Early Years Nursery Apprenticeship
UEA Nursery
Norwich (NR4 7TJ)
Closes in 6 days (Sunday 28 June 2026)
Posted on 17 June 2026
Contents
Summary
An excellent opportunity for someone aiming to start or develop their career in the Early Years sector. As an apprentice, you’ll earn a competitive apprentice salary whilst gaining an Early Years Educator qualification in Child Care (Level 3), with the possibility of a permanent position at the end of your apprenticeship.
- Wage
-
Competitive
Competitive wage offered
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
The post is a Fixed Term Contract for 18 months. Once your apprenticeship is completed there is the possibility of joining our team in an indefinite Early Years Practitioner position.
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday. The nursery is open 08:30-17:30. Shifts either 08:30-17:00 or 09:00-17:30.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 5 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
- Support the delivery of high-quality care and education for all children, ensuring their individual needs are met.
- Under the supervision of a Lead Practitioner, build secure relationships with children and their families.
- Contribute to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a broad, balanced, and engaging curriculum that reflects children's interests, developmental needs, and stages of learning.
- Promote children's physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and cultural development through meaningful play and learning experiences.
- Encourage children's independence, confidence, resilience, and positive behaviour through supportive interactions and role modelling.
- Observe children's learning and development and contribute to assessments and next-step planning.
- Support inclusive practice and work collaboratively to meet the needs of children with additional needs or disabilities.
- Recognise and appropriately report any safeguarding concerns in line with nursery procedures.
- Help maintain a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for children, families, staff, and visitors.
- Respond appropriately to accidents, incidents, emergencies, and complaints, seeking guidance when required.
- Contribute to ensuring the nursery consistently meets and exceeds regulatory and inspection requirements, including those set by Ofsted.
- Support the implementation of individual support plans and strategies for children with additional needs under the guidance of the SENCO and nursery management team.
- Develop positive and professional working relationships with colleagues across the nursery.
- Communicate respectfully with team members, contributing to a collaborative and supportive working environment.
- Seek guidance, support, and feedback to continually improve practice and performance.
- Build positive relationships with parents and carers, helping to create a welcoming and inclusive environment.
- Share appropriate information about children's daily experiences, achievements, and progress with parents/carers.
- Listen to and respect the views, cultures, beliefs, and childcare practices of families.
- Maintain confidentiality and professionalism in all communications and interactions.
- Act as a positive role model for children and colleagues, demonstrating professionalism and enthusiasm.
- Uphold the nursery's values, policies, and commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Where you'll work
University Of East Anglia
Norwich Research Park
Earlham Road
Norwich
NR4 7TJ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BEST PRACTICE NETWORK 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
Training will occur within the nursery both in person and via on-line learning. There will be frequent group and one to one learning activities with the training provider.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4/C)
- Maths (grade 4/C)
Early Years Practitioner (Level 2) 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
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
Other requirements
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Appointment will be subject to a criminal record check at Enhanced level from the Disclosure and Barring Service, including a check of the Child Barred List. It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
If the candidate does not have GCSE Grade C (or above) or Functional Skills Level 2 qualification in English, they must successfully achieve a level 2 English qualification within 12 months of commencing the apprenticeship.
About this employer
Our nursery offers full day care of the highest standards, for babies and children from 3 months until starting school. We have recently received our third consecutive ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating.
We have fantastic opportunities for professional development, as well as 2 dedicated Training Days per year. You’ll have access to Norfolk County Council’s Early Years training, which offers a variety of courses to support early years, run both in person and online.
You will also be able to access the NDNA (National Day Nurseries Association) website which offers a variety of online courses. You will be working as part of a a highly qualified team who provide a supportive and inclusive work environment where all team members are valued.
We have our own Forest School site which is used by all children throughout the Nursery and is based in the woodland area nearby on campus. We also have a large outside space, which children can have free-flow play in and out of, including an allotment area.
In terms of your working environment, you will be based on the University of East Anglia campus which has 360 acres of beautiful woodland, the UEA broad and wide green spaces, plus
amenities such as cafes, coffee shop, local shop and post office
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Once your apprenticeship is completed there is the possibility of joining our team in an indefinite Early Years Practitioner position.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
UEA Nursery
Carol Vincent
nusery@uea.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000037728.
Apply now
Closes in 6 days (Sunday 28 June 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.