Early Years Apprentice

Summary

The role will involve looking after and supporting children’s early development by planning and implementing a high quality, play experiences. As an early years apprentice, you will ensure every individual child’s needs are met, including supporting parents with any SEND needs.

Wage

£14,918.80 to £24,126.96, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Early years practitioner (level 2)

Hours

Monday – Friday (will attend college 1 day a week during term time). Weekly rota will be provided. Apprentice will work an 8-hour day between 7.45am – 5:30pm. 38 Hours a week(4 x 8 hour days and 6 hour day at college)

38 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

1 year 3 months

Positions available

2

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

You will monitor and track your childs development by carry out observations using our online learning journal, Tapestry.

Your will take ownership of the observation, assessments and planning for your key children in line with EYFS and provide developmentally challenging next steps.

You will be expected to regularly communicate and work in partnership with Parents/Carers and external agencies where needed.

Key Responsibilities:

To support children in developing confidence, independence by planning and implementing a high quality, play experiences
To support children in taking and managing their own risks
To treat each child as an individual and to ensure those needs are met
As a keyworker, you will ensure every individual child’s needs are met, including supporting parents with any SEND needs
To carry out observations using our online learning journal, Tapestry
Take ownership of the observation, assessments and planning for your key children in line with EYFS and provide developmentally challenging next steps
To regularly communicate and work in partnership with Parents/Carers
To work to all the Nursery Policies, including Keeping Children Safe, Equal Opportunities, Data Protection and Confidentiality
To undertake any other reasonable duties as directed, in accordance with the nursery aims and objectives

Where you'll work

LITTLE SAPLINGS DAY NURSERY
SHAP ROAD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
KENDAL
CUMBRIA
LA9 6NZ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

KENDAL COLLEGE

Your training course

Early years practitioner (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Support babies and young children through a range of transitions.e.g moving onto school, moving house or the birth of a sibling
Recognise when a child is in danger, at risk of serious harm or abuse and explain the procedures to be followed to protect them. Types of abuse including: domestic, neglect , physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
Identify risks and hazards in the work setting and during off site visits.relating to both children and staff
Demonstrate skills and understanding for the prevention and control of infection, including hand washing, food preparation and hygiene, dealing with spillages safely, safe disposal of waste, using correct personal protective equipment.
Use equipment, furniture and materials safely, following the manufacturers’ instructions and setting’s requirements.
Encourage children to be aware of personal safety and the safety of others and develop personal hygiene practices (including oral hygiene).
Promote health and wellbeing in settings by encouraging babies and young children to consume healthy and balanced meals, snacks and drinks appropriate for their age and be physically active through planned and spontaneous activity throughout the day, both indoors and outdoors.
Carry out respectful care routines appropriate to the development, stage, dignity and needs of the child, including eating (feeding and weaning/complimentary feeding), nappy changing procedures, potty/toilet training, care of skin, teeth and hair and rest and sleep provision.
Communicate with all children in ways that will be understood, including verbal and non-verbal communication.
Extend children’s development and learning through verbal and non-verbal communication.
Encourage babies and young children to use a range of communication methods.
Use a range of communication methods to exchange information with children and adults.
Work with colleagues to identify and plan enabling environments, activities (both indoors and outdoors), play opportunities and educational programmes (both adult led and child initiated) to support children’s holistic development through a range of play, creativity, social development and learning.
Implement and review activities to support children’s play, creativity, social development and learning and clear up after activities.
Observe children, assess, plan and record the outcomes, sharing results accurately and confidentially in line with expected statutory framework and setting’s requirements.
Use learning activities to support early language development.
Support children’s early interest and development in mark making, writing, reading and being read to.
Support children’s interest and development in mathematical learning including numbers, number patterns, counting, sorting and matching.
Support the assessment, planning, implementation and reviewing (the graduated approach) of each baby’s and young child's individual plan for their care and participation.
Work in ways that value and respect the developmental needs and stages of babies and children.
Use feedback, mentoring and/or supervision to identify and support areas for development, goals and career opportunities.
Work co-operatively with colleagues, other professionals and agencies to meet the needs of babies and young children and enable them to progress.
Work alongside parents and/or carers and recognise their role in the baby’s/child’s health, well-being, learning and development.
Encourage parents and/or carers to take an active role in the baby’s/child’s care, play, learning and development.
Demonstrate how to share information with parents/carers about the importance of healthy balanced diets, looking after teeth and being physically active.
Support babies and young children through a range of transitions.e.g moving onto school, moving house or the birth of a sibling
Recognise when a child is in danger, at risk of serious harm or abuse and explain the procedures to be followed to protect them. Types of abuse including: domestic, neglect , physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
Identify risks and hazards in the work setting and during off site visits.relating to both children and staff
Demonstrate skills and understanding for the prevention and control of infection, including hand washing, food preparation and hygiene, dealing with spillages safely, safe disposal of waste, using correct personal protective equipment.
Use equipment, furniture and materials safely, following the manufacturers’ instructions and setting’s requirements.
Encourage children to be aware of personal safety and the safety of others and develop personal hygiene practices (including oral hygiene).
Promote health and wellbeing in settings by encouraging babies and young children to consume healthy and balanced meals, snacks and drinks appropriate for their age and be physically active through planned and spontaneous activity throughout the day, both indoors and outdoors.
Carry out respectful care routines appropriate to the development, stage, dignity and needs of the child, including eating (feeding and weaning/complimentary feeding), nappy changing procedures, potty/toilet training, care of skin, teeth and hair and rest and sleep provision.
Communicate with all children in ways that will be understood, including verbal and non-verbal communication.
Extend children’s development and learning through verbal and non-verbal communication.
Encourage babies and young children to use a range of communication methods.
Use a range of communication methods to exchange information with children and adults.
Work with colleagues to identify and plan enabling environments, activities (both indoors and outdoors), play opportunities and educational programmes (both adult led and child initiated) to support children’s holistic development through a range of play, creativity, social development and learning.
Implement and review activities to support children’s play, creativity, social development and learning and clear up after activities.
Observe children, assess, plan and record the outcomes, sharing results accurately and confidentially in line with expected statutory framework and setting’s requirements.
Use learning activities to support early language development.
Support children’s early interest and development in mark making, writing, reading and being read to.
Support children’s interest and development in mathematical learning including numbers, number patterns, counting, sorting and matching.
Support the assessment, planning, implementation and reviewing (the graduated approach) of each baby’s and young child's individual plan for their care and participation.
Work in ways that value and respect the developmental needs and stages of babies and children.
Use feedback, mentoring and/or supervision to identify and support areas for development, goals and career opportunities.
Work co-operatively with colleagues, other professionals and agencies to meet the needs of babies and young children and enable them to progress.
Work alongside parents and/or carers and recognise their role in the baby’s/child’s health, well-being, learning and development.
Encourage parents and/or carers to take an active role in the baby’s/child’s care, play, learning and development.
Demonstrate how to share information with parents/carers about the importance of healthy balanced diets, looking after teeth and being physically active.

Your training plan

Early years Practitioner Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard:

Apprentice will attend college 1 day a week during term time.
Weekly rota will be provided
Apprentice will work an 8-hour day between 7.45am – 5:30pm

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4 or above)
Maths (grade 4 or above)

Other in:

Food Hygiene (grade Pass)
Peadiatric (grade Pass)
Safeguarding (grade Pass)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Polite

About this company

Little Saplings Day Nursery is a new setting which opened in September 2024. It is a newly renovated setting offering fantastic resources and large garden area. Our aim is to provide high quality childcare for children aged 0-4 years in a setting where children thrive in their learning and development.

http://www.littlesaplingsdaynursery.co.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Opportunity to continue into fulltime employment or progress onto a higher apprenticeship

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

KENDAL COLLEGE

Aimee Wood

admin@littlesaplingsdaynursery.co.uk

01539 332417

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000320649.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 18 July 2025

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