Early Years Apprenticeship

POPPIES DAY NURSERY (KNUTSFORD) LIMITED

Knutsford (WA16 0NH)

Closes in 26 days (Wednesday 31 December 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 4 December 2025

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Summary

We are offering the opportunity for someone to complete a national apprenticeship with Elmscot Group. We offer training to our staff and offer an in-house mentor to support you through your training. Highly trained professionals who play a key role in ensuring that young children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe.

Wage

£15,704 to £25,396.80, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  • We offer competitive salaries and regularly review them to ensure they are fair.
  • Scheme to purchase additional AL
  • Bonus annual leave for reliable attendance, long service and Christmas shopping.

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
30 to 40 hours per week between the hours of 7.30am and 6pm. Monday to Friday. Apprentices under the age of 18 are only able to work 8 hours per day. There is a 1-hour lunch break which is unpaid.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 5 January 2026

Duration

1 year 6 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

In our settings, we have fostered the 'in the moment' style of learning, and are encouraging all children to learn through play. A nursery apprentice will support the children in the daily routine. This will include: 

  • Help with the daily routine and care of the children in your assigned department and across the setting as a whole.
  • Interact with the children to support the children’s learning and development in an age/stage appropriate way.
  • Prepare resources under the guidance of colleagues.
  • Set-up activities both inside and outside under the direction of colleagues.
  • Undertake daily housekeeping jobs as required.
  • Electronic record keeping and supporting child development observations.

Where you'll work

Poppies Day Nursery
Sugar Pit Lane
Knutsford
WA16 0NH

Training

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

Training provider

CHESHIRE COLLEGE SOUTH AND WEST

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

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

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
  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Patience
  • Caring

Other requirements

An apprentice will build positive relationships with the children, staff, families, and external agencies. Passing Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. You will need GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4 or above, or Functional Skills will be required.

About this employer

Elmscot Group Day Nurseries and we care for children aged from six weeks to five years in very safe, homely environments. We have nurseries located across Cheshire in Hale, Altrincham, Timperley, Sale, Knutsford and Chester. Poppies Day Nursery can be found on Sugar Pit Lane, just a short walk from the heart of Knutsford. It is situated within a beautiful converted building packed with original features. The bright open rooms create the perfect environment.

https://www.elmscot.co.uk/nurseries/poppies/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Flexible working arrangements. We promote and develop candidates for internal career and training opportunities. Our settings are situated in beautiful countryside with plenty of outside space.

Disability Confident

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Upon completion, you will achieve a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification, and a Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid.

You will be offered a qualified practitioner role within the company and there will be an opportunity to progress through the company.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CHESHIRE COLLEGE SOUTH AND WEST

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000003872.

Apply now

Closes in 26 days (Wednesday 31 December 2025 at 11:59pm)

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