Childcare Apprenticeship - Newport

YMCA FAIRTHORNE GROUP

St. Marys HospitalNewport (PO30 5TG)

Closes on Friday 31 July 2026

Posted on 29 June 2026

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Contents

Summary

YMCA Newport Nursery are looking for a new Childcare Apprentice. You will be studying toward your Early Years Practitioner apprenticeship Level 2.

Wage

£16,640 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Monday-Friday (Shifts Will Range Between 7.30am - 6.00pm)

40 hours a week

Start date

Friday 7 August 2026

Duration

1 year

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

As an Early Years Practitioner Apprentice, you’ll become part of a nurturing, collaborative nursery team, working closely with experienced practitioners, a Lead Practitioner, and the Nursery Manager. Together, you’ll create a safe, stimulating environment where children feel valued, supported, and inspired to learn through play.

In your day-to-day role, you’ll be actively involved in supporting children’s routines, encouraging their curiosity, and helping to deliver engaging learning experiences both indoors and outdoors. You’ll observe how children develop, begin to understand their individual needs, and contribute to activities that promote their confidence, communication, and independence.

Throughout the apprenticeship, you’ll gain valuable hands-on experience across all aspects of early years practice. This includes learning how to observe and assess children’s progress, support safeguarding and wellbeing, build positive relationships with families, and understand how high-quality early education is delivered in line with best practice. You’ll also develop key transferable skills such as teamwork, communication, organisation, and professionalism, setting strong foundations for a rewarding career in childcare.

Day-Day Responsibilities:

  • Provide indoor and outdoor play-based experiences to children in line with YMCA’s pedagogy and curriculum, and in adherence to nursery policies and procedures
  • Plan, implement and monitor activities suitable for children under 5, under the supervision and direction of the Lead Practitioner
  • Help maintain the safety, security, physical and emotional welfare of the children in the nursery and garden environments
  • Follow YMCA’s policies and procedures at all times, including but not restricted to: staff ratios, safeguarding and child protection, and health & safety, escalating concerns immediately to the Lead Practitioner or Nursery Manager
  • Bring to the immediate attention of the Lead Practitioner and/or Manager, any incidents or accidents, any child’s failure to thrive, and any equipment that may be of danger. Also to arrange for any individual to receive immediate first aid
  • Positively engage with the nursery team, parents and carers, and wider YMCA teams

Where you'll work

St. Marys HospitalNewport
PO30 5TG

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 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

  • 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 12 month Apprenticeship, you will have obtained your Early Years Practitioner apprenticeship Level 2 Apprenticeship

Requirements

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

Skills

  • Creative
  • Initative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Teamworking,

Other requirements

The closing date guidance, if a successful candidate is found before the advertised dates, the advert will close early.

About this employer

Newport Nursery is a welcoming setting where children are supported to explore, grow in confidence, and enjoy a strong start to early learning. Based at St Mary’s Hospital, the nursery offers a calm and convenient location for families across the island and is especially well placed for hospital staff. We are proud to offer a 2% NHS discount on nursery fees for NHS staff members. Children benefit from fresh meals, outdoor play, and a strong school readiness focus, while breakout spaces and quieter areas help us support individual needs in a nurturing way. Newport feels warm, supportive, and well connected, giving families a setting where children can feel settled, secure, and ready for the next stage.

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

  • 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

George Marsh

george.marsh@pgon.co.uk

07756875243

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000039543.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 31 July 2026

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.