Early Years Apprentice

Willow Tree Day Nursery

SALE (M33 2FY)

Closes in 26 days (Friday 9 January 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 10 December 2025

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Summary

We are offering the opportunity for someone to complete a national apprenticeship with us here at Elmscot Group. We offer regular training and an in-house mentor to support you through your course. We have highly trained professionals who play a key role in ensuring that young children learn and develop 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 leave for reliable attendance and long service.
Christmas shopping benefits

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
The standard working week is 30 to 40 hours, completed Monday to Friday. Working hours must fall between 7:30am and 6:00pm. Any Apprentices under 18 work a maximum of 8 hours per day. A 1 hour unpaid lunch break is included each working day.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 12 January 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

2

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: 

• Helping 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

152 BROAD ROAD
SALE
M33 2FY

Training

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

Training provider

BEST PRACTICE NETWORK LIMITED

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

Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship standard, including Functional Skills if required.

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
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Caring

Other requirements

An apprentice will be required to build positive relationships with the children, staff, families, and external agencies. 

Passing Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Functional Skills if required.

About this employer

At Elmscot Group Day Nurseries 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. Willow Tree Day Nursery can be found on Broad Road, in the heart of Sale. It is situated within a beautiful, huge converted building packed with original features. The bright, open rooms create the perfect environment for children to Learn and Develop. 

https://www.elmscot.co.uk/nurseries/willowtree/ (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 lots of outside space
Uniform Provided
Cash Healthcare Plan

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, subject to status, and there will be opportunities to progress through the company if you wish to do so.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BEST PRACTICE NETWORK LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000004741.

Apply now

Closes in 26 days (Friday 9 January 2026 at 11:59pm)

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