Childcare Apprenticeship - Preston

Cliff House Nursery

Lambert RoadPreston (PR2 6YQ)

Closes in 31 days (Monday 2 March 2026)

Posted on 29 January 2026

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Contents

Summary

Cliff House Nursery are looking for 2 new Apprentices. You will be studying toward your Early Years Practitioner apprenticeship L2

Wage

£14,526.20 to £23,492.04, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

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Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Hours
x4 Days Per Week (Times range between 08:00-18:00)

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 9 March 2026

Duration

1 year

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

We are excited to offer an opportunity for a Level 2 Early Years Apprentice to join our friendly and supportive nursery team in Preston. This role is ideal for someone at the start of their early years career who is passionate about working with children and eager to learn through hands-on experience.

As an apprentice, you’ll work alongside experienced Nursery Practitioners and Room Leaders to support the care, learning, and development of children aged 0–5 years. You’ll gain practical experience in a nurturing, play-based environment while working towards a recognised Level 2 Early Years qualification.

This is a fantastic opportunity to build strong foundations in childcare, develop professional confidence, and progress within the early years sector.

The Team You’ll Work With:

You’ll be part of a warm, inclusive nursery team made up of qualified Nursery Practitioners, senior staff, and management who are committed to mentoring and supporting apprentices.

You’ll receive day-to-day guidance, regular feedback, and opportunities to learn best practice within a high-quality early years setting.

What Experience Will You Gain?

  • Practical experience supporting children’s learning and development in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
  • Hands-on involvement in planning and delivering activities that promote learning through play
  • Confidence working with children, families, and professionals
  • A strong understanding of safeguarding, health and safety, and inclusive practice
  • The skills and experience needed to progress into a Level 3 qualification or permanent nursery role

Apprentice Responsibilities

  • Support Nursery Practitioners in planning and delivering engaging, age-appropriate activities that encourage learning through play.
  • Assist with the daily care routines of children, including mealtimes, toileting, and rest periods, ensuring their wellbeing at all times.
  • Observe children’s development and contribute to records and assessments under supervision.
  • Help maintain a safe, clean, and welcoming nursery environment.
  • Build positive relationships with children, parents, and colleagues to support a strong nursery community.
  • Follow safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure the safety and welfare of all children.
  • Take part in training sessions, coursework, and professional development as part of the apprenticeship programme.

Where you'll work

Lambert RoadPreston
PR2 6YQ

Training

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

Training provider

PARAGON EDUCATION & SKILLS 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

At Shaping Lives, we are dedicated to one mission: helping nurseries like yours nurture future generations through high-quality early childhood education. As a trusted training provider, we specialise in developing skilled, passionate educators who make a meaningful difference in the lives of children aged 0–5. Whether you're looking to enhance your current team's skills or recruit new talent, we’re with you every step of the way. Upon completion of this 12 month Apprenticeship, you will have obtained your Early Years Practitioner apprenticeship L2 Apprenticeship.

Requirements

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

Skills

  • Attention to Detail
  • Creative
  • Patience,

Other requirements

The closing date guidance, if a successful candidate is found before the advertised dates, the advert will close early.

About this employer

Established in 1990, caring for children from 3 months to pre-school, at Cliff House Nursery we pride ourselves on offering the best childcare and early education a parent could wish for. Based in Ribbleton, Preston, Cliff House Nursery offers children an amazing indoor & outdoor environment

After this apprenticeship

There is a possibility of being offered a full time role after successful completion of the apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

PARAGON EDUCATION & SKILLS LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000010824.

Apply now

Closes in 31 days (Monday 2 March 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.