Early Years Practitioner Level 2 Apprenticeship

NEXT STEP TRAINING LTD

Woking (GU24 8HF)

Closes in 16 days (Tuesday 26 August 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 7 August 2025

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Summary

Being an apprentice at NextStep Training means earning while you learn, gaining hands-on experience and industry-recognised qualifications. You'll receive expert training, personalised support, and a clear pathway to career progression. Enjoy discounted travel, exclusive discounts at over 350 retailers and reduced council tax.

Wage

£13,741 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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Pay will increase after the first 12 months of the apprenticeship.

Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Friday, varied shifts between 6:30am - 6:00pm No weekends.

35 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 27 August 2025

Duration

1 year

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

  • Assist in planning and delivering engaging, age-appropriate activities
  • Promote learning through play in line with the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) framework
  • Create a safe and stimulating environment
  • Help maintain clean, safe, and welcoming learning spaces
  • Follow safeguarding and health & safety procedures at all times
  • Observe and monitor children's progress
  • Record observations and contribute to assessments and development plans
  • Share relevant information with senior staff and parents as needed
  • Promote positive behaviour and social skills
  • Encourage kindness, sharing, and respectful behaviour
  • Use positive reinforcement and model appropriate conduct
  • Assist with daily routines
  • Support children during meal times, toileting, dressing, and nap times
  • Help establish consistent routines for comfort and stability
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues and parents
  • Communicate effectively with team members, children, and families
  • Participate in staff meetings and training sessions
  • Maintain confidentiality and professionalism
  • Handle sensitive information with discretion and follow data protection policies
  • Follow nursery/setting policies and procedures
  • Adhere to guidelines for safeguarding, equality, inclusion, and diversity
  • Support in ensuring the setting meets regulatory and quality standards

NextStep Training will provide you with all of the on-the-job training you need to upskill in your role, and your 20% off-the-job learning will be incorporated as part of your working day. 

Where you'll work

Summerfield
Chertsey Road, Chobham
Woking
GU24 8HF

Training

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

Training provider

NEXTSTEP TRAINING LIMITED

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 and significant events. 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 provision and during off site visits relating to both children and staff and visitors and follow reporting procedures.
  • Use prevention and control of infection techniques for hand washing and food preparation and hygiene, deal with spillages safely, safe disposal of waste, using correct personal protective equipment.
  • Use equipment, furniture and materials safely and securely, following the manufacturers’ instructions and provision’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 the provision by encouraging babies and young children to consume healthy, balanced and nutritious 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 or complementary feeding), nappy changing procedures, potty or toilet training, care of skin, teeth and hair and rest and sleep provision.
  • Communicate with all children, including those for whom English is an additional language and those with additional needs, in ways that will be understood. This includes 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 appropriate communication methods to share information with children, parents or carers and other professionals.
  • Work with colleagues to identify and plan educational programmes 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, share results accurately and confidentially in line with expected statutory and the provision’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 graduated approach for the assessment, planning, implementation and reviewing 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 and mentoring 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 or carers and recognise their role in the baby or child’s health, well-being, learning and development.
  • Encourage parents or carers to take an active role in the baby's or child’s care, play, learning and development.
  • Demonstrate how to share information with parents or carers about the importance of healthy, balanced and nutritious diets for their child, looking after teeth and being physically active.
  • Support babies and young children through a range of transitions and significant events. 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 provision and during off site visits relating to both children and staff and visitors and follow reporting procedures.
  • Use prevention and control of infection techniques for hand washing and food preparation and hygiene, deal with spillages safely, safe disposal of waste, using correct personal protective equipment.
  • Use equipment, furniture and materials safely and securely, following the manufacturers’ instructions and provision’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 the provision by encouraging babies and young children to consume healthy, balanced and nutritious 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 or complementary feeding), nappy changing procedures, potty or toilet training, care of skin, teeth and hair and rest and sleep provision.
  • Communicate with all children, including those for whom English is an additional language and those with additional needs, in ways that will be understood. This includes 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 appropriate communication methods to share information with children, parents or carers and other professionals.
  • Work with colleagues to identify and plan educational programmes 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, share results accurately and confidentially in line with expected statutory and the provision’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 graduated approach for the assessment, planning, implementation and reviewing 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 and mentoring 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 or carers and recognise their role in the baby or child’s health, well-being, learning and development.
  • Encourage parents or carers to take an active role in the baby's or child’s care, play, learning and development.
  • Demonstrate how to share information with parents or carers about the importance of healthy, balanced and nutritious diets for their child, looking after teeth and being physically active.

Training schedule

As an apprentice, you'll receive regular training alongside your job to help you develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed for your role. At least 20% of your working hours will be dedicated to off-the-job training, which includes study time, workshops, and learning activities.

Training is delivered either online or in person at our training centre in Hackney, offering flexibility to suit your needs. You'll be supported by experienced tutors and assessors throughout your apprenticeship, ensuring you stay on track and successfully complete your qualification.

Requirements

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

Candidates will need to pass a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check for this role.

About this employer

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

After completing the Level 2 Early Years Practitioner course, the natural next step is to progress onto the Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship.

This qualification enables you to become a fully qualified practitioner, allowing you to work independently with children in nurseries, preschools, and reception classes. It deepens your understanding of child development, safeguarding, curriculum planning, and supporting learning through play.

Potential Career Progression (After Level 2 and 3).

As you gain experience, you could progress into more senior roles, such as:

  • Senior Practitioner / Room Leader
  • Oversee a team within a room
  • Lead activity planning and observations
  • Support and mentor junior staff
  • Deputy Nursery Manager
  • Support daily operations of the nursery
  • Ensure compliance and safeguarding practices
  • Help manage and develop the staff team

Nursery Manager

  • Lead the nursery setting as a whole
  • Oversee education standards and team performance
  • Ensure regulatory compliance and strategic planning

Further Qualifications with NextStep Training
To support continued career growth, NextStep Training offers advanced qualifications within Early Years:

  • Level 4 Early Years Advanced Practitioner
  • Specialise in areas such as SEND, safeguarding, or early language development
  • Enhance your practical skills and leadership capability
  • Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner
  • Designed for experienced practitioners moving into leadership roles
  • Focuses on mentoring, day-to-day leadership, and curriculum planning
  • Long-Term Career Pathways

Further progression options include:

  • Moving into school-based roles such as Teaching Assistant or SEND Support
  • Becoming a Trainer, Assessor, or Mentor for new apprentices
    Studying for a Foundation Degree or BA in Early Childhood
  • Studies, which can lead to:
  • Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS)
  • Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

NextStep Training provides a clear, supported pathway from beginner to leadership, ensuring every apprentice has the tools and guidance to build a long-term, successful career in the Early Years sector.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

NEXTSTEP TRAINING LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000336009.

Apply now

Closes in 16 days (Tuesday 26 August 2025 at 11:59pm)

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