Early Years Apprentice Practitioner

GOOD SHEPHERD DAY NURSERY LTD

LONDON (E7 8BD)

Closes in 10 days (Monday 24 November 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 12 November 2025

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Contents

Summary

Start your childcare career with a paid Level 2 Early Years Practitioner apprenticeship at Good Shepherd Day Nursery, Forest Gate. You will plan activities, support daily routines, observe learning and build strong relationships while completing your qualification with protected study time and one-to-one mentoring.

Wage

£0 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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Paid at or above the statutory apprentice rate in year one, with progression to the age band National Living Wage at the 12 month point or earlier on completion of Level 2. Includes at least 6 hours paid study time each week.

Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Full-time, Monday to Friday on a rota between 8:00am and 6:00pm. Typical shift 8 hours with an unpaid break. At least 6 hours per week of off-the-job training within paid hours. No evenings or weekends except agreed staff training days.

40 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 1 January 2026

Duration

1 year 3 months

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

  • Welcome children and families at drop off and support handovers at pick up
  • Set up and refresh indoor and outdoor learning areas linked to the EYFS
  • Support play-based activities such as stories, songs, mark making, messy play and small-world
  • Follow daily routines: nappy changing, potty training, toileting, handwashing, mealtimes and sleep checks
  • Supervise children safely indoors and outdoors, maintain ratios, complete headcounts and simple risk checks
  • Observe children and record notes on learning and next steps, contributing to individual plans
  • Promote positive language and behaviour, supporting communication and self-regulation
  • Assist with inclusion and SEND strategies as directed by the Room Leader
  • Prepare and serve snacks and meals, following allergy and dietary procedures
  • Keep the environment clean and hygienic, completing daily cleaning rotas and toy sterilising
  • Set up and tidy away resources, replenish consumables and check equipment is safe
  • Keep accurate records including attendance, accidents, incidents, medication, sleep and nappy changes
  • Follow safeguarding, child protection, health and safety, confidentiality and data protection procedures
  • Communicate professionally with parents and colleagues in line with nursery policy
  • Attend team meetings, in-house training and mentoring sessions
  • Complete apprenticeship coursework and off-the-job learning time each week with the training provider
  • Contribute to planning and evaluating activities and to displays that celebrate children’s learning
  • Support local walks and trips when scheduled

Where you'll work

EMMANUAL C OF E CHURCH
308 ROMFORD ROAD
LONDON
E7 8BD

Training

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

Training provider

PHOENIX4TRAINING LLP

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

  • Workplace delivery at Good Shepherd Day Nursery, Romford Road, Forest Gate E7
  • Off-the-job training provided within paid hours for a minimum of 6 hours per week, usually split across the week
  • Monthly tutor or assessor visit on site for observation, feedback and target setting
  • Online taught sessions with Phoenix4Training scheduled during working hours
  • Tripartite progress reviews every 12 weeks with the apprentice, workplace mentor and provider
  • Planned programme length 15 to 18 months, including preparation for end-point assessment
  • Functional Skills English and maths support provided in working hours if required

More training information

  • Training provider: Phoenix4Training LLP, UKPRN 10024054
  • Delivery model: blended learning combining online workshops, workplace coaching, assessor observations and self-study
  • E-portfolio used to upload evidence, track progress and map to KSBs, with set targets each month
  • Protected study time agreed in the rota and recorded as off-the-job learning
  • Gateway readiness checked near completion, with endpoint assessment arranged by the provider

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
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Patience

Other requirements

Must be 16 or over, with the right to work in the UK and eligibility for apprenticeship funding Enhanced DBS check with children’s barred list and two satisfactory references Not disqualified from childcare under the Childcare Disqualification Regulations and willing to complete a self-declaration Satisfactory health declaration and any pre employment occupational health screening, reasonable adjustments considered Able to work shifts between 8:00am and 6:00pm Monday to Friday, attend occasional staff training days Reliable daily travel to Forest Gate E7 and to any scheduled provider sessions with Phoenix4Training Willing to complete at least 6 hours per week of off the job study and maintain an e portfolio Physically able to meet the demands of the role with reasonable adjustments, for example floor based play, lifting and carrying young children and resources, pushing buggies, using stairs, and working indoors and outdoors in all weather Adhere to nursery policies including safeguarding, whistleblowing, health and safety, infection control, confidentiality, data protection, mobile phone and social media, and smoking or vaping Observe dress code and hygiene standards, including suitable footwear and minimal jewellery Six month probationary period and attendance standards apply

About this employer

Good Shepherd Day Nursery is a small, friendly nursery in Forest Gate, London E7, caring for children aged 0 to 4. We are a close knit team in a family sized setting with a natural outdoor area and places for around 16 children at any one time. Open during term time, we deliver high quality early education and childcare guided by the EYFS. We work in strong partnership with families and our community, with safeguarding central to everything we do. Our values are Respect, Collaboration, Community, Integrity and Innovation. We invest in staff through mentoring and regular CPD and welcome applicants who share our commitment to inclusive practice and great outcomes for every child.

After this apprenticeship

  • On completion, opportunity to move into a permanent Nursery Practitioner role at GSDN, subject to performance and vacancies
  • Funded progression to Level 3 Early Years Educator within 6 to 12 months after the Level 2
  • Development to Key Person responsibilities, then Room Leader with mentoring support
  • Specialist pathways available, for example, SEND support, Designated Safeguarding Lead, or Outdoor Learning Lead
  • Further qualifications such as Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner or leadership and management
  • Longer-term progression to Deputy Manager and Nursery Manager, with pay increases linked to skills and responsibility

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

PHOENIX4TRAINING LLP

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000350073.

Apply now

Closes in 10 days (Monday 24 November 2025 at 11:59pm)

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