Childcare Apprenticeship - Halifax

MRS DEBORAH JOANNE YEADON

Halifax (HX3 7QG)

Closes on Monday 26 January 2026

Posted on 18 December 2025

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Contents

Summary

Launch Pad Childcare are looking for a Nursery Assistant Apprentice, you will be studying toward your Early Years Practitioner Level 2.

Wage

£13,741 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Monday- Friday (Shifts TBC)

35 hours a week

Start date

Monday 2 February 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

Job opportunity to work in a vibrant, busy setting! We are a childcare setting based in Shelf, Halifax. We take 15 children daily, we are not a Nursery , and not a childminding service but we offer top quality childcare and education on domestic premises. This post is to begin early January 2026. Enhanced DBDs will be required to shortlisted applicants.

  • You must have a warm and smiling face that makes every child in my setting feel special and loved
  • You must be able to laugh at jokes that you don’t understand, or don’t find funny. (Children’s humour can be a confusing minefield to navigate.)
  • Quirkiness is preferable
  • If a child requests that you are a Princess, you will be the best fairy-tale Princess you can be. Equally you may need to become Spiderman or a giraffe, you must be happy to roll with it
  • You must feel comfortable telling everyone in the same room as you, that you are going to use the bathroom
  • The ability to sing in tune is not required or indeed necessary however the ability to sing out of tune in front of an enthusiastic and participating crowd is essential
  • Some knowledge of Frozen, Spiderman, Paw Patrol, Minions, Toy Story, Peppa Pig, Hey Duggee and Steve and Maggi would be hugely advantageous
  • An ability to multitask at a high level is essential. (Spinning plates an advantage)
  • The ability to accept that something that should take 5 minutes will probably take 20 is something you will have to be comfortable with
  • You must be able to distribute warm hugs as required, no matter whatever else you may want, need or indeed have to do
  • Possessing the skill to rapidly count numerous moving heads is of upmost importance. (Hi visibility jackets provided to aid this on outdoor excursions)
  • You must also be okay with entering public places on the way home from work with a variety of unknown substances on your clothing
  • You must possess a high level of comfort around talking about bodily functions. You must have a keen sense of smell to enable you to respond swiftly to said bodily functions
  • You must be able to deal with an environment that often resembles the aftermath of a tornado
  • You must be able to remain focused in an environment that has a very high noise level and not require ear defenders
  • Acting skills are required such as pretending to eat play dough creations realistically, looking interested when hearing what Santa brought them for the 15th time, appearing genuinely concerned that another child took their toy/tried to choke them etc…..these skills do develop very quickly over time
  • You must have the ability to remember names of not only the children but their siblings, parents, cousins, next door neighbours, soft toys and pets. (next doors pets too)
  • A key component of this post is feeling comfortable sitting on furniture that does not contain all of your behind, not for long periods as sitting down isn’t something that happens very often
  • A high level of comfort with being asked personal questions by children is essential. You will have spots pointed out that you thought you had concealed pretty well, your weight fluctuations will be noted, as will that state of your nail varnish
  • Expect to regularly be asked what you are having for lunch, will you will be willing to let them touch or indeed eat this lunch, whether or not you are married and if not be able to explain why not
  • You will be asked where you are going (on your way to the toilet) and what you are intending to do in there, on your return you will be asked if you washed your hands

Where you'll work

5 Beckside
Halifax
HX3 7QG

Training

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

Training provider

PARAGON EDUCATION & SKILLS 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

Paragon Skills is a leading national Apprenticeship training provider, supporting over 4,000 learners and 1,500 organisations. Paragon Skills has some of the highest success and achievement rates in the industry.

It has an Ofsted Grade 2 Good rating and an overall achievement rate of 71.4%, exceeding the national average of 65.6%. Using a blended approach, learners are always at the forefront of our priorities. All learners are assigned a Personal Tutor who will be their main point of contact.

This involves regular catch-ups, check-in emails and calls. Your employer will agree to give you 20% of your working hours solely towards your study.

This will give you every chance to achieve the highest grade possible! On completion of this 12 month apprenticeship you will have gained; Early Years Practitioner– Level 2.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

Other in:

N/A (grade N/A)

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

Other requirements

The closing date guidance, if a successful candidate is found before the advertised dates, the advert will close early.

About this employer

We provide high quality, educational care for pre-schoolers based on 35 years of early years experience - right in the heart of Shelf, Halifax.

After this apprenticeship

  • Possibility of a full time role after the completion of the apprenticeship

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

PARAGON EDUCATION & SKILLS LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000005836.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 26 January 2026

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