Early Years Level 2 Apprenticeship - Meadows Day Nursery

PLAYWORLD LEARNING CENTRES LIMITED

Cheltenham (GL51 4TX)

Closes on Monday 27 April 2026

Posted on 24 March 2026

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Contents

Summary

Are you looking for a career in early years? Meadows Day Nursery School is set in 1.5 acres of beautiful gardens only a few minutes drive from South Cheltenham, North Gloucester, and Churchdown, just off the A46 in Little Shurdington. The role involves caring for the development and personal needs of children 0 - 5.

Wage

£15,600 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Friday, hours to be determined.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 4 May 2026

Duration

1 year 3 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 apprentice, you will be a key member of the nursery team. Your duties and activities may include:

  • Planning and delivering fun and educational activities with the children
  • Play alongside and with children to support their play
  • Contribute to children’s records through observation
  • Assist with the supervision of children at rest times and at mealtimes
  • Contribute in creating a safe, happy environment for the children
  • Ensure the play area is clean and tidy at all times
  • Working alongside/with outside agencies in supporting the children

Qualities

  • Friendly and approachable
  • Patient, and caring
  • The ability to interact positively with children and adults
  • Flexible and willing to carry out a number of different activities within the job role
  • Reliable
  • Trustworthy
  • Motivated
  • Good time keeping

This position would suit a candidate with a bubbly, outgoing personality who is able to work on their own initiative and is prepared to commit to the work required for an apprenticeship.

Where you'll work

Whitelands Lane
Cheltenham
GL51 4TX

Training

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

Training provider

ASPIRATION TRAINING 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

Level 2 Early Years Practitioner apprenticeship standard, which includes:

  • Level 2 Early Years Practitioner Diploma
  • Level 1 Functional Skills in maths and English (if required)
  • End-Point Assessment (EPA)
  • On the job training 

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

in:

  • Maths (grade 4-9)
  • English (grade 4-9)

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

Skills

  • Organisation skills
  • Team working
  • Creative

Other requirements

If you are using public transport to get to this employer, please ensure you have researched the route and that a regular service is available.

About this employer

The Meadows Day Nursery childcare is simple, to provide a loving, nurturing, safe environment filled with warmth and promise where individual's talents are encouraged to flourish and grow. So while children are laughing, playing and having fun they are also learning by using their physical, social, emotional, communication and intellectual skills. Art Baking Computer + ICT skills Dance/drama Debutots (stories & drama) Growing Fruit & Vegetables Makaton (signage) Monkey music Music Nature studies Numeracy Pre-reading Pre-writing Rugby Tykes Safety awareness Singing Sport Technology and much, much more...

After this apprenticeship

Progression to a higher level qualification or full-time employment may be available after completion of the apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ASPIRATION TRAINING LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000022931.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 27 April 2026

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