Early Years Apprenticeship

Summary

Enjoy regular team events, free or discounted travel, exclusive discounts at 350+ retailers, and reduced council tax once registered as an apprentice. You’ll also receive 28 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays), company pension, rewards and incentives, plus a clear, structured career pathway.

Wage

£27,040 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Early years lead practitioner (level 5)

Hours

Monday to Friday, varied shifts between 6:30am - 6:00pm. No weekends.

40 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 2 July 2025

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

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

Training:

Your full role and responsibilities will be set out by your employer
NextStep Training will provide you with all of the on-the-job training you need to up-skill in your role, and your 20% off-the-job learning will be incorporated as part of your working day

Qualifications required:

Knowledge of the statutory framework for the EYFS and regulatory requirements – Desirable
Fluent in written and spoken English – Essential
Passionate about learning and developing into a new role – Essential

Skills required:

Great communication skills
Excellent organisational skills
Ability to work as part of a team
Creative thinker
Passionate and reliable

Where you'll work

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

1 Rosewood Avenue, Hornchurch, RM12 5LH
Score Building, 100 Oliver Road, London, E10 5JY
225 Camberwell New Road, London, SE5 0TH
115 Battersea High Street, London, SW11 3HS
Unit A, Red House, 67 Lawrence Road, London, N15 4GL

Training

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

College or training organisation

NEXTSTEP TRAINING LIMITED

Your training course

Early years lead practitioner (level 5)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Analyse and articulate how all children’s individual learning can be affected by their current developmental capabilities, characteristics and individual circumstances taking into account all factors contributing to typical and atypical development.
Promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.
Observe, assess, plan, facilitate and participate in play opportunities which include current curriculum requirements.
Ensure plans fully reflect the individual development needs and circumstances of children and actively participate in the provision of consistent care, responding quickly to the needs of the individual child.
Provide a dynamic, evolving and enabling environment that reflects the current interests, motivations, and play of individual and groups of children.
Encourage all children’s participation, ensuring a sensitive, respectful and effective balance within the adult and child dynamic to facilitate play opportunities.
Engage in effective strategies to develop and extend children's learning and thinking, including sustained shared thinking.
Support and promote children’s speech, language and communication development and determining and adapting appropriate responses and interventions.
Support children to engage in a range of learning contexts such as individual, small groups and larger groups as appropriate for their play and support confidence within social experiences.
Ensure staff are deployed effectively to suit and enhance the learning environment, prioritising the safety and wellbeing of all children.
Advocate for the child, cultivating professional partnerships with parents/carers and other professionals, presenting their understanding of the child’s journey within multidisciplinary teams to holistically support the child’s individual needs.
Demonstrate the importance of the home learning environment, developing an effective and collaborative partnership to enhance opportunities for the child.
Make use of formative and summative assessment, tracking children’s progress to plan for future learning possibilities including early interventions based on individual developmental needs.
Take responsibility for supporting the key person in articulating children's progress and planning future learning possibilities.
Use current and contemporary knowledge, research, theories and approaches to develop, enhance and articulate their own pedagogical approach and practice.
Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally to enhance their practice.
Plan, carry out and guide appropriate physical care routines for individual children.
Promote, model and support children and families to develop a healthy approach to making choices relating to personal care including eating, sleeping and physical activity.
Develop, model and implement strategies to support the emotional, psychological, physical and cultural needs of all children within the setting.
Identify and act upon own responsibilities in relation to health and safety, prevention and control of infection, carrying out risk assessments and risk management processes in line with policies and procedures.
Ensure the security and confidentiality of data, records and information in line with current legislation.
Be a leaderful practitioner to support, mentor, coach, train and guide colleagues in a range of settings, providing inspiration and motivation to engage others to develop their practice.
Be confident to identify, action and competently challenge issues and undertake difficult conversations where appropriate.
Advocate for children through their child centred approach, listening to the voice of the child; ensuring children’s rights, views and wishes are heard, respected and acted upon at all times. Offer appropriate support and influence decisions in the best interests of the child.
Competently action and carry out safeguarding procedures, using their professional curiosity, knowledge, insight and understanding.
Explore and understand, challenge and question; knowing when to act to safeguard and protect children.
Analyse and articulate how all children’s individual learning can be affected by their current developmental capabilities, characteristics and individual circumstances taking into account all factors contributing to typical and atypical development.
Promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.
Observe, assess, plan, facilitate and participate in play opportunities which include current curriculum requirements.
Ensure plans fully reflect the individual development needs and circumstances of children and actively participate in the provision of consistent care, responding quickly to the needs of the individual child.
Provide a dynamic, evolving and enabling environment that reflects the current interests, motivations, and play of individual and groups of children.
Encourage all children’s participation, ensuring a sensitive, respectful and effective balance within the adult and child dynamic to facilitate play opportunities.
Engage in effective strategies to develop and extend children's learning and thinking, including sustained shared thinking.
Support and promote children’s speech, language and communication development and determining and adapting appropriate responses and interventions.
Support children to engage in a range of learning contexts such as individual, small groups and larger groups as appropriate for their play and support confidence within social experiences.
Ensure staff are deployed effectively to suit and enhance the learning environment, prioritising the safety and wellbeing of all children.
Advocate for the child, cultivating professional partnerships with parents/carers and other professionals, presenting their understanding of the child’s journey within multidisciplinary teams to holistically support the child’s individual needs.
Demonstrate the importance of the home learning environment, developing an effective and collaborative partnership to enhance opportunities for the child.
Make use of formative and summative assessment, tracking children’s progress to plan for future learning possibilities including early interventions based on individual developmental needs.
Take responsibility for supporting the key person in articulating children's progress and planning future learning possibilities.
Use current and contemporary knowledge, research, theories and approaches to develop, enhance and articulate their own pedagogical approach and practice.
Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally to enhance their practice.
Plan, carry out and guide appropriate physical care routines for individual children.
Promote, model and support children and families to develop a healthy approach to making choices relating to personal care including eating, sleeping and physical activity.
Develop, model and implement strategies to support the emotional, psychological, physical and cultural needs of all children within the setting.
Identify and act upon own responsibilities in relation to health and safety, prevention and control of infection, carrying out risk assessments and risk management processes in line with policies and procedures.
Ensure the security and confidentiality of data, records and information in line with current legislation.
Be a leaderful practitioner to support, mentor, coach, train and guide colleagues in a range of settings, providing inspiration and motivation to engage others to develop their practice.
Be confident to identify, action and competently challenge issues and undertake difficult conversations where appropriate.
Advocate for children through their child centred approach, listening to the voice of the child; ensuring children’s rights, views and wishes are heard, respected and acted upon at all times. Offer appropriate support and influence decisions in the best interests of the child.
Competently action and carry out safeguarding procedures, using their professional curiosity, knowledge, insight and understanding.
Explore and understand, challenge and question; knowing when to act to safeguard and protect children.

Your training plan

Training is delivered through a flexible combination of in-person sessions at our training centre and online learning with our experienced tutors.

You will be working towards the Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship standard, which includes:

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours
Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator
Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid or Level 3 Award in Emergency
Paediatric First Aid
Level 2 Functional Skills in maths and English (if required)
Apprentices will use the Laser Learning platform to complete and submit coursework, monitor their progress, and stay engaged throughout their programme
Attendance for monthly lessons is required

Requirements

Essential qualifications

A Level in:

Early Years Educator (grade Level 3)

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
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience

About this company

Next Step Training Ltd is an apprenticeship and skills training provider, funded by the Department for Education, delivering apprenticeships in London and across England. We have been in operation since 2012 and during this time have built an established reputation as a reliable and employer-led training provider. We work together with employers and individual learners to design and deliver training programmes that meets both learners and their employers’ needs. Our goal of is to empower as many individuals as possible to reach their full potential, helping them on their journey to find meaningful career that is rewarding. We help to empower businesses with industry-expert staff so they can provide the very best learning experience to their workforce to perform better.

After this apprenticeship

Completing the Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner apprenticeship marks a significant step forward in a professional early years career. This qualification is designed for experienced practitioners who are ready to take on more senior leadership responsibilities within early years settings.

With this advanced qualification, individuals are equipped to:

Lead day-to-day practice across a setting or team
Mentor and support junior staff and apprentices
Drive improvements in pedagogy, curriculum planning, and safeguarding
Influence policies and strategies that enhance child development and wellbeing
Act as a role model, demonstrating high standards of care and education

Career progression opportunities after completing the Level 5 include:

Room Leader or Senior Practitioner
Deputy Manager or Nursery Manager
Early Years Coordinator or Curriculum Lead
SENDCo (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator)
Early Years Quality Improvement Officer

For those looking to continue their professional development, the Level 5 qualification can also serve as a stepping stone towards:

A Foundation Degree in Early Years or Education
A BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies
Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) or Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)Assessor, Trainer, or Tutor roles in early years education
This pathway supports individuals in becoming confident, reflective, and influential leaders in early years education - capable of shaping high-quality learning environments and driving positive outcomes for children

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The contact for this apprenticeship is: