Early Years Compliance Officer at Banana Moon… · Leeds

Salary: £40 - 42K

The Compliance Officer is responsible for ensuring that all Banana Moon franchise nurseries within their designated region meet the applicable regulatory standards, safeguarding requirements, and internal quality benchmarks. The role involves regular visits to nurseries to verify compliance through the self-audit process, conduct safeguarding audits, and support centres in maintaining inspection readiness.

Responsibilities:

- Manage the quarterly self-audit process for nurseries in the region: receive submissions, review results, conduct follow-up verification visits, and escalate gaps to the Head of Compliance.
- Conduct regular compliance visits to franchise nurseries, assessing adherence to the applicable regulatory framework – EYFS/Ofsted in England, National Standards/Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland in Scotland, and Minimum Standards/CIW and Estyn in Wales.
- Carry out safeguarding audits across nurseries in the region, ensuring centres are achieving and maintaining full compliance.
- Support nurseries in preparing for regulatory inspections, providing guidance on areas for improvement and ensuring corrective actions are completed.
- Identify and report common compliance trends within the region to the Head of Compliance, contributing to the data that drives network-wide training priorities.
- Serve as the designated compliance point of contact for nurseries in the region, building strong working relationships with franchisees and nursery managers.
- Communicate compliance gaps to the Training & Development team so that training can be targeted to areas of need.

This is a field-based role requiring regular travel to franchise locations across the UK. The role offers flexible, hybrid working, including home-based work and occasional visits to our Warwick-based Franchise Support Office. Occasional overnight stays may be required.

- Manage the quarterly self-audit process for nurseries assigned, including reviewing submissions, conducting verification visits, identifying compliance gaps, monitoring action plans, and escalating significant concerns to the Head of Compliance.
- Conduct regular compliance visits to nurseries, assessing adherence to relevant regulatory frameworks and Banana Moon operational standards, while providing clear feedback and recommendations for improvement.
- Carry out safeguarding, learning and development & facilities audits across assigned nurseries, ensuring procedures are robust, consistently implemented, and fully compliant with statutory requirements.
- Support nurseries in preparing for regulatory inspections by identifying areas for improvement, monitoring progress against actions, and ensuring nurseries maintain inspection readiness.
- Identify, analyse, and report regional compliance trends and recurring themes to the Head of Compliance, contributing to network-wide quality improvement and training priorities.
- Serve as the designated compliance point of contact for nurseries assigned, developing positive and professional relationships with franchisees and nursery managers to support continuous improvement.
- Communicate compliance gaps and recurring development needs to the Training & Development team to support targeted training and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Provide clear written reports and action points following compliance visits within agreed timescales.
- Providing ongoing onsite, virtual, and telephone developmental support.
- Contributing to Early Years & Development support planning.
- Supporting own continuous professional development
- Escalating significant development concerns to the Head of Compliance.
- Refer any non-compliance concerns to the relevant Franchise Support Team.
- When possible, support with regulatory inspections within the network.

Why Join Us

Banana Moon is a well-loved UK childcare brand with over 50 franchised nurseries and a reputation for quality, community, and warmth. As part of The Learning Experience family, we are backed by one of the largest early years education providers in North America — which means career growth, transatlantic exposure, and the chance to build something meaningful as our UK footprint expands.

• Competitive salary — in line with experience and market rate
• 38 days as part of Annual leave program inclusive of Bank Holidays and Wellbeing days
• Car allowance included as part of role
• Auto-enrolment pension scheme
• Childcare fee discount at Banana Moon and TLE centres
• Genuine career development opportunity as the UK business grows
• A collaborative, people-first culture with strong US and UK leadership support