Early Years Practitioner Apprenticeship

PERROTT HILL SCHOOL LIMITED

SOMERSET (TA18 7SL)

Closes in 14 days (Friday 16 October 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 23 September 2026

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Summary

Perrott Hill is an independent day and boarding prep school near Crewkerne. We are looking for a warm and enthusiastic apprentice Early Years Practitioner to join our small, experienced team at Little Pippins Nursery who will work alongside qualified practitioners and experienced teachers every day while training with Side by Side.

Wage

£15,600 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

£300.00 (Early Years, 37.5 hours) per week at £8.00
per hour, the apprentice minimum wage from April 2026. Age-related rate after year one for those aged 19+.

Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Hours
The Nursery is open all year round, Monday to Friday, 07.30 to 17.45 (48 weeks a year; closed for two weeks at Christmas and two in August). 37.5 hours per week on a rota within these hours, which includes the training time with Side by Side Training.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 16 November 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

  • Plan and deliver play-based activities in line with the EYFS, indoors and outdoors, including Forest School
  • Support children's learning, wellbeing and personal care; observe and record progress for learning journals
  • Support snack and lunch times, hygiene routines and the environment; communicate warmly with parents
  • Follow safeguarding, health and safety and confidentiality requirements at all times

Where you'll work

PERROTT HILL
NORTH PERROTT
CREWKERNE
SOMERSET
TA18 7SL

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

THE SIDE BY SIDE PARTNERSHIP 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

No prior childcare qualification is required for the Level 2 Early Years Practitioner post. Applicants who already hold a Level 2 early years qualification may be considered for the Level 3 Early Years Educator
apprenticeship.

The off-the-job training will take place either online or at the Side by Side Training Centre in Dorchester each week on a Wednesday or Thursday during term time.

More training information

Please see here for more information about Side by Side Training Centre: http://www.sidebysidetraining.co.uk/

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Number skills
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Ability to follow instructions

Other requirements

Successful applicants must be able to obtain an enhanced DBS check with barred-list information, provide satisfactory references and complete all pre-appointment safer recruitment checks.

About this employer

Perrott Hill is a co-educational independent day and boarding prep school for children aged three to 13, set in 28 acres in the village of North Perrott, near Crewkerne, and extending to age 16 from September 2027.
Little Pippins Nursery and the Pre-Prep sit within the converted stables courtyard next to the main house, with their own Forest School and specialist teaching in Art, French, Music and PE. The School combines
high academic and pastoral standards with a genuine family ethos.

https://www.perrotthill.com/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

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

On successful completion, apprentices will hold the Level 2 Early Years Practitioner. Early Years apprentices may progress to the Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship. There may be the opportunity of a
permanent post at Perrott Hill, subject to vacancies and performance.

Perrott Hill is a growing school, extending to age 16 from September 2027, and offers a supportive, close-knit environment in which to build a career in early years and education. All staff have access to
in-house training and CPD and a contributory pension scheme.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

THE SIDE BY SIDE PARTNERSHIP LIMITED

Mehmed Gokcel

mgokcel@perrotthill.com

01460 72051

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000055103.

Apply now

Closes in 14 days (Friday 16 October 2026 at 11:59pm)