Childcare Apprenticeship - September 2026

PUFFINS OF EXETER LTD

Devon, EXETER

Closes on Monday 31 August 2026

Posted on 30 March 2026

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Contents

Summary

Puffins of Exeter are looking for a Early Years Practitioner Apprentice to help provide high-quality childcare. Puffins is a family run business of 5 nurseries and are open from Monday - Friday, 7.30am until 6.00pm. This will be carried out by: 3-4 days a week at placement in one of our nurseries and 1 day a week at our training centre.

Wage

Competitive

Competitive wage offered

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Hours
To be confirmed, but will likely be 3 or 4 days working in the nursery with 1 day in the training centre.

30 hours a week

Start date

Monday 7 September 2026

Duration

1 year 3 months

Positions available

10

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

Puffins of Exeter ethos is simple we put the care and education of children at the heart of everything we do.

We have 6 locations in and around Exeter: EX1 2PD, EX2 4NP, EX1 1BB, EX2 7FB, EX2 7EY, EX7 9RA.

Your role and responsibilities will be set by Puffins of Exeter and will include:

  • Support practitioners and educators in the setting to carry out their roles
  • Care for children from ages 0-5 years old
  • Work as apart of a team and support in carrying out activities, games and stories for all ages
  • Support in creating a stimulating environment for children across all ages
  • Adhere to policies and procedures, complete relevant paperwork and children observations
  • Develop your skills both on and off the job with support in the work placement

Where you'll work

You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

  • School Bungalow, First Avenue, Dawlish, Devon, EX7 9RA
  • 13 MONT LE GRAND, EXETER, EX1 2PD

Training

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

Training provider

SOUTH WEST ASSOCIATION OF TRAINING PROVIDERS 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

1 Day a week at our training centre. You will qualify with a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner qualification.

Requirements

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

Skills

  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Patience
  • Caring

Other requirements

Working with children so likely to carry children, work outdoors and indoors.

About this employer

Puffins of Exeter have 6 nurseries in and around Exeter and Dawlish, they care for children aged between 3 months up to 5 years old before children attend school. They have over 100 employees and work with their sister company Puffins Training to support the learning and development of their staff.
You will receive benefits including, free uniform, free breakfast, discounts for high street and online brands, opportunities for career growth and development, opportunities to win monthly “Employee of the month”, celebrate achievements at award nights, team building sessions and opportunities to participate in charitable and community events. We provide an Employee assistance programme which allows staff to get free confidential advice on many topics. Cycle to work scheme and discount on gym membership.

http://www.puffinstraining.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Career progression into a Level 3 Childcare apprenticeship, progression into various positions from here into a level 2 qualified role.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SOUTH WEST ASSOCIATION OF TRAINING PROVIDERS LIMITED

Train@puffinsofexeter.com

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000024012.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 31 August 2026