Childcare Apprenticeship - Bournemouth

Little Chicks Nurseries - Little Chicks Nursery and Preschool

England (BH10 6ES)

Closes on Monday 28 September 2026

Posted on 24 August 2026

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Contents

Summary

Little Chicks Nurseries are looking for a new Childcare Apprentice. You will be studying toward your Early Years Practitioner apprenticeship Level 2.

Wage

£14,560 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 practitioner (level 2)
Hours
4 Days Per Week (2 X 7:30am- 6pm 2 X 8am-4pm)

35 hours a week

Start date

Monday 5 October 2026

Duration

1 year

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

As an Early Years Apprentice, you will become an important member of the nursery team, working alongside experienced Early Years Practitioners to provide a safe, caring and stimulating environment for children.

You will gain valuable practical experience across different areas of the nursery, supporting children's learning, development and wellbeing through play and age-appropriate activities.

You will work closely with colleagues, children and their parents or carers while developing your knowledge and skills in early years education and childcare. You will receive guidance and support from experienced members of the team while completing your apprenticeship training and working towards your Early Years qualification.

Key Responsibilities:

As an Early Years Apprentice, your responsibilities will include:

  • Supporting qualified practitioners with the planning and delivery of engaging, age-appropriate activities
  • Helping to create a safe, welcoming and stimulating environment where children can learn and play
  • Supporting children's social, emotional, physical and cognitive development through play and everyday activities
  • Assisting with children's daily routines, including mealtimes, personal care and sleep routines where appropriate
  • Building positive and professional relationships with children, parents, carers and colleagues
  • Supporting practitioners to observe children's development and contribute to accurate records and assessments
  • Helping children develop confidence, independence, communication and positive social skills
  • Supporting the preparation and maintenance of indoor and outdoor learning environments
  • Following nursery policies and procedures relating to safeguarding, health and safety, confidentiality and children's welfare
  • Working as part of the wider nursery team to provide high standards of care, learning and development
  • Attending apprenticeship training and completing coursework and learning activities as required

Where you'll work

1 Leybourne Avenue
Bournemouth
England
England
BH10 6ES

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 L2 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
  • 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

At Little Chicks, we offer a safe, joyful and nurturing environment for our little ones. Our nursery is designed to feel like a second home, where every child is valued and included. We celebrate successes and empower both our children and staff. Our goal is to equip children with essential skills for learning, life and play, helping them achieve their dreams in the future. We offer endless opportunities for exploration, investigation, and experimentation using freedom within boundaries. Through play, we engage children in learning while showing them respect, love and support. At Little Chicks, we want to give all children a magical early years experience, ensuring they are confident to fly the nest feeling prepared for their next adventure.

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

Shaping Lives recruitment team

apprentice.recruitment@pgon.co.uk

08004220588

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000049757.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 28 September 2026

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