Apprentice Nursery Assistant

Summary

Your role will be to support the wearly years team, be involved in and support with planning and implementing of a flexible, high-quality service, which is appropriate to the needs of children and families in the nursery and the wider community. You will support the implementation of suitable programmes of learning opportunities.

Wage

£14,918.80 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Early years practitioner (level 2)

Hours

37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, working hours to be confirmed. 30-minutes unpaid break.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Thursday 7 August 2025

Duration

2 years

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

You will provide day to day care and activities for the children that promotes fun and positive behaviour. You will assist in setting up the nursery and ensure the children are always kept safe.

Responsibilities:

To assist with the daily routine
To assist with curriculum planning
Plan activities suitable for the age range and individual needs of the children within the setting
Liaise with parents/carers and staff members
Undertake domestic duties within the unit
Attend training sessions outside normal working hours
Undertake all ad hoc duties and projects within the nursery
Adhere to all company policies and procedures
Contribute to a high standard of quality within the nursery
Ensure appropriate planning and assessment is accurately maintained for key children
Always supervise and support children
Ensure that equality of access and opportunity is provided to all children, parents, staff, and visitors
Ensure that all children are kept safe
Notify Designated Officer of any safeguarding concerns
Always maintain a positive attitude with children, parents, colleagues and visitors
Develop and maintain professional working relationships with colleagues and visitors
Ensure confidentiality, where appropriate, is maintained
Adhere to all health and safety policies and procedures and undertake a shared responsibility for cleanliness and health and safety throughout the nursery
Attend monthly staff meetings, planning meetings and undertake training as required
Undertake any other duties as reasonably requested by line manager

Where you'll work

Rainbow Day Nursery
Summerhill Road
Dartford
DA1 2LP

Training

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

College or training organisation

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

Your 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.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 work setting and during off site visits.relating to both children and staff
Demonstrate skills and understanding for the prevention and control of infection, including hand washing, food preparation and hygiene, dealing with spillages safely, safe disposal of waste, using correct personal protective equipment.
Use equipment, furniture and materials safely, following the manufacturers’ instructions and setting’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 settings by encouraging babies and young children to consume healthy and balanced 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/complimentary feeding), nappy changing procedures, potty/toilet training, care of skin, teeth and hair and rest and sleep provision.
Communicate with all children in ways that will be understood, including 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 communication methods to exchange information with children and adults.
Work with colleagues to identify and plan enabling environments, activities (both indoors and outdoors), play opportunities and educational programmes (both adult led and child initiated) 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, sharing results accurately and confidentially in line with expected statutory framework and setting’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 assessment, planning, implementation and reviewing (the graduated approach) 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, mentoring and/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 and/or carers and recognise their role in the baby’s/child’s health, well-being, learning and development.
Encourage parents and/or carers to take an active role in the baby’s/child’s care, play, learning and development.
Demonstrate how to share information with parents/carers about the importance of healthy balanced diets, looking after teeth and being physically active.
Support babies and young children through a range of transitions.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 work setting and during off site visits.relating to both children and staff
Demonstrate skills and understanding for the prevention and control of infection, including hand washing, food preparation and hygiene, dealing with spillages safely, safe disposal of waste, using correct personal protective equipment.
Use equipment, furniture and materials safely, following the manufacturers’ instructions and setting’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 settings by encouraging babies and young children to consume healthy and balanced 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/complimentary feeding), nappy changing procedures, potty/toilet training, care of skin, teeth and hair and rest and sleep provision.
Communicate with all children in ways that will be understood, including 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 communication methods to exchange information with children and adults.
Work with colleagues to identify and plan enabling environments, activities (both indoors and outdoors), play opportunities and educational programmes (both adult led and child initiated) 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, sharing results accurately and confidentially in line with expected statutory framework and setting’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 assessment, planning, implementation and reviewing (the graduated approach) 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, mentoring and/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 and/or carers and recognise their role in the baby’s/child’s health, well-being, learning and development.
Encourage parents and/or carers to take an active role in the baby’s/child’s care, play, learning and development.
Demonstrate how to share information with parents/carers about the importance of healthy balanced diets, looking after teeth and being physically active.

Your training plan

Early Years Educator Level 3
On the job training with the employer whilst working towards the Apprenticeship Standard
Regular work-based assessments/observations carried out by Kent Training & Apprenticeships Tutor Assessor, to determine competency and meet with Awarding Body standards
Training will include paediatric first aid qualification

Apprentices must successfully complete a first aid qualification in line with the requirements of the EYFS Framework (Annex A): Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Early years educator/Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

Maths (grade 4)

GCSE in:

English (grade 4)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Number skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Caring nature

Other requirements

Interview - We will be interviewing candidates who meet the criteria as they apply and will recruit after a successful interview which may be before the closing date. Reality Check - You will be responsible for your travel expenses to and from your place of work. Therefore, you must have the means to get to your place of work daily whilst waiting for your first wages to be paid.

About this company

Our Nursery is a happy place where all children learn to respect one another, work, and play together co-operatively and enjoy learning through play. We provide a broad, balanced, and interesting curriculum that is differentiated to meet the needs of all children which enables children to develop their full potential.

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

After this apprenticeship

Potential for full-time employment for the right candidate
Many employers retain apprentices in full/part time positions
The qualifications you gain can also help you to get into higher education or other employment
Being an apprentice gives you the opportunity to gain a recognised qualification and developing professional skills whilst earning a salary, inside some of Kent’s best companies
Once the Apprenticeship has been achieved you will have the skills, abilities, and experience to update and enhance your CV, to make it attractive to potential employers

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

Kent Training and Apprenticeships Business Support Team

KT&A@kent.gov.uk

0800 731 4297

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000324289.

Apply now

Closes in 27 days (Friday 4 July 2025)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

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

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