Nursery Manager - room based or supernumerate

Nursery Manager - room based or supernumerate

by: raramoo - 28-07-10 11:44

I am reviewing the staffing levels within the nursery and the role of the manager in specific.

In your honest opinion, do you feel that a room based manager or a supernumerate manager is more effective? 

We have an admin person who deals with all admin, finance, payments, queries etc who is office based.  I accept that the manager will need to have some time in the office but I feel that worked effectively with the staffing levels this time can be planned into the existing week. 

Just wondering what experiences can be shared from people with pros and cons.

by: sheila5

I have worked in a nursery with both room based and supernumarate managers, in my experince it was much better having a supernumarte manger, when staff has a problem/issue she was very easy to approach, where as working with a manger who was room based was difficult as you always felt you were intruding.  hope this helps, :)

ps, the nursery where the manger was room based had very low morale,

by: kaz (the first one!)

agree with above. I am now a supernumerate manager and I have a much better relationship with my staff. They feel I trust them and I enjoy my time with the children more as I'm not constantly thinking of the 1000 other things I could be doing.

by: Mel

As a room based manager i agree with these comments when I am with the children I can always think of a 100 things that need doing then stress when I am going to do them. If the owner is in she expects me to be on hand but that leaves someone on there own.

by: Tallulah

I am a room based manager and I don't recommend it. Trying to give the children your full attention while answering the phone, door, doing paperwork etc. is a loose loose situation. Managers could do with working in the rooms occasionally though to get a realistic perspective of what staff have to do.

by: pinkbear

Definitely supernumerate, for both the manager and deputy if possible. In my opinion the manager doesn't necessarily have to be childcare qualified or experienced if they are able to manage staff effectively and be a strong leader.

by: whmon

My previous manager was supernumary. I found her to be out of touch with what was actually happening in the nursery. My present manager is largely room-based, she knows all of the children and parents by name and has her finger on the button.

While the previous manager spent most of her time printing out excessive amounts of notices for the walls and playing with the internet while listening to 'Take That' cds, the current manager actually 'manages'. However, we also have a business manager (myself) to see to staff rotas, invoices, payroll, etc.

RE: RE: Nursery Manager - room based or supernumerate - 07-09-10 17:31

by: raramoo

Whmon,

Is there any chance of your email address so that I can have a bit of a chat with you in regards to this??  cheers.

by: raramoo

whmon, that is the direction I am coming from.  All of the admin, invoices, payroll and soon to be rotas are done by our business manager but from observation it seems that staff have more knowledge of the manager's job than the actual manager.  Then we have the line of 'i'm manager so what I say goes'. 

Pinkbear, I am completely open to people having their own opinions etc but I find it difficult to see how a nursery manager doesn't have to be childcare qualified.  How would he/she ensure the safeguarding of the children in their care without the training?  My own opinion is that alot of childcare is common sense but having worked with some young girls thank heavens they have a qualification because they sure don't have much common sense when it comes to children!! 

by: Kempe

Pinkbear,

you MUST be qualified in childcare at level 3 minimum to be in charge of a child care facility. It's the law.

We're in the planning stages for our nursery, and I have decided a long time ago that the nursery manager is there to run the nursery on a day to day basis from a childcare perspective. I will do the business side.

A manager should be able to roam from room to room (not sitting the whole day on her butt watching the cctv, cctv is there to record and use as evidence if needed), cover where needed and actually knows what's going on in the nursery.

She should not have to bother with arranging repairs, odering supplies, HR related issues or have to do other business related admin etc, however I do expect her to keep all the compulsary admin concerning childcare upto date (observations, child development etc). 

by: kaz (the first one!)

Would be lovely to have a manager who could just do that. Unfortunately in my setting we can't afford a manager and a  leader, it is one person.

by: raramoo

Whmon,

Is there any chance of your email address so that I can have a bit of a chat with you in regards to this??  cheers

by: whmon

sure Raramoo, give me your email and I'll get in touch

by: Liz

Hi Raramoo

As we don't have a personal messaging facility on this forum, let us know if you want us to send your e-mail details to whmon rather than post them on here!

Liz

Editor

by: raramoo

That would be great if you would Liz.  Thanks.