Nursery Apprentice
MERRY POPPETS NURSERY LTD
23 Queen's Road (MK45 2TD)
Closes in 30 days (Thursday 2 April 2026)
Posted on 23 February 2026
Contents
Summary
Are you great with children and ready to start a job that really makes a difference? An exciting opportunity is available at Merry Poppets Nursery in Ampthill who are looking for a caring, energetic individual to help create a fun, safe environment where children can learn, play, and grow. Apply now!
- Wage
-
£13,741 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm or 9:00am to 6:00pm, with 1 hour for lunch.
35 hours a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 1 July 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 9 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
Are you passionate about working with children and ready to take your first step into a rewarding career? This Early Years Apprenticeship offers the chance to earn while you learn in a supportive nursery environment. You’ll become a valued member of the team, helping to create a safe, fun and stimulating space where children can grow, develop and achieve their best every day.
In this role, you’ll work closely with experienced staff to support children during playtime (both indoors and outdoors) and mealtimes, while learning how to understand each child as an individual. You’ll help plan and set up age-appropriate activities following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), observe children’s progress, and celebrate their achievements to ensure continued development. You’ll also build positive relationships with parents, carers, staff and other professionals.
This apprenticeship will give you hands-on experience in all areas of nursery life, including helping to maintain a bright, engaging classroom environment and ensuring equipment and toys are safe and secure. You may also attend meetings, training sessions and nursery events to build your confidence and skills. If you’re reliable, caring and ready to start a career in childcare, this is a fantastic opportunity to gain real experience and a recognised qualification.
Where you'll work
23 Queen's Road
MK45 2TD
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BEDFORD COLLEGE
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.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
- English (grade 3)
- maths (grade 3)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Caring and kind
- Enthusiastic
- Friendly
- Punctual
Other requirements
You will be required to attend Bedford College one day a week for your apprenticeship training.
About this employer
Early Years provider. Quite simply their aim at Merry Poppets is to provide the best child care support and early years education for families.
After this apprenticeship
On successful completion of the apprenticeship, there may be the opportunity to progress into a full time role within the setting.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BEDFORD COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000014891.
Apply now
Closes in 30 days (Thursday 2 April 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.