Childcare Apprenticeship - Swindon
Playsteps Day Nursery
Church PlaceSwindon (SN1 5EH)
Closes on Tuesday 9 June 2026
Posted on 5 May 2026
Contents
Summary
Playsteps Nursery are looking for a new Childcare Apprentice. You will be studying toward your Early Years Educator apprenticeship L3.
- Wage
-
£17,727.60 a year
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday-Friday (Hours Range between 8AM-6PM).
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 16 June 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 6 months
- 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
This is a fantastic opportunity to begin a career in early years education within a supportive and nurturing nursery environment. As an apprentice, you will gain hands-on experience across all areas of childcare, working with children from birth to 4 years old.
The nursery is organised into three age groups: 0–20 months, 20–30 months, and 30 months to 4 years. You will have the opportunity to gain experience in each room, allowing you to build confidence across different stages of child development. Over time, we will also work with you to identify your preferred age group, should you have one.
Day-Day Responsibilities:
- Support the planning and delivery of fun, engaging, and age-appropriate activities
- Assist with daily routines, including mealtimes and sleep times
- Provide personal care, including nappy changing and toileting (following initial training period)
- Communicate with parents and carers about their child’s day (once confident and supported)
- Work flexibly across different rooms to support the wider nursery team when required
- Support outdoor learning experiences, including activities in the garden and woodland/forest area
- Help maintain a clean, safe, and organised environment, including tidying and cleaning at key times
- Ensure the safety and well-being of all children by identifying and reducing potential hazards
Where you'll work
Church PlaceSwindon
SN1 5EH
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
PARAGON EDUCATION & SKILLS LIMITED
Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Recognise when a child or a colleague is in danger or at risk of abuse and act to protect them in line with safeguarding policy and procedure.
- Apply legislation, policy and procedure to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children in the setting (for example, food safety, diets, starting solid food, allergies, COSHH, and accidents, injuries, and emergencies).
- Apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management within documentation and practice.
- Teach children to develop skills to manage risk and maintain their own and others safety.
- Use a range of communication methods, including technology, with other professionals to meet the individual needs of the child.
- Develop and maintain effective professional, collaborative relationships with others involved in the education and care of the child.
- Undertake the role and responsibilities of key person.
- Recognise and apply theories of attachment to develop effective relationships with children.
- Provide sensitive and respectful personal care for children from birth to 5 years.
- Advocate for all children’s needs, including children which require SEND or EAL support.
- Promote and facilitate children’s interpersonal communication to develop their social interactions and relationships.
- Support children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and culture.
- Support children to understand and respond to their emotions and make considered choices about their behaviours.
- Assess the responsiveness of the environment for effective child-centred experiences in line with curriculum requirements.
- Create inclusive, child-centred, dynamic, innovative, and evolving physical environments both indoors and outdoors.
- Create inclusive and supportive emotional environment that enables the child to feel safe, secure, respected and experience a sense of wellbeing; maintaining and prioritising the individual child’s voice.
- Apply strategies that support children’s ability to manage change, transition, and significant events.
- Analyse observation evidence to assess and plan holistic individual learning based on a comprehensive understanding of the child’s needs and interests.
- Facilitate and support child-centred opportunities and experiences based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
- Provide adult led opportunities and experience based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
- Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally.
- Recognise when a child or a colleague is in danger or at risk of abuse and act to protect them in line with safeguarding policy and procedure.
- Apply legislation, policy and procedure to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children in the setting (for example, food safety, diets, starting solid food, allergies, COSHH, and accidents, injuries, and emergencies).
- Apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management within documentation and practice.
- Teach children to develop skills to manage risk and maintain their own and others safety.
- Use a range of communication methods, including technology, with other professionals to meet the individual needs of the child.
- Develop and maintain effective professional, collaborative relationships with others involved in the education and care of the child.
- Undertake the role and responsibilities of key person.
- Recognise and apply theories of attachment to develop effective relationships with children.
- Provide sensitive and respectful personal care for children from birth to 5 years.
- Advocate for all children’s needs, including children which require SEND or EAL support.
- Promote and facilitate children’s interpersonal communication to develop their social interactions and relationships.
- Support children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and culture.
- Support children to understand and respond to their emotions and make considered choices about their behaviours.
- Assess the responsiveness of the environment for effective child-centred experiences in line with curriculum requirements.
- Create inclusive, child-centred, dynamic, innovative, and evolving physical environments both indoors and outdoors.
- Create inclusive and supportive emotional environment that enables the child to feel safe, secure, respected and experience a sense of wellbeing; maintaining and prioritising the individual child’s voice.
- Apply strategies that support children’s ability to manage change, transition, and significant events.
- Analyse observation evidence to assess and plan holistic individual learning based on a comprehensive understanding of the child’s needs and interests.
- Facilitate and support child-centred opportunities and experiences based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
- Provide adult led opportunities and experience based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
- Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally.
Training schedule
At Shaping Lives, we are dedicated to one mission: helping nurseries like yours nurture future generations through high-quality early childhood education. As a trusted training provider, we specialise in developing skilled, passionate educators who make a meaningful difference in the lives of children aged 0–5. Whether you're looking to enhance your current team's skills or recruit new talent, we’re with you every step of the way. Upon completion of this 18-month apprenticeship, you will have obtained your Early Years Educator apprenticeship L3 Apprenticeship.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
Other in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Creative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Communication Skills
Other requirements
The closing date guidance, if a successful candidate is found before the advertised dates, the advert will close early.
About this employer
We are a friendly team in a busy nursery in Central Swindon, we have extensive grounds and love to be outside, we are looking for someone who wants to be part of a supportive team caring for and educating our children aged 0-4 years.
Company benefits
Free secure on-site parking.
After this apprenticeship
There is a possibility of being offered a full-time role after successful completion of the apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
PARAGON EDUCATION & SKILLS LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000029834.
Apply now
Closes on Tuesday 9 June 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.