Nursery Lead Practitioner Apprenticeship

MAXIMISE POTENTIAL SKILLS LT

London (2 available locations)

Closes in 22 days (Sunday 21 September 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 29 August 2025


Summary

Do you want to further your qualifications without going to university? Do you already hold a level 3 or 4 qualification in Early Years? If the answer is yes, then this role is for you.

Training course
Early years lead practitioner (level 5)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, shifts may also be rotated.

35 hours a week

Start date

Monday 22 September 2025

Duration

1 year 6 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 be responsible for the following; 

  • To actively promote Equality & Diversity within the nursery. Ensuring that the service responds to and respects differences amongst users, visitors, workers and other professionals who may have contact with the nursery
  • To have an awareness of the diversity within the community and to assist the nursery to reflect this
  • To work in partnership with parents / carers
  • To work with the Owner / Director and the staff team to ensure a well-balanced and a high standard of Early Years Education is  provided for the children following the Early Years Curriculum for the Foundation Stage
  • To ensure the provision of a high standard of care and play activities for children, which recognises both individual, and group requirements, in a safe secure and stimulating environment
  • To manage the work in the nursery, the supervision and development of staff, volunteers and students and the fostering of good relationships within the team
  • To participate in the recruitment of staff, including sitting on interviewing panel (as appropriate)
  • To carry out administrative tasks and work collaboratively with the Nursery Administrator to ensure that all parents’ contracts are signed, and all documents are accurately filed. Being able to use ICT / Babys days software as dictated by this role
  • To liaise with other professionals, attend relevant meetings and involve them in the work of the nursery as required
  • To manage aspects of the nursery’s budgets for the purchase of equipment, toys, food and other services, as delegated by the Director, consistent with the financial policies and procedure of the organisation
  • To assist the Owner/Director with the assessment of training and development needs of the staff team, through annual appraisals, and ensure that these are met through regular planned
    and individual supervision, ensure that accurate recordings are kept, paying particular attention to matters of confidential nature, and training opportunities are made available
  • To have a working knowledge of the legislation surrounding Safeguarding Children and be able to work within the nurseries Safeguarding Policy
  • To ensure the implementation of the organisation’s policies and procedures, including the Health and Safety procedures, with particular regard to the standard of hygiene throughout the nursery and Risk Assessments within the nursery, e.g. ensuring all toys and equipment are clean and safe, for the purposes for which they are intended
  • To assist the Director/Owner in the carrying out personnel procedures, e.g. sickness and other procedures, in accordance with the organisation’s policy

Where you'll work

You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

  • 206 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1HE
  • 6 York Road, London, SW11 3QA

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 lead practitioner (level 5)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • 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.
  • Develop, model and implement strategies to support the emotional, social, psychological, physical and cultural needs of all children within the educational setting.
  • Support and promote children’s diverse speech, language and communication development and determining and adapting appropriate responses and interventions to support verbal, nonverbal interactions and engagement with written communication.
  • 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.
  • Engage in effective strategies to develop and extend children's learning and thinking, including sustained shared thinking.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Plan, carry out and guide appropriate personal care routines for individual children.
  • 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.
  • Encourage all children’s participation, ensuring a sensitive, respectful and effective balance within the adult and child dynamic to facilitate play opportunities.
  • Ensure staff are deployed effectively to suit and enhance the learning environment, prioritising the safety and wellbeing of all children.
  • Cultivate professional partnerships with parents, carers, colleagues 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.
  • Provide a dynamic, evolving and enabling environment that reflects the current interests, motivations, and play of individual and groups of children.
  • Use current and contemporary knowledge, research, theories and approaches to develop, enhance and articulate their own pedagogical approach and practice.
  • Observe, assess, plan, facilitate and participate in play opportunities which include current curriculum requirements.
  • 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 including the safe use of digital technology to communicate effectively in both oral and written English.
  • Promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.
  • Be a leaderful practitioner to support, mentor, coach, train and guide colleagues in a range of educational settings, providing inspiration and motivation to engage others to develop their practice, supporting teams and guiding change.
  • Identify, action and competently challenge issues and undertake difficult conversations where appropriate.
  • Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally to enhance their practice.
  • Ensure the security and confidentiality of data, records and information in line with current legislation.
  • 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.
  • Apply the principles of sustainability and segregate used resources for reuse, recycling, and safe disposal .
  • 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.
  • Develop, model and implement strategies to support the emotional, social, psychological, physical and cultural needs of all children within the educational setting.
  • Support and promote children’s diverse speech, language and communication development and determining and adapting appropriate responses and interventions to support verbal, nonverbal interactions and engagement with written communication.
  • 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.
  • Engage in effective strategies to develop and extend children's learning and thinking, including sustained shared thinking.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Plan, carry out and guide appropriate personal care routines for individual children.
  • 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.
  • Encourage all children’s participation, ensuring a sensitive, respectful and effective balance within the adult and child dynamic to facilitate play opportunities.
  • Ensure staff are deployed effectively to suit and enhance the learning environment, prioritising the safety and wellbeing of all children.
  • Cultivate professional partnerships with parents, carers, colleagues 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.
  • Provide a dynamic, evolving and enabling environment that reflects the current interests, motivations, and play of individual and groups of children.
  • Use current and contemporary knowledge, research, theories and approaches to develop, enhance and articulate their own pedagogical approach and practice.
  • Observe, assess, plan, facilitate and participate in play opportunities which include current curriculum requirements.
  • 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 including the safe use of digital technology to communicate effectively in both oral and written English.
  • Promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.
  • Be a leaderful practitioner to support, mentor, coach, train and guide colleagues in a range of educational settings, providing inspiration and motivation to engage others to develop their practice, supporting teams and guiding change.
  • Identify, action and competently challenge issues and undertake difficult conversations where appropriate.
  • Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally to enhance their practice.
  • Ensure the security and confidentiality of data, records and information in line with current legislation.
  • 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.
  • Apply the principles of sustainability and segregate used resources for reuse, recycling, and safe disposal .

Training schedule

  • Apprentices will work towards the Early Years Lead Pratictioner Level 5 qualification
  • Training schedule has yet to be agreed. Details will be made available at a later date

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4)

BTEC in:

Early Years Educator (grade Pass)

Desirable qualifications

BTEC in:

Early Years Practitioner (grade Pass)

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

Please note this position is based between two sites (BRIXTON HILL) and (BATTERSEA) Please do NOT APPLY IF YOU LIVE MORE THAN AN HOUR AWAY.

About this employer

An EXPERT recruitment consultancy which specialises in helping individuals "Maximise their own potential skills" within education, training and the workforce. Maximise Potential skills has extensive 5 star reviews on GOOGLE and is a highly reputable organisation.

After this apprenticeship

  • Once you have qualified as an apprentice, you will be able to further your career in-house by way of promotion to Room Leader OR Nursery Manager

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

MAXIMISE POTENTIAL SKILLS LT

Gabriela Tomas

admin@maximisepotentialskills.co.uk

07931478444

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000339587.

Apply now

Closes in 22 days (Sunday 21 September 2025 at 11:59pm)

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