Early Years Practitioner apprentice at Meadow Nursery

Meadow Nursery at the Millmead Children's Centre

MARGATE (CT9 3RU)

Closes in 14 days (Friday 28 November 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 14 November 2025

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Summary

Millmead Children's Centre Partnership Limited (MCCPL) is looking for a committed, reliable, enthusiastic practitioner. You will have drive, passion and be committed to a high standard of good practice.

Wage

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

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, Full Year (46 weeks)

38 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 December 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

This important role will be as an Early Years Practitioner based in Meadow Nursery and will include to work as part of an experienced team to create a safe, caring and stimulating environment for children under 5 years.  Practitioners will support all children’s learning, education, development and understanding through play-based experiences and will respond to the child as an individual and work in partnership with parents/carers.  

You will have a sound knowledge of child development and a good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and Statutory Framework.

To create a safe, caring and stimulating environment for children under 5 years.  To support the children’s learning, education, development and understanding through play-based experiences.  To respond to the child as an individual and work in partnership with parents/carers.  To meet Ofsted standards.

  • Comply with Kent County Council/ MCCPL Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and Practice.
  • Undertake day to day duties across Childcare Services to ensure high standards of education and care are maintained
  • Ensure consistent inclusive, high-quality education and care is provided at all times, adapting the environment to suit the individual needs of all children, particularly those who have additional/special educational needs.
  • Ensure preparation of rooms with appropriate play-based activities, including accessible equipment and food and drink.
  • To actively identify individual child needs and plan the implementation to meet these on a daily basis lead by the key worker/staff.
  • Establish positive relationships with parent/carers to ensure they are involved in their children’s education and development.
  • To provide warm, safe and stimulating environment with a caring educational setting based on health and safety requirements being met at all times for children and staff.
  • Ensure compliance with all MCCPL policies and procedures including Child Protection.
  • Participate in supervision and appraisal processes, ongoing internal/external training and development to improve practice.
  • Contribute to the overall development of the setting, liaising with parents/carers on their child’s development as appropriate.
  • Observe and record individual children’s development and learning.
  • Support developments, displays and varied activities in designated rooms to provide education and learning.
  • Ensure that children are appropriately supervised, and the Key Person buddy system is embedded into practice.
  • Any other duties identified by the Nursery Deputy or the Centre Manager.

Where you'll work

MILLMEAD EARLY YEARS CENTRE
DANE VALLEY ROAD
MARGATE
CT9 3RU

Training

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

Training provider

PROFILE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING LIMITED

Training course

Early years educator (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Recognise when a child or a colleague is in danger or at risk of abuse and act to protect them in line with safeguarding policy and procedure.
  • Apply legislation, policy and procedure to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children in the setting (for example, food safety, diets, starting solid food, allergies, COSHH, and accidents, injuries, and emergencies).
  • Apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management within documentation and practice.
  • Teach children to develop skills to manage risk and maintain their own and others safety.
  • Use a range of communication methods, including technology, with other professionals to meet the individual needs of the child.
  • Develop and maintain effective professional, collaborative relationships with others involved in the education and care of the child.
  • Undertake the role and responsibilities of key person.
  • Recognise and apply theories of attachment to develop effective relationships with children.
  • Provide sensitive and respectful personal care for children from birth to 5 years.
  • Advocate for all children’s needs, including children which require SEND or EAL support.
  • Promote and facilitate children’s interpersonal communication to develop their social interactions and relationships.
  • Support children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and culture.
  • Support children to understand and respond to their emotions and make considered choices about their behaviours.
  • Assess the responsiveness of the environment for effective child-centred experiences in line with curriculum requirements.
  • Create inclusive, child-centred, dynamic, innovative, and evolving physical environments both indoors and outdoors.
  • Create inclusive and supportive emotional environment that enables the child to feel safe, secure, respected and experience a sense of wellbeing; maintaining and prioritising the individual child’s voice.
  • Apply strategies that support children’s ability to manage change, transition, and significant events.
  • Analyse observation evidence to assess and plan holistic individual learning based on a comprehensive understanding of the child’s needs and interests.
  • Facilitate and support child-centred opportunities and experiences based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
  • Provide adult led opportunities and experience based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
  • Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally.
  • Recognise when a child or a colleague is in danger or at risk of abuse and act to protect them in line with safeguarding policy and procedure.
  • Apply legislation, policy and procedure to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children in the setting (for example, food safety, diets, starting solid food, allergies, COSHH, and accidents, injuries, and emergencies).
  • Apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management within documentation and practice.
  • Teach children to develop skills to manage risk and maintain their own and others safety.
  • Use a range of communication methods, including technology, with other professionals to meet the individual needs of the child.
  • Develop and maintain effective professional, collaborative relationships with others involved in the education and care of the child.
  • Undertake the role and responsibilities of key person.
  • Recognise and apply theories of attachment to develop effective relationships with children.
  • Provide sensitive and respectful personal care for children from birth to 5 years.
  • Advocate for all children’s needs, including children which require SEND or EAL support.
  • Promote and facilitate children’s interpersonal communication to develop their social interactions and relationships.
  • Support children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and culture.
  • Support children to understand and respond to their emotions and make considered choices about their behaviours.
  • Assess the responsiveness of the environment for effective child-centred experiences in line with curriculum requirements.
  • Create inclusive, child-centred, dynamic, innovative, and evolving physical environments both indoors and outdoors.
  • Create inclusive and supportive emotional environment that enables the child to feel safe, secure, respected and experience a sense of wellbeing; maintaining and prioritising the individual child’s voice.
  • Apply strategies that support children’s ability to manage change, transition, and significant events.
  • Analyse observation evidence to assess and plan holistic individual learning based on a comprehensive understanding of the child’s needs and interests.
  • Facilitate and support child-centred opportunities and experiences based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
  • Provide adult led opportunities and experience based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
  • Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally.

Training schedule

  • Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Standard
  • Paediatric First Aid
  • Functional Skills in English and maths at level 2 if required
  • Work-based and tutor-supported online training
  • Preparation for End Point Assessment
  • https://skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0135-v1-5

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

English and maths (grade A* to C or 9 to 4)

Other in:

Childcare or early years (grade Pass)

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

Skills

  • Team working
  • Patience
  • A can-do attitude
  • A willingness to learn
  • Highest confidentiality
  • Excellent listening skills
  • Not be afraid to ask questions
  • Excellent observation skills
  • Flexibility
  • A fast-paced setting

Other requirements

This is a fast-paced setting with a lot of safeguarding cases -confidentiality is essential. You will be required to set up and maintain a safe and clean environment from the start to finish of everyday. There are very high standards of cleanliness in this setting and the team are responsible for cleaning the setting at the end of every day. This job is not for the faint hearted it is very hard work. The reward of this role is enabling children to learn, flourish, and become confident and resilient in a caring and supportive environment. The children’s needs come first here, each practitioner is expected to understand their importance of providing a consistent service for the children and their team colleagues. You will need to be reliable and trustworthy; your attendance must be regular, and any personal issues will not impact your practice. If you can work to the above standard, you will form part of a very supportive, well established, highly skilled team. We pride ourselves on the work we do and the successful outcomes we provide for children and families.

About this employer

Meadow Nursery is a 62 place setting set within Millmead Children's Centre.

After this apprenticeship

There would be an opportunity for permanent employment should both the employer and apprentice agree that the setting is suitable.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

PROFILE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000000606.

Apply now

Closes in 14 days (Friday 28 November 2025 at 11:59pm)

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