Nursery Apprentice
Chestnuts Nursery School
Ipswich (IP5 1JF)
Closes in 7 days (Wednesday 17 December 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 8 December 2025
Contents
Summary
Join a fantastic and supportive team at a relatively new setting in Kesgrave, Ipswich. The nursery is very popular with the local community and has an amazing outdoor area compared to most town-based nurseries.
- Wage
-
£11,778 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
30-32 hours a week - either 3 x 10-hour shifts or 4 x 8-hour shifts. Days and exact working hours to be confirmed.
30 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
Main duties and tasks include:
- To actively encourage children’s progress in all areas of development and types and stages of play, through interaction and extension of play activities
- To assist in the setting up and clearing away of all activities and equipment
- To be involved in activity planning and record keeping
- To attend training as requested including safeguarding, Paediatric First Aid, EYFS training and any other training
- To ensure high standards of hygiene and safety are maintained at all times
- To support the work and beliefs of the setting by helping to create an environment that promotes open and equal opportunities for children and adults
- To ensure that any information received concerning the children is kept confidential at all times
- To encourage the participation and involvement of all children attending the setting
- To be flexible with the working practices of the setting
- To be prepared to help in any areas of the setting with domestic duties or other duties as specified by the manager or owner
You will contribute a high standard of physical, emotional, social and intellectual care for all children in the nursery. You will work as part of the team to help ensure all children attending the nursery receive high quality care, are kept safe and are provided with planned and stimulating play experiences which meet their individual needs and support all aspects of the EYFS curriculum.
Where you'll work
Chestnuts Nursery
12 Twelve Acre Approach Kesgrave
Ipswich
IP5 1JF
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
SUFFOLK NEW 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
- Early Years Educator Standard
- Level 3 Paediatric First Aid or Emergency Paediatric First Aid
- English and maths (if required) Level 2
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4 or equivalent)
- Maths (grade 4 or equivalent)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Team working
- Good observational skills
- Reliable
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Approachable
- Listening skills
- Responsible
- Strong work ethic
Other requirements
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required for this role.
About this employer
We are an all-year round, family owned, nursery school based in the centre of Kesgrave, Ipswich. At Chestnuts, we are committed to providing high quality education from 0-5 years.
https://chestnutsnurseryschool.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
Paid lunch breaks.
After this apprenticeship
A position may be available for the right candidate following successful completion of the apprenticeship. The business is looking for somebody who wants to develop and gain a position following their apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
SUFFOLK NEW COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000004244.
Apply now
Closes in 7 days (Wednesday 17 December 2025 at 11:59pm)
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