Early Years Apprentice - Watford

BRIGHT LITTLE STARS LTD

80 Sheepcot Lane (WD25 0EA)

Closes on Wednesday 31 December 2025

Posted on 28 October 2025

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Contents

Summary

Do you have a passion for children? Do you have a warm smile that makes every child feel special? Do you want to Learn and Earn at the same time? Your amazing career in childcare starts here! An Early Years Apprenticeship at Bright Little Stars.

Wage

£15,704 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
Monday to Friday Shifts to be confirmed

40 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 8 January 2026

Duration

1 year

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

An Early Years Apprenticeship at Bright Little Stars offers you the chance to gain a nationally recognised qualification that will help you enjoy a rewarding, worthwhile and fun career in childcare. Our Early Years Apprenticeships develop your knowledge and skills on and off the job, giving you the chance to earn and learn at the same time.

You carry out a 5 week paid trial which decides what kind of learner you are- then we match your unique learner needs to the best apprenticeship programme for you.

As an Early Years Apprentice, you will study towards either a Level 2 or 3 Early Years Practitioner.

Duties include:

  • Plan and carry out child initiated and adult led play activities supporting children’s individual needs and interests
  • Provide play activities which encourage and promote children’s numeracy, literacy and language development
  • Undertake the role of the key person to help children feel safe, secure and valued
  • Carries out observations and use these effectively to understand the changing needs of their individual key children and plan for the interests in line with the early years foundation stage
  • Carry out care routines such as nappy changing, toileting, hand washing and feeding routines with care, respect and compassion
  • Work in partnership with other professionals, parents, colleagues and children to meet the individual needs of children
  • Ensure the welfare, well-being and safety of children is promoted and report safeguarding issues and concerns to the person in charge
  • Take an active part in the completion of their apprenticeship, meeting deadlines set by their trainer assessor and working with the dedicated mentor to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours
  • Work in a non-discriminatory way to ensure all children have equal access to opportunities

What’s On Offer:

*High Apprentice Salaries Above Government Standard - up to £7.20 dependant on age and experience.

*Daily Hot Staff Lunches

*Win BLS Bucks Rewards Such as Virgin Experience Days

*Wellness Programme

*Job Opportunities after Completion of Apprenticeship

*Paid Training Days

*Mentor System

*Work With Qualified Teachers

*Apprentice Support Days

Where you'll work

80 Sheepcot Lane
WD25 0EA

Training

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

Training provider

REALISE LEARNING AND EMPLOYMENT LIMITED

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 and significant events. 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 provision and during off site visits relating to both children and staff and visitors and follow reporting procedures.
  • Use prevention and control of infection techniques for hand washing and food preparation and hygiene, deal with spillages safely, safe disposal of waste, using correct personal protective equipment.
  • Use equipment, furniture and materials safely and securely, following the manufacturers’ instructions and provision’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 the provision by encouraging babies and young children to consume healthy, balanced and nutritious 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 or complementary feeding), nappy changing procedures, potty or toilet training, care of skin, teeth and hair and rest and sleep provision.
  • Communicate with all children, including those for whom English is an additional language and those with additional needs, in ways that will be understood. This includes 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 appropriate communication methods to share information with children, parents or carers and other professionals.
  • Work with colleagues to identify and plan educational programmes 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, share results accurately and confidentially in line with expected statutory and the provision’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 graduated approach for the assessment, planning, implementation and reviewing 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 and mentoring 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 or carers and recognise their role in the baby or child’s health, well-being, learning and development.
  • Encourage parents or carers to take an active role in the baby's or child’s care, play, learning and development.
  • Demonstrate how to share information with parents or carers about the importance of healthy, balanced and nutritious diets for their child, looking after teeth and being physically active.
  • Support babies and young children through a range of transitions and significant events. 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 provision and during off site visits relating to both children and staff and visitors and follow reporting procedures.
  • Use prevention and control of infection techniques for hand washing and food preparation and hygiene, deal with spillages safely, safe disposal of waste, using correct personal protective equipment.
  • Use equipment, furniture and materials safely and securely, following the manufacturers’ instructions and provision’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 the provision by encouraging babies and young children to consume healthy, balanced and nutritious 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 or complementary feeding), nappy changing procedures, potty or toilet training, care of skin, teeth and hair and rest and sleep provision.
  • Communicate with all children, including those for whom English is an additional language and those with additional needs, in ways that will be understood. This includes 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 appropriate communication methods to share information with children, parents or carers and other professionals.
  • Work with colleagues to identify and plan educational programmes 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, share results accurately and confidentially in line with expected statutory and the provision’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 graduated approach for the assessment, planning, implementation and reviewing 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 and mentoring 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 or carers and recognise their role in the baby or child’s health, well-being, learning and development.
  • Encourage parents or carers to take an active role in the baby's or child’s care, play, learning and development.
  • Demonstrate how to share information with parents or carers about the importance of healthy, balanced and nutritious diets for their child, looking after teeth and being physically active.

Training schedule

Your full role and responsibilities will be set out by your employer. They will provide you with all of the on-the-job training you need to up-skill in your role, and your 20% off-the-job learning will be incorporated as part of your working day.

You will be working towards the Level 2 Early Years Practitioner apprenticeship standard, which includes:

  • Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours
  • Level 2 Early Years Practitioner QualificationFunctional skills in maths and English if required

This will be delivered by your dedicated training provider, Realise.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

Maths and English GCSE (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
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

Your full role and responsibilities will be set out by your employer. Bright Little Stars will provide you with all of the on-the-job training you need to up-skill in your role, and your 20% off-the-job learning will be incorporated as part of your working day.

About this employer

Bright Little Stars Nursery in Watford opened in March 2016 and has been graded Outstanding by Ofsted twice, in 2018 and again in 2023. It is situated on a residential road on Sheepcot Lane and features a newly renovated, purpose built gated property making this an exciting, safe and secure environment for you and your little one. They will enjoy the highest standards of childcare in which to develop and gain their early years experience in a stimulating home from home environment.

After this apprenticeship

We have had the pleasure in supporting numerous Bright Little Stars team members to grow from strength to strength, both personally and professionally, changing roles and locations in order to meet personal and professional goals. You will be able to develop and grow your career at Bright Little Stars.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

REALISE LEARNING AND EMPLOYMENT LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000348599.

Apply now

Closes on Wednesday 31 December 2025

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