Apprentice Early Years Practitioner

HILLCREST EARLY YEARS ACADEMY

LINCOLNSHIRE (DN21 1SW)

Closes on Tuesday 21 April 2026

Posted on 17 March 2026

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Contents

Summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic Apprentice Practitioner for our nursery provision to join our vibrant and friendly team. You will be supported throughout your apprenticeship with real experience to complement your learning.

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: 8.30am - 3.30pm (30 minutes lunch).

32 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 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

We pride ourselves on being a quality childcare setting, offering only the best childcare, learning and play to all children. We go the extra mile to make sure children’s creativity and imagination is nurtured and embraced so that we can capture the magic of childhood and enhance children’s learning through play and natural experiences. 
Main Duties:
· To assist with the planning of the curriculum
· To set up the playrooms for the daily programme and to tidy away/clean during and at the end of the session.
· To assist the key person to a small group of children, liaising closely with parents/carers to plan for their child’s learning and development ensuring that each child’s needs are recognised and met
· To observe, monitor and keep accurate, up-to-date records of children within their key person group
· To remain vigilant and advise the room leads of any concerns e.g. Safeguarding & Child protection issues, Health & Safety, whilst preserving confidentiality as necessary
· To prepare snacks/lunch for children whilst maintaining good hygiene practices
· To attend regular team meetings and adhere to any actions required to provide a quality service for both child & parent/carer
· To attend in-service training courses and meetings as required
· To maintain confidentiality at all times regarding any information learned that relates to the children, their families or any member of staff at Pre-school

Where you'll work

HEAPHAM ROAD
GAINSBOROUGH
LINCOLNSHIRE
DN21 1SW

Training

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

Training provider

DN COLLEGES GROUP

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

Training will be at North Lindsey College, where you will have access to a wide range of facilities on offer. You will undertake the Early Years Practitioner standard.

More training information

At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

You will undertake Functional Skills for English and/or Maths if needed You will undertake both on and off-the-job training by a team of qualified professionals to give you the best skills, knowledge and experience.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade C/4)
  • IT (grade C/4)
  • Maths (grade C/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
  • IT skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Passionate

Other requirements

You must be able to travel to and from work and college. Apprentices are paid for their normal working hours and training that's part of their apprenticeship (usually one day per week).

We need to ask all applicants whether they have any relevant criminal convictions and or pending investigation as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Relevant meaning offences against a person, whether violent or sexual, offences involving drugs or controlled substances, or theft. A declaration of a relevant Criminal Conviction will result in a Risk Assessment being carried out to determine whether the applicant poses a risk to the welfare or safety of others. This does not include warnings, cautions, reprimands and (for example) speeding fines/points. A yes answer does not automatically exclude your application.

About this employer

Hillcrest Early Years Academy is a two-form entry stand-alone Academy from 9 months-7 years where our children are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to building high-quality learning environments where we encourage children’s independence, engagement and curiosity to promote a love of learning.

https://www.hillcrestearlyyearsacademy.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Successful completion of the apprenticeship could lead to a higher-level apprenticeship or full-time employment for the right candidate.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

DN COLLEGES GROUP

Sharron Eskesen

sharron.eskesen@dncolleges.ac.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000020897.

Apply now

Closes on Tuesday 21 April 2026