Nursery Apprentice (level 2)

LIME TREE DAY NURSERY

Loughborough, LOUGHBOROUGH

Closes in 16 days (Wednesday 29 April 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 13 April 2026

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Summary

As a Nursery Apprentice, you will support qualified early years staff in providing safe, nurturing, play‑based care for children. You will help with daily routines and maintain a positive, welcoming environment. This hands-on introduction to childcare that builds a strong foundation for a future career in early years education.

Wage

£15,392 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
Hours between 7.15am - 6.15pm, Monday to Friday. TBC on employment.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 29 June 2026

Duration

1 year 4 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 children’s learning through play‑based activities.
  • Assisting with daily routines such as meals, toileting, and nap times.
  • Helping to set up engaging learning environments.
  • Observing children’s development and plan activities to extend learning.
  • Building positive relationships with children, families, and colleagues.
  • Always following safeguarding and health and safety procedures.
  • Completing apprenticeship coursework and additional training tasks.

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:

  • Great Central Road, Loughborough, LE11 1RW
  • Loughborough Road, Quorn, Loughborough, LE12 8DY
  • 231 Cossington Road, Sileby, Loughborough, LE12 7RR
  • 42 King Street, Sileby, Loughborough, LE12 7NA
  • 68 NORTH STREET, BARROW UPON SOAR, LOUGHBOROUGH, LE12 8QA

Training

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

Training provider

LOUGHBOROUGH 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

  • Apprenticeship session to assist with portfolio building and preparation for End Point Assessment.
  • Diarised visits from dedicated Trainer/Assessor.
  • Attendance to Loughborough College for an Induction Day. (Induction to take place on the last Wednesday of the month that you are enroled, 9:30am-3pm. Confirmation of date provided upon enrolment).
  • Attendance to Loughborough College for Functional Skills (if required).
  • On-the-job training.
  • Off-the-job training.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade C/4 and above (or equivalent))
  • Maths (grade C/4 and above (or equivalent))

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

To be successful in this role, you must be able to work a minimum of 30 hours per week and pass an enhanced DBS check to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children in our care. These requirements help us maintain a secure, consistent, and supportive environment for both staff and families.

About this employer

Lime Tree Day Nurseries are Forward Thinking and value and invest in their employees and nurture and support their staff throughout their childcare careers. Lime Tree have 5 nurseries within the Charnwood area ranging in child capacity from 45 to over 100 children at some our larger settings. With a high retention rate of staffing, we can offer you a long career with stability and career progression. Do you have a passion for childcare and want to nurture and support our Little Limes?

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

Company benefits

  • Discounted/Free Food.
  • Wellness Programs.
  • Childcare.
  • Referral Bonus.
  • Additional Birthday Day Off.

After this apprenticeship

After completing a level 2 apprenticeship, many of our apprentices continue to complete their level 3 qualifications with ourselves to be fully qualified. This then opens the door to a clear and rewarding career path in early years education. After completing the apprenticeship, many apprentices progress into roles such as Nursery Practitioner, taking on more responsibility for planning activities and supporting children’s development. With experience, they can move into senior positions like Room Leader, Deputy Manager, or Nursery Manager. You may choose to specialise to focus on your areas of interest, such as SEND workers or a safeguarding officer.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

LOUGHBOROUGH COLLEGE

Sophia Cleaver

apprenticeships@loucoll.ac.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000025121.

Apply now

Closes in 16 days (Wednesday 29 April 2026 at 11:59pm)