Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner apprenticeship
ROLE PLAY ADVENTURES LTD
Bristol (BS2 0LP)
Closes in 22 days (Monday 20 April 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 27 March 2026
Contents
Summary
Advance your early years career with Little Adventures Nurseries. As a Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner, you’ll lead teams, support children’s development, and implement high-quality care while building on your level 3 qualification.
- Wage
-
£27,040 a year
- Training course
- Early years lead practitioner (level 5)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 7.30am - 6.00pm.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Saturday 25 April 2026
- Duration
-
2 years
- Positions available
-
2
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
Main Areas of Responsibility
Pedagogical Leadership & Quality Improvement
- Champion high-quality teaching and learning, modelling outstanding practice and supporting colleagues to embed strong pedagogy
- Lead on planning, curriculum intent and implementation, ensuring learning experiences are ambitious, inclusive and responsive
- Support the team in delivering a rich learning environment that sparks curiosity and deepens learning
- Contribute to room self-evaluation, action planning and continuous quality improvement
- Use assessment, observation and reflective practice to ensure children make strong progress
Children’s Care, Learning & Development
- Provide exemplary interactions that promote children’s language, emotional wellbeing, critical thinking and independence
- Act as a highly skilled key person, demonstrating excellence in attachment-building and partnership with parents
- Plan and deliver next-step learning that reflects the needs, interests and developmental stages of each child
- Ensure that learning environments remain purposeful, safe, stimulating and aligned to the EYFS
Inclusion & SEND Support
- Work closely with the SENCo to identify additional needs early and implement targeted strategies that support every child to thrive
- Model inclusive practice and guide colleagues to adapt provision effectively
- Contribute to professional meetings, review cycles, written reports and partnership working with external professionals
Safeguarding & Welfare
- Uphold the highest safeguarding standards, following all procedures with vigilance and professional curiosity
- Model safe, hygienic and nurturing care routines
- Support the embedding of a strong safeguarding culture across the nursery
Team Development & Collaboration
- Offer day-to-day coaching, mentoring and modelling to colleagues, especially Level 2/3 Practitioners and new staff
- Share expertise through reflective discussions, in-room training and practice demonstrations
- Support with room organisation, routines and operational priorities
- Step up in the absence of the Room Manager to ensure continuity of high-quality provision
Partnership with Parents & Carers
- Build warm, professional and trusting relationships with parents
- Lead high-quality parent communication, including key person discussions, learning reviews and parent evenings
- Offer clear guidance to families on supporting learning at home
Professional Conduct & Organisational Responsibilities
- Act as an ambassador for Family Adventures Group, modelling professionalism and our ARCH values
- Maintain accurate, clear and timely documentation relating to planning, assessments and children’s progress
- Contribute to a positive, collaborative and supportive team culture
- Maintain confidentiality and uphold all policies, procedures and statutory requirements
Knowledge, Skills & Experience (Essential)
- Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner qualification (or working towards)
- Strong knowledge of child development and EYFS practice
- Demonstrable experience of leading, coaching or modelling to others
- Skilled in planning, assessment and high-quality early learning
- Knowledge of safeguarding, SEND and inclusion
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills
- Ability to positively influence and inspire colleagues
Where you'll work
Shaftesbury Chapel
Union Road
Bristol
BS2 0LP
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE CHILD CARE COMPANY (OLD WINDSOR) LIMITED
Training course
Early years lead practitioner (level 5)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Advocate for children through their child centred approach, listening to the voice of the child; ensuring children’s rights, views and wishes are heard, respected and acted upon at all times. Offer appropriate support and influence decisions in the best interests of the child.
- Develop, model and implement strategies to support the emotional, social, psychological, physical and cultural needs of all children within the educational setting.
- Support and promote children’s diverse speech, language and communication development and determining and adapting appropriate responses and interventions to support verbal, nonverbal interactions and engagement with written communication.
- Support children to engage in a range of learning contexts such as individual, small groups and larger groups as appropriate for their play and support confidence within social experiences.
- Engage in effective strategies to develop and extend children's learning and thinking, including sustained shared thinking.
- Promote, model and support children and families to develop a healthy approach to making choices relating to personal care including eating, sleeping and physical activity.
- Analyse and articulate how all children’s individual learning can be affected by their current developmental capabilities, characteristics and individual circumstances taking into account all factors contributing to typical and atypical development.
- Ensure plans fully reflect the individual development needs and circumstances of children and actively participate in the provision of consistent care, responding quickly to the needs of the individual child.
- Plan, carry out and guide appropriate personal care routines for individual children.
- Competently action and carry out safeguarding procedures, using their professional curiosity, knowledge, insight and understanding.
- Explore and understand, challenge and question; knowing when to act to safeguard and protect children.
- Encourage all children’s participation, ensuring a sensitive, respectful and effective balance within the adult and child dynamic to facilitate play opportunities.
- Ensure staff are deployed effectively to suit and enhance the learning environment, prioritising the safety and wellbeing of all children.
- Cultivate professional partnerships with parents, carers, colleagues and other professionals, presenting their understanding of the child’s journey within multidisciplinary teams to holistically support the child’s individual needs.
- Demonstrate the importance of the home learning environment, developing an effective and collaborative partnership to enhance opportunities for the child.
- Provide a dynamic, evolving and enabling environment that reflects the current interests, motivations, and play of individual and groups of children.
- Use current and contemporary knowledge, research, theories and approaches to develop, enhance and articulate their own pedagogical approach and practice.
- Observe, assess, plan, facilitate and participate in play opportunities which include current curriculum requirements.
- Make use of formative and summative assessment, tracking children’s progress to plan for future learning possibilities including early interventions based on individual developmental needs.
- Take responsibility for supporting the key person in articulating children's progress and planning future learning possibilities including the safe use of digital technology to communicate effectively in both oral and written English.
- Promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.
- Be a leaderful practitioner to support, mentor, coach, train and guide colleagues in a range of educational settings, providing inspiration and motivation to engage others to develop their practice, supporting teams and guiding change.
- Identify, action and competently challenge issues and undertake difficult conversations where appropriate.
- Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally to enhance their practice.
- Ensure the security and confidentiality of data, records and information in line with current legislation.
- Identify and act upon own responsibilities in relation to health and safety, prevention and control of infection, carrying out risk assessments and risk management processes in line with policies and procedures.
- Apply the principles of sustainability and segregate used resources for reuse, recycling, and safe disposal .
- Advocate for children through their child centred approach, listening to the voice of the child; ensuring children’s rights, views and wishes are heard, respected and acted upon at all times. Offer appropriate support and influence decisions in the best interests of the child.
- Develop, model and implement strategies to support the emotional, social, psychological, physical and cultural needs of all children within the educational setting.
- Support and promote children’s diverse speech, language and communication development and determining and adapting appropriate responses and interventions to support verbal, nonverbal interactions and engagement with written communication.
- Support children to engage in a range of learning contexts such as individual, small groups and larger groups as appropriate for their play and support confidence within social experiences.
- Engage in effective strategies to develop and extend children's learning and thinking, including sustained shared thinking.
- Promote, model and support children and families to develop a healthy approach to making choices relating to personal care including eating, sleeping and physical activity.
- Analyse and articulate how all children’s individual learning can be affected by their current developmental capabilities, characteristics and individual circumstances taking into account all factors contributing to typical and atypical development.
- Ensure plans fully reflect the individual development needs and circumstances of children and actively participate in the provision of consistent care, responding quickly to the needs of the individual child.
- Plan, carry out and guide appropriate personal care routines for individual children.
- Competently action and carry out safeguarding procedures, using their professional curiosity, knowledge, insight and understanding.
- Explore and understand, challenge and question; knowing when to act to safeguard and protect children.
- Encourage all children’s participation, ensuring a sensitive, respectful and effective balance within the adult and child dynamic to facilitate play opportunities.
- Ensure staff are deployed effectively to suit and enhance the learning environment, prioritising the safety and wellbeing of all children.
- Cultivate professional partnerships with parents, carers, colleagues and other professionals, presenting their understanding of the child’s journey within multidisciplinary teams to holistically support the child’s individual needs.
- Demonstrate the importance of the home learning environment, developing an effective and collaborative partnership to enhance opportunities for the child.
- Provide a dynamic, evolving and enabling environment that reflects the current interests, motivations, and play of individual and groups of children.
- Use current and contemporary knowledge, research, theories and approaches to develop, enhance and articulate their own pedagogical approach and practice.
- Observe, assess, plan, facilitate and participate in play opportunities which include current curriculum requirements.
- Make use of formative and summative assessment, tracking children’s progress to plan for future learning possibilities including early interventions based on individual developmental needs.
- Take responsibility for supporting the key person in articulating children's progress and planning future learning possibilities including the safe use of digital technology to communicate effectively in both oral and written English.
- Promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.
- Be a leaderful practitioner to support, mentor, coach, train and guide colleagues in a range of educational settings, providing inspiration and motivation to engage others to develop their practice, supporting teams and guiding change.
- Identify, action and competently challenge issues and undertake difficult conversations where appropriate.
- Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally to enhance their practice.
- Ensure the security and confidentiality of data, records and information in line with current legislation.
- Identify and act upon own responsibilities in relation to health and safety, prevention and control of infection, carrying out risk assessments and risk management processes in line with policies and procedures.
- Apply the principles of sustainability and segregate used resources for reuse, recycling, and safe disposal .
Training schedule
Training will take place primarily in the workplace at Little Adventures Nurseries, with off-the-job learning delivered online by the allocated Development Coach.
Training will be completed throughout the apprenticeship, with regular sessions (typically weekly) alongside daily on-the-job learning.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4 - 9)
- Maths (grade 4 - 9)
Other 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
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Analytical skills
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
- A Level 3 or above Early Years qualification (essential)
- Proven leadership experience in a room or unit within a nursery setting
- Strong knowledge of the EYFS and a child-centred, inclusive approach
- Up-to-date Paediatric First Aid, Safeguarding and Food Hygiene certificates
- A valid enhanced DBS check (or be willing to undertake one)
About this employer
ittle Adventures Nursery began with a simple yet powerful vision: to create a nurturing space where children could flourish, explore, and grow. From the very start, our mission has been to provide exceptional early years education, blending the highest standards of care with an environment that feels like a second home. Every aspect of our nursery has been thoughtfully designed to spark curiosity, encourage independence, and inspire a lifelong love of learning, ensuring that every child’s journey is as unique and special as they are.
https://littleadventuresnursery.com/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- 25 days plus bank holidays
- increasing each year
- Birthday day off
- Paid sick leave after probation
- Company pension
- Staff discounts, including free or discounted meals and more
After this apprenticeship
Access to our Future Leaders Career Progression programme with clear routes up to Deputy Manager and beyond if career progression is a priority for you.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE CHILD CARE COMPANY (OLD WINDSOR) LIMITED
Ali Franklin
ali.franklin@thechildcarecompany.com
01753 978514
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000023765.
Apply now
Closes in 22 days (Monday 20 April 2026 at 11:59pm)