Nursey Apprentice
Little Characters Nursery
Brimington (S43 1GH)
Closes in 6 days (Friday 25 September 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 17 September 2026
Contents
Summary
Are you energetic, enthusiastic, and passionate about giving young children the best start in life? Little Characters Nursery in Chesterfield is looking for a dedicated Early Years Apprentice to join our friendly, welcoming team Based in Brimington, providing care for children from 3 months old through to pre-school.
- Wage
-
£8,320 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Potential for an increase in the hourly rate after 3 months
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
You will be working flexibly between the hours of 7.00am - 6.00pm, Monday - Friday, allowing for study release when required.
Total hours per week: Minimum of 20 hours.
20 hours a week
- Start date
-
Thursday 1 October 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 6 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
Key Responsibilities:
Support experienced practitioners in providing safe, engaging, and high-quality early years care.
As a nursey apprentice, you'll be initially responsible for (but not limited to) the following:
- To support nursery practitioners and work as part of the nursery team
- To provide high quality childcare and education
- To assist in the planning and implementation of activities for the children in the area you are working in
- To work alongside staff ensuring a safe environment for all children, staff and visitors to the setting
- To be flexible and help where needed
- To work to the policies and procedures of the setting, support the safeguarding procedures & maintain confidentiality at all times
- Ensure a safe happy environment for children
- Contribute to children’s all-round development as per the EYFS
- To support colleagues within the nursery
- To assist with the daily routine of the setting
- Assist with organizing indoor and outdoor activities aligned with the Early Learning Goals and Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
- Build positive relationships with children, helping them develop values like sharing, teamwork, and independence
- Help prepare snacks, keep environment clean and safe, and assist with daily routines (mealtimes, quiet times, and play)
- Follow all nursery safeguarding, health, and safety policies
- Complete assigned coursework and portfolios on time to achieve your level 3 qualification
You’ll learn side-by-side with experienced colleagues who want to share their knowledge, giving you hands-on exposure to a wide range of tasks and a real understanding of how the whole business operates. With dedicated mentoring and support, you’ll build confidence, develop in-demand skills and lay strong foundations for a long-term career in the Early Years Sector.
Where you'll work
Little Characters
Hall Rd
Brimington
S43 1GH
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
RNN GROUP
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 be carried out by the employer and approved training provider RNN Group. The successful candidate will work toward the Level 3 Early Years qualification and have a choice of monthly face-to-face at work, weekly classes and remote tutor visits to support their learning journey.
More training information
Training will include paediatric first aid qualification.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
Early Years Practitioner 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
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Good attitude to work
- Reliable & trustworthy
- Friendly and approachable
Other requirements
The successful candidate would be required to pass a DBS check before they start.
This is a successful business and they are looking for someone who can get there in a morning punctually (think about the location of the business and transport links), listen/learn and use their own initiative to quickly become a valued and productive member of the team.
About this employer
About Little Characters:
Day nursery with wrap around care, to and from 3 local schools.
Aims and Objectives
• To provide good quality, affordable childcare.
• To work in partnership with parents/ carers and the local community.
• To provide a secure and creative environment for children to develop emotionally, physically, intellectually, creatively and socially.
• To provide a varied selection of activities and games including arts and crafts, group activities, computers, construction and much more
• To ensure our policies and procedures are followed and assessed for their effectiveness.
• To offer opportunities of employment to the community.
• To work within an Equal Opportunities framework.
Quality Statement
We will endeavour to develop, demonstrate and sustain quality in all areas of Little Characters. This is a positive and visual way of ensuring that parents and children are offered the top quality childcare they deserve.
https://www.facebook.com/people/Little-Characters/100057272238461/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
Paid annual leave and bank holidays.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Advance to further study or to secure a full-time permanent job.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
RNN GROUP
Lorraine
lorraine.savage@rnngoup.ac.uk
07713 319356
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000054138.
Apply now
Closes in 6 days (Friday 25 September 2026 at 11:59pm)