South West region across our settings in Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Devon and Wiltshire. A key responsibility will be to support your settings to achieve a “Good” or preferably “Outstanding” at Ofsted Inspection.
A keenness to progress with Early Years/Childcare Qualifications and Management Qualifications!
Qualifications & Experience
Required:
• Previous experience as a senior nursery manager or area manager.
• Valid Driver’s License & Own Transport.
• Level 5 Childcare Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner or above.
• Level 3 Management Diploma or above.
• Paediatric First Aid Course.
Progression Opportunities/ Requirements:
• Early Years Teacher Status.
• Early Years Professional.
•Level 3 Diploma in Management .
• Level 5 Childcare Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner.
•Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement.
What We Expect:
• The Tops and Aspire Team Member Checklist!
Senior Area Manager
You will be responsible for line managing our Area Managers across the company and supporting the Operations Director with the activity across the company. You will step up to support the Operations Director where required and support all Area Managers with their respective sites.
Qualifications & Experience
Required:
• Previous experience as an area manager.
• Health & Safety Certificate.
• Valid Driver’s License & Own Transport.
• Level 6 Childcare Qualification or above.
• Level 3 Diploma in Management or above.
• Paediatric First Aid Course.
Progression Possibilities / Requirements:
• Early Years Teacher Status.
• Early Years Professional.
•Level 5 Childcare Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner.
• Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement.
•BA (Hons) Education Studies Top-Up Degree.
What We Expect:
• The Tops and Aspire Team Member Checklist!
Operations Director
You will be responsible for ensuring all aspects of daily operations of Tops Day Nurseries run effectively and efficiently, in order for it to achieve its vision and strategic objectives. You will manage and support Area Managers and Nursery Managers to deliver childcare in accordance with Tops Mission Statement, values, ethos, policies and procedures. You will improve, where necessary, operational systems, processes and policies in support of Tops Day Nurseries ethos and mission.
Qualifications & Experience
Required:
• Hold Early Years Professional Status (Level 6 relevant qualification).
• Hold at least Level 4 in ‘Leadership & Management’ NVQ (or equivalent).
• Previous experience as a Senior Area Manager or Operations Manager/Director.
• Valid Driver’s License and Own Transport.
• Hold a Level 5 Childcare Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner/Childcare NVQ (or equivalent).
Progression Opportunities:
• BA (Hons) Education Studies Top-Up Degree
What We Expect:
• The Tops and Aspire Team Member Checklist!
