Apprentice Nursery Practitioner

LITTLE ACORNS MOTESSORI LIMITED

WINDSOR (SL4 2EG)

Closes in 30 days (Saturday 14 November 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 14 October 2026

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Summary

Early years apprenticeships offer an exciting opportunity for individuals to begin a rewarding career working with young children. They combine practical, hands-on experience in a childcare setting with structured learning, allowing apprentices to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to support children’s learning.

Wage

£9,984 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Plus 12.07% holiday pay

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
8.00am - 4.00pm, Monday to Thursday. 8.00am - 3.00pm, Friday. Term time only.

24 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 December 2026

Duration

1 year 5 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 the planning and delivery of activities, adapting the curriculum to meet the needs of the children
  • Use educational strategies to support progress and achievement
  • Oversee the progress, wellbeing and safeguarding of children
  • Help to maintain a safe and secure environment, meeting all regulations, policies and procedures
  • Engage fully in CPD to improve and grow as a practitioner
  • Undertake self-evaluation regularly and contribute to wider improvement strategies
  • Manage resources effectively and support with administrative tasks

Where you'll work

ST. PETERS CENTRE
HATCHET LANE
WINKFIELD
WINDSOR
SL4 2EG

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

Working hours and training schedule to be discussed.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

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

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
  • Creative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

  • Pass a enhanced DBS.
  • Will need to drive or get a lift – it’s a rural setting just next to Legoland on the way out of Windsor.

About this employer

Little Acorns Montessori is a family-run group with three individual, thriving settings across Ascot, Bracknell and Crowthrone. Our well-established Ascot, Winkfield setting opened in 1994 and it has a strong local reputation and a beautiful rural setting.

All our settings have a warm, welcoming, inclusive and high-quality learning environment where children can thrive. We nurture children’s curiosity, creativity, and confidence while fostering a love for lifelong learning. Our Montessori inspired curriculum blends child-led activity, explicit teaching/direction, and play, to deliver the EYFS effectively. We aim to serve our local communities with affordable, flexible, high-quality childcare that fits the needs of parents.

 

There are 2 rooms at Ascot, Little Oaks (2 Years Old) and Mighty Oaks (3+ Years). We really do try and look after our staff as best we can and we are a small but mighty family nursery. The Ascot setting is a lovely place to be, and we can also offer days/visits to our other 2 thriving nurseries to develop experiences for our Apprentices. 

https://www.littleacornsmontessori.co.uk/ascot (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

  • Paid DBS check and update
  • Bonus schemes
  • Discounted childcare 50%
  • Paid uniform/allowance
  • Free on site parking
  • Extra holiday
  • Team social events
  • Staff recognition/rewards

After this apprenticeship

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

At Ascot or any of our three nurseries. Progression and CPD is a real strength of ours.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SHOOTS TRAINING LIMITED

Emma Ramirez

emma.ramirez@shootstraining.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000059143.

Apply now

Closes in 30 days (Saturday 14 November 2026 at 11:59pm)