Nursery Apprentice

KALEIDOSCOPE DAY NURSERY LIMITED

Dorset (DT9 3DP)

Closes in 31 days (Thursday 12 November 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 12 October 2026

Print

Contents

Summary

The role of the Early Years Student is to obtain the necessary skills and qualifications that enable them to ensure all children attending  receive high-quality care, are kept safe and are provided with planned and stimulating play  which meet their individual needs and support all aspects of the Early Years curriculum.

Wage

£16,224 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Wage to be negotiated based on prior experience or any previous qualifications. 

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
08:00- 17.30 Monday- Friday

39 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 December 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

3

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

  • Support the delivery of age-appropriate activities that promote children's learning and development in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
  • Assist in creating a safe, welcoming, and stimulating environment for all children
  • Build positive relationships with children, parents, carers, and colleagues
  • Observe children’s progress and contribute to developmental records and learning journals
  • Share relevant information with parents and carers regarding children’s achievements, wellbeing, routines, and daily activities
  • Support children’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development through play and planned activities
  • Assist with personal care routines, including nappy changing, toileting, handwashing, dressing, and promoting good hygiene practices while maintaining children’s dignity and privacy
  • Help children develop independence and self-care skills appropriate to their age and stage of development
  • Assist with meal and snack times, including preparing eating areas, encouraging healthy eating, supporting children who require help with feeding, and ensuring food hygiene procedures are followed
  • Ensure children’s dietary requirements, allergies, and individual needs are adhered to at all times
  • Promote positive behaviour and support children in developing confidence, respect, and social skills
  • Follow all safeguarding, child protection, health and safety, and nursery policies and procedures
  • Maintain accurate records, including accidents, incidents, medication, care routines, and observations where required
  • Help maintain a clean, tidy, and organised nursery environment, including preparing resources and equipment
  • Work as part of a team and support colleagues in delivering high-quality childcare
  • Adhere to all relevant legislation, including safeguarding, equality, diversity, and health and safety requirements

Where you'll work

Unit 8/9, Sherborne Business Centre
East Mill Lane
Sherbourne
Dorset
DT9 3DP

Training

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

Training provider

SHOOTS TRAINING 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

Training will take place at the setting with allocated time to work towards your qualification

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade C/4 or above)
  • Maths (grade C/4 or above)

Level 2 Early Years in:

Early Years Practitioner (grade Pass)

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
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

  • Able to pass enhanced DBS

About this employer

Kaleidoscope Nursery is an established childcare provision in the heart of Sherborne, accepting children from birth to 5 years of age. The Nursery was founded in 2005 and relocated in September 2010 to a purpose-designed building in a quiet area within the new Sherborne Business Centre.

Kaleidoscope Nursery has been designed and planned to provide the very best childcare at competitive prices.

What We Believe

At Kaleidoscope Nursery we celebrate the skill and competence of babies and young children. We offer children an environment where they will be treated with kindness and patience. We respect and cherish the individuality of each child and encourage each one to grow to reach their full potential. We endeavour to enable children to become confident and thoughtful, with a sense of justice and concern for their fellow beings.

Each day brings new opportunities for learning. We embrace unplanned experiences, building on them to provide the best opportunity for your child. Children at Kaleidoscope Nursery are encouraged to develop their own personalities, pursue their individual interests. Our aim is to create a warm, safe, secure and friendly environment where everyone is accepted and welcomed.

We operate an open door policy and will always have someone on hand to help you with any queries. We also regularly check our emails and can answer any questions electronically if this is easier.

We take a positive account of individuality, gender, religion, culture, origin and respect parents' and carers' wishes. You are, after all, your child's first educator, and we want to work with you to help your child acquire the knowledge and skills that will be of value to them in the next phase of their formal education.

 

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

Company benefits

  • DBS
  • Free or discounted meals
  • Annual pay review
  • Paid Uniform/Allowance
  • Free Parking
  • Team Social Events
  • Performance Related Pay

After this apprenticeship

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

  • Full time position with career development encouraged

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SHOOTS TRAINING LIMITED

Eleanor Bowling

Eleanor.Bowling@shootstraining.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000058613.

Apply now

Closes in 31 days (Thursday 12 November 2026 at 11:59pm)