Childcare Apprenticeship - New Mills

First Steps Nursery - New Mills

United Kingdom (SK22 3JJ)

Closes on Wednesday 25 November 2026

Posted on 21 October 2026

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Summary

First Steps Nursery are looking for a new Childcare Apprentice. You will be studying toward your Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Level 3 qualification.

• Wage:

  £16,640 a year

  Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

• Training course: Early years educator (level 3)
• Hours: Monday - Friday (Shifts to be confirmed. They will range between 7:30am and 6:30pm).

  40 hours a week

• Start date:

  Wednesday 2 December 2026

• Duration:

  1 year 3 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

We are a very well-established family nursery with a forest school on site and babies from 3 months old. We are ideally looking for someone who has a love of working with children as an apprentice.

Day-Day Responsibilties:

• To have a passion for learning about childcare and playwork and work with a fantastic team in our 'Outstanding' nursery settings with a Forest School.
• Share our positive 'Can Do' approach, as a team member to working with children.
• To contribute in providing a safe, welcoming 
• clean and inclusive environment for all children and their parents.
• To follow and implement all Nursery policies and procedures, showing a high priority to safeguarding.
• To be a Keyworker for a group of children and have responsibilities to contribute to their on-going developmental needs and assessments. This will include inputting observations onto our Tapestry system and liaison with external agencies and parents/carers.
• To input into the planning and provision of stimulating and developmentally appropriate activities including preparation of resources and Nursery areas.
• To work flexibly and co-operatively as part of a team, this may also involve working with all children in our setting from birth to Five years old.

Salary displayed is a starting salary, the salary will depend on experience/prior qualifications.

Where you'll work

Hibbert Street New Mills
High Peak
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
SK22 3JJ

Training

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

Training provider

PARAGON EDUCATION & SKILLS 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

At Shaping Lives, we are dedicated to one mission: helping nurseries like yours nurture future generations through high-quality early childhood education. As a trusted training provider, we specialise in developing skilled, passionate educators who make a meaningful difference in the lives of children aged 0-5. Whether you're looking to enhance your current team's skills or recruit new talent, we’re with you every step of the way.

Upon completion of this 15 month apprenticeship, you will have obtained your Early Years Educator Level 3 qualification.

Requirements

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

Skills

• Creative
• Initative
• Non judgemental
• Patience
• Teamworking
• Communication Skills

Other requirements

The closing date guidance, if a successful candidate is found before the advertised dates, the advert will close early.

About this employer

At First Steps Nursery we are passionate about working in partnership with you as parents/carers to ensure your child develops to their full potential. We value every child as a unique individual and our aim is to provide high quality care and education where ‘childhood is valued’. A huge emphasis is placed on children’s emotional well-being and on helping children to develop a high self-esteem and a love of learning. Our children leave us with a high self esteem and the confidence and inquisitiveness to find out about things which is a skill that will remain with them throughout life.

After this apprenticeship

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

There is a possibility of being offered a full time role after successful completion of the apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

PARAGON EDUCATION & SKILLS LIMITED

Shaping Lives recruitment team

apprentice.recruitment@pgon.co.uk

08004220588

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000060309.

Apply now

Closes on Wednesday 25 November 2026

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.