Playgroup Practitioner Apprentice
St Marys Playgroup
Leicester (LE3 3FT)
Closes in 14 days (Wednesday 7 October 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 22 September 2026
Contents
Summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join Saint Mary's Playgroup, supporting children’s learning, development and wellbeing. You will plan and assess EYFS learning, maintain accurate records, build strong family partnerships and contribute to the smooth running of the nursery.
- Wage
-
£9,984 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday- Friday: 8.30am- 3.00pm
24 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 26 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
- Provide a high standard of quality within the playgroup, including the environment, resources, and experience available to the children
- You will have a set of dedicated children you will be allocated
- Assist with the set up and pack away of the nursery
- Assist with all functions of the nursery and as required by the Manager
- Observe, support and extend children’s learning
- Plan appropriately for the EYFS and ensure a high level of diverse outdoor experiences
- Maintain accurate and effective children records
- Utilise systems of observation (Evidence ME) and record keeping in the form of learning diaries so that children’s attainment and progress are effectively and regularly assessed. To monitor the effectiveness of the assessment procedures
- Work in partnership with parents/carers and other family members
- Demonstrate good practice with regards to special needs and inclusion
- Ensure children are kept safe and understand, and when necessary, follow child protection procedures
- Ensure the nutritional needs of the children are met, and Food Safety Regulations have complied
- Develop and maintain highly professional working relationships with advisory teachers and other agencies that may visit the settings
- Learn and self-develop about current developments in childcare and educational practice
- Be a key person carrying out all related responsibilities in building relationships with a defined group of children and their families
- Undertake other duties and responsibilities, as requested by the Manager
- All staff are required to undertake domestic duties as part of their role
Where you'll work
1 St. Marys Avenue
Braunstone
Leicester
LE3 3FT
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
LOUGHBOROUGH COLLEGE
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
- Attendance to Loughborough College one day per week
- Apprenticeship session to assist with portfolio building and preparation for End Point Assessment
- Diarised visits from dedicated Trainer/Assessor
- Attendance to Loughborough College for an Induction Day (Induction to take place on the last Wednesday of the month that you are enrolled, 9:30am- 3.00pm. Confirmation of date provided upon enrolment)
- Attendance to Loughborough College for Functional Skills (if required)
- On-the-job training
- Off-the-job training
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE 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
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Patience
About this employer
St Marys Playgroup in Braunstone Town is a well-rated childcare provider offering foundation education and early years care. Our Mission is "To provide a safe, stimulating & secure environment for all children. To ensure we enhance their early years foundation education"
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- Potential to stay as a qualified member of staff at the playgroup once you have finished your qualification
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
LOUGHBOROUGH COLLEGE
Sophia Cleaver
apprenticeships@loucoll.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000054910.
Apply now
Closes in 14 days (Wednesday 7 October 2026 at 11:59pm)