Apprentice Early Years Practitioner- Level 2

PRESTON PRIMARY ACADEMY TRUST

Somerset (BA22 7DE)

Closes in 22 days (Wednesday 1 April 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 10 March 2026

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Summary

A fantastic opportunity to begin your career in Early Years education within a supportive primary school setting.

This 18-month apprenticeship combines hands-on experience with professional training, helping you develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to support children aged 2+ to Reception. 

Wage

£12,563.20 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 practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Friday with one day a week release for college. 8.30am - 3.30pm. Term Time only.

32 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 5 May 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

  • Supporting the learning, development and care of children in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework
  • Assisting in planning and delivering engaging activities to promote communication, literacy, numeracy and personal development
  • Supporting children’s social and emotional wellbeing, encouraging positive behaviour and inclusion
  • Observing, recording and reporting on children’s progress to contribute to assessments and learning journals
  • Helping to prepare and maintain a safe, stimulating and inclusive learning environment
  • Working closely with colleagues and communicating effectively with parents and carers
  • Supporting snack times, outdoor play and daily routines in line with safeguarding and health & safety procedures

Where you'll work

North Cadbury Church of England Primary School
Cary Road North Cadbury
Somerset
BA22 7DE

Training

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

Training provider

YEOVIL COLLEGE

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

The apprenticeship training is delivered through a combination of workplace learning and regular attendance at Yeovil College. This training will teach you the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the EYFS.

On completion of the programme, the apprentice will achieve a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner qualification. Functional Skills in maths and English may also be required, depending on current qualifications.

This programme provides a strong foundation for progression into Level 3 Early Years qualifications or further roles within primary education.

Training will include paediatric first aid qualification.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade Grade 9 – 4 / A* - C)
  • Maths (grade Grade 9 – 4 / A* - C)

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
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

You MUST be prepared to commit to your work and training for the duration of the apprenticeship. In some cases, you may be required to have a telephone interview with Yeovil College prior to your application being passed on. If a suitable candidate is found prior to the advertised closing date, it may close earlier so please apply early to avoid disappointment.

About this employer

The successful applicant will be working in our warm and friendly Early Years setting supporting our experienced staff to work with the children allowing them to develop and grow.

You will also be required to undertake duties associated with the day-to-day operation of the school, to thestandard defined in the School’s policies and procedures. Individuals are responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children in their care.

There is also an expectation to support or run (depending on confidence and ability) an after school club 2 afternoons a week which will allow the applicant to work with other children and staff across the school.

After this apprenticeship

Potential position within this nursery/school or another nursery/school within the Trust. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

YEOVIL COLLEGE

Victoria Davey

Studentrecruitment@yeovil.ac.uk

01935845561

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000019845.

Apply now

Closes in 22 days (Wednesday 1 April 2026 at 11:59pm)