Early Years Practitioner Apprentice

Newlife Nursery & Pre-School

PLYMOUTH (PL7 2AU)

Closes on Thursday 12 February 2026

Posted on 7 January 2026

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Summary

We are seeking an Early Years Practitioner Apprentice to join our nursery, in Plympton. Our ideal candidate for this role will have an enthusiasm for working with children and supporting them to thrive. You will be supported to gain crucial on the job skills in childcare throughout your early years training.

Wage

£11,778 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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The UK Government has confirmed that the apprentice minimum wage will rise to £8.00 per hour from 1 April 2026.

 

Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8:00am and 6:00pm.

30 hours a week

Start date

Monday 23 February 2026

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

  • With training you will learn to support the educational programmes by participating in the planning, preparation and practices
  • Contribute towards a stimulating, safe learning environment in which children’s welfare, learning and development needs are met while encouraging exploration opportunities when they arise
  • Work in accordance with Company policies and procedures, all local authority and Ofsted regulations and the EYFS Framework
  • To ensure the safety, security and well-being of the preschool by adhering to safety standards and policies and procedures
  • Encourage children throughout the learning environment to freely choose from the variety of fun and educational resources available to them

Where you'll work

NEWLIFE CHILDRENS CENTRE
STATION ROAD
PLYMPTON
PLYMOUTH
PL7 2AU

Training

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

Training provider

ACHIEVEMENT 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

You will receive dedicated on‑the‑job training from your employer at Newlife Nursery & Pre‑School in Plympton.

Off‑the‑job training will be delivered through weekly classroom sessions at Achievement Training’s City Centre location. Alternatively, you may be work‑based and allocated time during your working week to study the theory elements of the programme.

You will be working towards:

  • Early Years Practitoner Level 2 standard
  • Apprentices under 19, without level 2 English and maths (A*-C or 9-4 GCSE or equivalents) will need to achieve this level prior to completion of their Apprenticeship

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English & Maths (grade Grade 4)

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
  • Team working
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

Passing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

About this employer

Newlife Nursery & Pre‑School is committed to providing a safe, caring, and stimulating environment where every child is valued as an individual. Our team supports children to reach their full potential through creative, engaging, and educational play.

We pride ourselves on offering:

  • A welcoming, diverse, and multicultural setting.
  • Progressive, child‑centred approaches to learning and development.
  • Strong, collaborative partnerships with parents and families.

After this apprenticeship

With further training, you could:

  • Apply to be a Senior Nursery Worker
  • Become an Early Years Teacher
  • Move into a management position in a nursery

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ACHIEVEMENT TRAINING LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000007383.

Apply now

Closes on Thursday 12 February 2026