Apprentice childcare and education/ nursery school
Downham Nursery School Ltd
Downham Market (PE38 9QG)
Closes in 22 days (Friday 27 March 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 26 February 2026
Contents
Summary
We are looking for an apprentice to join our friendly, professional team. We have successfully trained many apprentices who are now part of our qualified permanent staff. Our nursery has an excellent reputation & is very popular. Working in a nursery school is demanding. Applicants must genuinely want to train for a career in childcare.
- Wage
-
£15,213.25 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Early years practitioner (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday- Friday, 8am- 3.45pm, with time allowed for study, course work and training
Term time only but you may be offered the choice to work some days during holiday cover.
38 hours 45 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 14 April 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 6 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
As an Early Years Practitioner Apprentice, you’ll be learning on the job while working alongside experienced staff to support children’s development in a warm, nurturing environment. No two days are ever the same- it’s busy, rewarding, and full of energy!
What you’ll be doing:
- Supporting children aged 2–5 with their learning and development through play-based activities, both indoors and outdoors
- Assisting with planning and setting up engaging activities that promote early literacy, numeracy, creativity, and social skills
- Helping to create a safe, stimulating, and inclusive environment where every child feels valued and supported
- Observing children’s progress and contributing to learning journals and development records
- Supporting daily routines such as snack time, personal care, and tidy-up time, encouraging independence
- Working closely with colleagues to understand safeguarding procedures and child development frameworks
- Building positive relationships with parents and carers, communicating professionally and warmly
What an average day might look like:
You could start the morning helping to prepare activities before welcoming children into the setting. Throughout the day, you’ll support small group learning sessions, join in imaginative play, read stories, sing songs, and spend time outdoors encouraging exploration and physical development. You’ll also take part in team discussions, receive mentoring from senior practitioners, and gradually take on more responsibility as your confidence grows.
This apprenticeship is a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience while working towards your Early Years qualification in a supportive and friendly school environment.
Where you'll work
Downham Nursery School
168 Lynn Road
Downham Market
PE38 9QG
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE COLLEGE OF WEST ANGLIA
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
Early Years Practitioner Level 2 Standard portfolio of evidence of:
- Knowledge
- Skills
- Behaviours
The End Point Assessment (EPA) consists of two distinct assessment methods:
- Professional discussion supported by portfolio of evidence
- Knowledge exam
Working towards Functional Skills English and maths at level 1 and 2 if required. This will be one day a week for 6 weeks for each subject with an exam at the end.
20% Off the job training.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
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
- Team working
- Interest in child development
- Desire to help all children
- Warm friendly disposition
Other requirements
Children Learn through the example we set. Especially speech and social skills.
Some people think that working in childcare is an easy option. It is not. Early years teachers have a duty to ensure the best care and education for the children during their most formative years. Candidates need to be sure that they sincerely want a career in Childcare and Education before committing to an apprenticeship.
We invite candidates to spend time in our nursery before deciding to enrol.
About this employer
Downham Nursery School LTD
http://www.downhamnursery.co.uk (opens in new tab)
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
- If Level 2 is completed successfully, the apprentice will be offered a placement to study Level 3
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE COLLEGE OF WEST ANGLIA
Elizabeth Laffeaty-Sharpe
ejlsharpe@icloud.com
01366388755
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000018101.
Apply now
Closes in 22 days (Friday 27 March 2026 at 11:59pm)