Apprentice Early Years Assistant

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Oldbury (B69 3DB)

Closes on Friday 12 September 2025

Posted on 11 August 2025

Print

Contents

Summary

This will be an exciting opportunity to work as an effective member of the Early Years Team based at Sandwell Council’s Workplace Nursery, based in Oldbury; ensuring that a balanced programme of Childcare provision meets local needs whilst working towards a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner Qualification.

Wage

£14,526.20 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Friday, between the hours of 7.45am to 5.45pm

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 3 November 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

  • To work in partnership with parent/carers, to support the development of strong partnerships and recognise the importance of involving them in all aspects of a child's play, learning and development.
  • Establish trusting and caring relationships with children and their parents/carers and family.
  • To help plan, deliver and review stimulating learning experiences enabling young children to grow in confidence and independence.
  • Participate in the evaluation process of children’s play, learning and development.
  • To plan and provide a caring and stimulating environment for children consistent with their level of development, emerging skills, their interests and specific needs.
  • Ensure the nursery is maintained in a neat, organised and safe manner and is an attractive, stimulating and exciting environment for children.
  • Ensure the safety and whereabouts of each child at all times during operating hours.
  • To work with individuals, small groups and larger groups of children aged 0-5.
  • To adhere to all Sandwell Council’s Policies and Procedures.
    Undertake domestic duties such as preparation of snacks/meals for children when necessary and cleaning of bathrooms/children’s spaces during the day.
  • To work in a non-discriminatory and anti-oppressive manner and to value all children and their families regardless of race, culture, religion.
  • To ensure that in line with safeguarding/child protection procedures, all concerns are reported to the appropriate person in a sensitive and confidential manner.
  • Work with other professionals as appropriate
    Promote positive behaviour consistent with the practices of the nursery.
  • Participate in ongoing development of the nursery.
  • Ensure the satisfactory completion of daily registers and contact sheets. Adhering to policies and procedures in accordance with OFSTED, with regards to adequate record keeping.
  • To attend in service training and external training as appropriate, consistent with job role and responsibilities.
  • To be aware of own training needs and be committed to your own continuing professional development.
  • To be involved in the upkeep and provision of resources, materials and equipment.

Where you'll work

Freeth Street
Oldbury
B69 3DB

Training

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

Training provider

JUNIPER 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

The apprenticeship training will be delivered in the workplace, as you will receive visits from a college assessor. The apprenticeship will also include a proportion of 20% Off The Job Training and a robust programme of Mandatory Apprentice Training provided by Sandwell Council to include Fire Awareness, Prevent, Safeguarding, Data Protection & Cyber Security and Equality & Diversity.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 9-4/A-C)
  • Maths (grade 9-3/A-D)

Other in:

  • English (grade Level 2)
  • Maths (grade Level 1)

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness
  • Adhere to Safeguarding
  • Adhere to data protection
  • Client confidentiality
  • Flexible working
  • Respect for others
  • Empathy
  • Outgoing personality

Other requirements

Proof of qualification certificates will be required during the recruitment process. This position will ideally suit someone with a confident and outgoing personality, and who enjoys talking to a wide variety of people. You must be willing to shadow senior post holders and attend any relevant training, as well as being flexible to support the needs of the post. You will need to have a mature a professional approach and have a due regard for Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, therefore you will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check prior to commencing in the post. We reserve the right to close vacancies prior to their advertised date, if we receive a large number of applications. Therefore, you are strongly advised to complete and return your application as soon as possible.

About this employer

Sandwell is a large, multicultural metropolitan borough situated in the heart of the Black Country, to the west of Birmingham, within the West Midlands conurbation and with a population of over 280,000. The Council is one of the largest employers in the Borough with employees in a variety of occupations, providing a comprehensive range of services. For more information about Sandwell Council’s apprenticeship programme and our recruitment process please visit our YouTube channel. Find out more information on Sandwell’s Values and Behaviours on the council’s webpage. For more information on careers in local government you can view a copy of the Local Government Career Guide.

http://www.sandwell.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

This apprenticeship is a fixed term contract.  However the skills, knowledge and experience gained in this apprenticeship will allow you to gain future opportunities in the sector.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

JUNIPER TRAINING LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000336499.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 12 September 2025

Sign in with your GOV.UK One Login to apply.