Nursery Manager
Kids Planet Nurseries
Estimated pay: £6.45-12.19 per hour
NN14, Thrapston, North Northamptonshire
Full time, permanent
The Breakroom Take
- People enjoy this job
- Recommended by students
- Respectful managers
- Proper breaks
About Kids Planet Nurseries
Kids Planet Nurseries is a nursery group. They have nurseries in the Midlands and North West England.
Job description from Kids Planet Nurseries
We are currently looking for a Nursery Manager at Kids Planet Thrapston.
Our people are what make our family great. As a proud family-run business, we see childcare as a profession, not just a job. Whether you’re just starting out or are well-established in your childcare career, we’ll always encourage you to take on new opportunities and challenges. We’re passionate about helping our teams grow and be the best they can be!
Whilst all our settings are different, they all share the same values and ethos; working together to inspire your world. Children are at the heart of everything we do, so we are looking for individuals to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in. From a princess one day to astronaut the next, no two days are ever the same!
We are looking for a dedicated individual who is looking for an opportunity to lead a supportive team, a natural leader who is highly motivated, organised, enthusiastic and creative.
Why become a Nursery Manager with Kids Planet Thrapston?
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We are a family nursery we all look out for each other
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We have regular nights out as a team
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Friendly, relaxed working environment
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Staff incentives reward system
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Proud to have achieved Great Place to Work Certification 2024/2025.
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Crowned winners of the NMT Nursery Group of the Year (Large) 2024 award!
What’s in it for you?
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Free breakfast, lunches and healthy snacks including fresh fruit.
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Accredited training with the KP Academy.
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Enhanced Maternity, Paternity Fertility and Adoption leave.
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Regular staff rewards.
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Team appreciation events.
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Long service awards.
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Dedicated wellbeing package.
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Highly discounted childcare.
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A day off for your birthday.
A Nursery Manager at Kids Planet Thrapston gets:
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Competitive salary.
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Pension plan.
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Annual leave including bank holidays.
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Monday to Friday.
What a Nursery Manager needs:
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Must be at least Level 3 qualified in a UK recognised early years qualification.
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Excellent understanding of EYFS.
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Extensive knowledge of safeguarding.
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Senior leadership experience within a nursery setting.
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It is a legal requirement to hold a GCSE or equivalent qualification in Maths, or be willing to achieve within 2 years of starting the position.
Like the sound of joining our family?
Apply today to be a Nursery Manager with Kids Planet Thrapston!
We are unable to offer any kind of visa sponsorship for this role.
We embrace everyone. Our goal is to create a truly inclusive culture and diverse workforce. We break down barriers so you can be your authentic self—and flourish!
Kids Planet is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of children and young people. An enhanced DBS check will be required for this role. We expect all staff and volunteers to uphold this commitment, and safeguarding training is a fundamental part of every role. All colleagues are required to complete regular training to ensure they understand and fulfil their responsibilities. A Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate is mandatory for all positions, and this role will be subject to enhanced checks as part of our safeguarding duties
Job insights from Breakroom
Nursery nurses and assistants
Nursery nurses and assistants help babies and children up to 5 years old to develop and learn preschool skills
What you’ll do as a teaching assistant:
- Support in the nursery or preschool
- Support children with their educational needs
- Be responsible for the health and safety of children
- Listen, support and care for children
Is it right for you?
This job may involve:
- Standing
- Sitting
- Physical activities
- Using a computer
- Emotionally demanding duties
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What employees say
Pay
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Needs improving
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Most people aren’t paid a living wage
Do Kids Planet Nurseries pay nursery practitioners enough to live on?
Most people are not paid a living wage.
How we know this
85% of people say they are paid below the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 47 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should be paid enough to live on.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.
The current rates are £12.60 per hour, and £13.85 per hour in London.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Okay
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Only some people are paid market rates
Do Kids Planet Nurseries pay nursery practitioners market rates?
Only some people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
56% of people are paid below average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 52 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.
Good
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Everyone is paid the same, whatever their age
Do nursery practitioners at Kids Planet Nurseries get paid the same regardless of age?
Yes, people under the age of 21 get paid the same as those above 21.
See what Kids Planet Nurseries pays different age groupsHow we know this
The average pay of under 21s is the same as those above 21.Based on data from 55 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2023 and April 2025.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get paid breaks
Do nursery practitioners at Kids Planet Nurseries get paid breaks?
No. Most people don’t get paid breaks.
How we know this
88% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 49 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should have paid breaks.
You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get sick pay
Do Kids Planet Nurseries pay nursery practitioners sick pay?
No. Most people don’t get proper sick pay.
How we know this
94% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 51 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.
At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.
This is more than the legal minimum, which says you should only get paid if you are unwell for 4 full days. See Citizens Advice for more details.
Okay
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Some people do unpaid extra work
Do nursery practitioners at Kids Planet Nurseries do extra work that they don't get paid for?
Sometimes. Some people do unpaid extra work.
How we know this
62% of people report that they do extra work that they don’t get paid for.Based on data from 45 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.
Hours and flexibility
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Needs improving
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Less than 4 weeks notice of shifts
How much notice do nursery practitioners get of their shift pattern at Kids Planet Nurseries?
Most people don’t get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working.
How we know this
- 91% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
- 6% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
- 0% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
- 2% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.
Based on data from 47 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, you get plenty of notice about when you’re working.
This makes it easy for you to plan the rest of life, as well as your finances, because you know how much you’ll be working and when.
Good
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Most people don’t worry about their hours
Do nursery practitioners at Kids Planet Nurseries worry about hours?
Most people don’t worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
89% of people report they don’t worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 44 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting enough hours each week.
A good job should guarantee you a minimum number of hours in a contract, if you want it.
This makes it easier to plan your finances, because you know how much you’ll be earning.
Okay
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Only some people get a choice of shifts
Do nursery practitioners at Kids Planet Nurseries get to choose the shifts they work?
Some people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
63% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 46 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.
Okay
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Can be hard to change shifts
How easy is it for nursery practitioners at Kids Planet Nurseries to change shifts?
Some people find it hard to change shifts.
How we know this
60% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.Based on data from 35 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. It should be easy to change a shift if you need to, whether that’s in an emergency or for planning ahead.
Okay
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Can be hard to book holiday
How easy is it for nursery practitioners to book a holiday at Kids Planet Nurseries?
Some people find it hard to book holiday.
How we know this
59% of people report it’s hard to book holidays.Based on data from 44 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.
Okay
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Shifts can get changed at short notice
Do Kids Planet Nurseries managers change nursery practitioners shifts at short notice?
Some managers change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
52% of people say their manager changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 46 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
If your manager is often changing your shifts at short notice that’s a sign of poor planning. At a good job you won’t be messed around at the last minute.
Okay
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Some people find it hard to take sick leave
How easy is it for nursery practitioners to take sick leave at Kids Planet Nurseries?
Some people find it hard to take sick leave.
How we know this
63% of people report that it’s hard to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 49 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.
A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.
Good
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Most students say it’s good
Is nursery practitioners at Kids Planet Nurseries job good for students?
Most students say this is a good place to work if you’re studying.
How we know this
100% of students report this is a good place to work if you’re studying.Based on data from 13 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should allow you to fit work around important things in your life, like studying.
Life isn’t just about work. Good jobs make space for you to do well in both.
Okay
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Only some parents say it’s good
Is working as nursery practitioners at Kids Planet Nurseries good if you have caring responsibilities?
Only some parents and carer say this is a good place to work.
How we know this
53% of people who care for a child or other relative report this isn’t a good place to work.Based on data from 15 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
Whether it’s looking after children or caring for a relative, a good job should support your responsibilities outside of work.
Workplace
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Good
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Most people feel treated with respect
Do nursery practitioners at Kids Planet Nurseries feel treated with respect by their managers?
Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
71% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 45 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.
Good
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Most people get proper breaks
Do nursery practitioners at Kids Planet Nurseries get proper breaks?
Most people get proper breaks.
How we know this
89% of people report that they get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 45 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.
Needs improving
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Most people are stressed
Is it stressful for nursery practitioners to work at Kids Planet Nurseries?
Most people feel stressed here.
How we know this
85% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 52 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.
Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.
Okay
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Only some people enjoy their job
Do nursery practitioners at Kids Planet Nurseries enjoy their jobs?
Only some people enjoy their job.
How we know this
34% of people report they don’t enjoy their job.Based on data from 38 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Okay
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Only some people recommend their team
Do nursery practitioners at Kids Planet Nurseries recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
52% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 52 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job means enjoying the place where you work.
The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.
If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.
Okay
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Only some people get enough training
Do nursery practitioners get enough training when they start at Kids Planet Nurseries?
Some people didn’t get enough training when they started.
How we know this
40% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 48 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.
This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.
It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.
Okay
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Only some people get support to progress
Are nursery practitioners given support to progress at Kids Planet Nurseries?
Only some people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 43% of people report not being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.Based on data from 47 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.
This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.
Needs improving
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Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do nursery practitioners think Kids Planet Nurseries head office understands what's happening where they work?
Most people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
How we know this
72% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.Based on data from 46 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.
To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.
Okay
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Only some people feel well informed by head office
Do nursery practitioners feel well informed about how Kids Planet Nurseries is doing?
Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
65% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 48 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.
You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.
What Kids Planet Nurseries employees say about their job
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Best thing
The children and activities
Worst thing
Rude staff, stress no free tine
Apprenticeship at Kids Planet Nurseries, March 2025
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Best thing
Working with Children.
Worst thing
Management. No Sick Pay. Working Christmas. Too Little Holidays.
Nursery practitioner at Kids Planet Nurseries, January 2025
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About this pay
CloseEstimated pay
This pay estimate is based on data from 52 Kids Planet Nurseries employees who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Take the Breakroom Quiz to compare your job.