Early Years Apprentice

LEAPFROG NURSERY SCHOOL LTD

HAMPSHIRE, Southsea

Closes in 25 days (Sunday 5 July 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 10 June 2026


Summary

Are you looking to train in childcare? Friendly nursery in Southsea, Portsmouth, is looking for Level 3 Early Years Apprentices to join their team. You will contribute to creating a friendly and stimulating atmosphere in which the children can develop. Duties include working and interacting directly with children on a daily basis.

Wage

£14,144 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday, shifts to be confirmed.

34 hours a week

Start date

Monday 6 July 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

4

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 Early Years apprentice, you will contribute to a high-quality caring environment for children.

This includes:

  • Under supervision, you will provide all aspects of care for children, including washing, changing and feeding
  • Acting as a key worker to a small group of children and recording observations and planning for them
  • Assisting with meeting the personal and emotional needs of individual children
  • Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
  • Being aware of the nursery's policies and procedures and ensuring they are adhered to
  • Completing all work to the desired timescales as set by the showcase tutor

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:

  • 13 YARBOROUGH ROAD, SOUTHSEA, PORTSMOUTH, HAMPSHIRE, PO5 3DZ
  • 19 Villiers Road, Southsea, PO5 2NR

Training

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

Training provider

SHOWCASE TRAINING LTD

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

  • Level 3 Apprenticeship standard for the Early Years Educator
  • Functional Skills in English and maths at Level 2 minimum (unless exempt)
  • End-Point Assessment (EPA)
  • Training completed via work-based visits at the nursery and 6 hours of off-the-job training provided, including 4 hours of study time for coursework

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4 or C and above)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths (grade 4 or C and above)

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
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

Please check that you can travel to this employer on a daily basis before applying.

About this employer

Our fresh, fun and welcoming nurseries satisfy a child’s innate curiosity and sense of independence. Every child is able to explore designated art areas and quality natural sensory resources which capture young children’s imagination and build on individual interests, inspiring children to actively learn through purposeful play.
Each of our Southsea nurseries has a large outdoor space complete with trees, wild areas and allotments. Children have the freedom to run and climb and to discover nature in all its elements in a controlled, safe and secure environment. Our award winning gardens provide the opportunity for children to develop resilience, persistence and to become measured risk takers.

https://leapfrognursery.com/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

  • Upon completing your apprenticeship, you may be offered a full-time position and further training

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SHOWCASE TRAINING LTD

James Sproat

james.sproat@showcasetraining.co.uk

07715658042

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000036142.

Apply now

Closes in 25 days (Sunday 5 July 2026 at 11:59pm)