Childcare Apprenticeship - Wakefield

THE WILLOW TREE PRIVATE NURSERY LTD

WAKEFIELD (WF3 4HP)

Closes on Thursday 13 August 2026

Posted on 10 July 2026

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Summary

The Willow Tree Nursery are looking for a new Childcare Apprentice. You will be studying toward your Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Level 3.

• Wage:

  £13,312 to £21,149.44, depending on your age

  National Minimum Wage

  Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

• Training course: Early years educator (level 3)
• Hours: Monday - Friday. Alternating shifts of 7:30am - 2pm or 11:30am - 6pm.

  32 hours a week

• Start date:

  Thursday 20 August 2026

• Duration:

  1 year 6 months

• Positions available:

  8

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

We are looking for a caring, enthusiastic, and motivated Level 3 Nursery Apprentice to join our friendly team. You will support children aged 0-5 years through play, learning activities, and daily care routines while working alongside experienced nursery practitioners. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience and achieve a recognised qualification in Early Years.

Day-Day Responsibilities:

• Support the planning and delivery of fun, engaging activities that support children’s development
• Build positive relationships with children, parents, and colleagues
• Assist with children’s daily routines including meals, personal care, and rest times
• Observe and record children’s progress and development
• Create a safe, welcoming, and stimulating learning environment
• Follow safeguarding, health and safety, and nursery policies
• Work as part of a team to provide high-quality childcare
• Attend training sessions and complete coursework as part of the apprenticeship

The wage will be £8-£12 per hour depending on age, prior qualifications and experience.

Where you'll work

78 LAKE LOCK ROAD
STANLEY
WAKEFIELD
WF3 4HP

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 Level 3 Apprenticeship qualification.

Training will include a paediatric first aid qualification.

Requirements

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
• Teamworking
• 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

Our mission is to create a community of lifelong learners who are passionate about exploring new ideas and expanding their horizons. We aim to have a dedicated team of staff from young to old, new to experienced, all of whom not only care for each child as though they were their own, but to teach children and provide them with the building blocks on which to base further learning and a love for life.

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

Apprentice.Recruitment@pgon.co.uk

07756875243

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000041959.

Apply now

Closes on Thursday 13 August 2026

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