Apprentice Nursery Practitioner

ASHBRIDGE SCHOOL LTD

Billsborrow, Preston, PRESTON

Closes on Wednesday 30 June 2027

Posted on 3 November 2026

Print

Contents

Summary

To work as part of different teams while developing your role with company support. To complete all academic elements of the apprenticeship. To deliver high-quality learning and care, maintain a safe Early Years environment, build strong partnerships with families, and support Outdoor Education and child-led practice.

Wage

£12,896 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Planned wage increase upon successful completion of first 6-months at the company and passing observations and tasks set out to be achieved.

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
30-36 hours a week over 4 days, Monday - Friday between 07.00-18.00.

31 hours a week

Start date

Monday 27 September 2027

Duration

1 year

Positions available

20

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

  • To be part of the Ashbridge Apprenticeship team and to develop your role in line with the guidance and support provided by the company and all of your team members.
  • To complete the academic responsibilities of the Ashbridge Apprenticeship scheme (both internal and external led learning).
  • To learn how to deliver an outstanding level of learning, development and care for the children for whom you are responsible for
  • To learn to ensure that the Early Years setting is a safe environment for children, staff and others
  • To learn to develop partnerships with parents and carers by leading and establishing professional relationships with our families.
  • To learn how to lead practice in our Outdoor Education and Attachment and Child -led ethos
  • To be able to work as part of the Apprentice Team, The Early Years setting team, and also the wider Ashbridge Company Team

Where you'll work

You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

  • The Fledglings Nursery, Billsborrow, PR3 0RY
  • Maxy House Farm, Sandy Lane, Cottam, Preston, PR4 0LE
  • Ashbridge on Ribble Nursery, Victoria Road, Preston, PR5 4AB
  • LINDLE LANE, HUTTON, PRESTON, PR4 4AQ

Training

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

Training provider

RUNSHAW 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

Tutor-led training will take place at our nursery, in our bespoke training suite. It will be once a week for the duration of your apprenticeship (12-months)

More training information

The training is provided by Runshaw College. With the exemplar route apprenticeship, apprentices will get their level 3 qualification in just over 12-months, with observations and end-point assessment being completed within the first 12-months of starting with us and with extensive support from Runshaw college and Ashbridge Apprenticeship Leadership Team.

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
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Patience
  • Flexible and Reliable approach
  • Detail Oriented
  • Time Management
  • Multi-tasking

Other requirements

Desirable:

  • Grade 4 in GCSE maths and English or functional skills.

Essential minimum:

  • Grade 4 in wither Maths or English
  • Grade 3 in the other subject
  • Willing to keep studying for the desirable qualification level

Your grades matter. Your attitude, commitment and willingness to improve matter too.

This role meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) before the appointment is confirmed, the cost of which to be met by the applicant. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings.

All posts are dependent upon receipt of satisfactory references before the appointment is confirmed.

About this employer

Life at Ashbridge is full and varied and our unique settings provide beautiful and inspiring environments to work at, in, and around the Preston area. Ashbridge Independent School and Nursery offer four unique nurseries and an outstanding independent primary school, Ashbridge provides the very best in early years and primary education in a unique environment where babies, toddlers, pre-school and primary aged school children flourish. A nurturing and attachment led approach allows all children to feel comfortable and settled in our outstanding setting which values all of the families, children, and team members. Ashbridge has been established within Lancashire for over 30 years and has gained an unparalleled reputation for its expertise and experience in early years childcare and education.

Our goal is to use our wealth of knowledge and experience to provide top-quality and nurturing early years and primary education, with a strong focus on developing the whole child, achieving excellent academic results and ensuring children leave us as confident and well-rounded individuals.

We are constantly investing in staff development to ensure our passionate and dedicated teachers and practitioners have the knowledge and skills they need to provide the best education for children. We employ qualified teachers in all of our nurseries, providing an excellent standard of teaching and our school teachers and support staff are all highly qualified and experienced.

Our facilities are purpose-built for the children in our care and whichever of our settings you visit you will discover top-quality facilities and resources and buildings which suit the needs of our children, with all classrooms in the school and our nurseries having direct access to the outdoors.

The people, above all else, are central to making Ashbridge a special place for children because we all work together towards the same goals, we have created a friendly, family atmosphere where every child is uniquely valued, nurtured and cared for.

Ashbridge is the leading childcare provider in Preston, and as an established company, we can offer the chance of significant career progression across the company.

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

Company benefits

  • Company events
  • Discounted or free food
  • Employee discount
  • Health & well-being programme
  • Referral programme
  • Attendance Bonus

After this apprenticeship

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

  • We provide clear career progress pathways to being room leader, Team Leader, Deputy manager and Manager upon completing the apprenticeship successfully.
  • Opportunity to upskill by doing Lead practitioner qualification level 5 or Early years Teacher qualification, if applicable.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

RUNSHAW COLLEGE

apprenticeship@ashbridgeschool.co.uk

01772 505095

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000062335.

Apply now

Closes on Wednesday 30 June 2027