Early Years Apprentice
Toad Hall Nursery
Crawley (RH11 7BP)
Closes on Thursday 30 April 2026
Posted on 12 January 2026
Contents
Summary
This is an excellent opportunity to gain a Level 3 Early Years Practitioner qualification in a Grade 2 'Good' Ofsted rated Nursery. You will be responsible for helping to create an environment in which children’s individual needs are met and supporting the Nursery Management Team to ensure that high-quality childcare is provided to all, plus more.
- Wage
-
£15,808 a year
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
The nursery is open Monday to Friday, 8.00am- 6.00pm. You will work shifts on a rota basis with one hour for lunch.
40 hours a week hours a week.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 1 June 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 3 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
The Apprentice is responsible for helping to create an environment in which children’s individual needs are met and supporting the Nursery Management Team to ensure that high quality childcare is provided to all. This role profile is not exhaustive, and the Apprentice is expected to fulfil any duty as required for the effective running of the setting.
You will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check and provide two suitable references as part of the recruitment process.
- Being aware and demonstrating a clear understanding of own role and areas of responsibility
- To support children’s learning and development with children from all age ranges of the Early Years
- To support children’s development skills, working to plan activities, recording observations and their progress
- To understand and comply with all nursery policies and procedures, and relevant legislative requirements, informing management immediately of any instances of non-compliance or variations in practice
- Once confident in role, to assume the role of a key person to a group of children and work in partnership with parents/carers, catering for all children’s individual needs; observing, planning and evaluating development activities; keeping accurate records and maintaining regular contact and communication with parents
- Attending staff meetings and any training that is in-house
- To regularly update the children's daily diaries
- To ensure that the ratios are adhered to at all times
- To assist with the wall displays and decoration
- To assist with the nappy changing routines & personal hygiene
Where you'll work
117 Ifield Road
Crawley
RH11 7BP
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
HAWK MANAGEMENT (UK) 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
- The successful candidate will undertake a Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship qualification, which is an 15 month programme plus 4 months for End Point Assessment activities
- The programme is delivered through virtual and face to face training and online learning
- It will include functional skills exams if you don’t have English and maths GCSE at Grade 4 or above
- You will be required to obtain an approved paediatric first aid qualification prior to taking End Point Assessment
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 3 or above)
- Maths (grade 3 or above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
Other requirements
This role will involve some early starts (7.30am, 7.45am). Please check the commute time and transport before submitting your application.. You will need to be 17 or over to be eligible. Benefits: Company Bonus Scheme (subject to eligibility criteria) Increasing annual leave with each complete year of service up to a maximum of 33 days (including Bank/Public Holidays) Your birthday off, or a Christmas shopping day off, after one full year of service Discounts and savings with Perkpal Employee Assistance programme (EAP)
About this employer
Toad Hall Nurseries are rated as an Ofsted ‘Good’ provider of childcare and are responsible for 12 nurseries across Surrey, Hertfordshire and Berkshire. They offer childcare and early education for children from the age of 3 months. Children have a dedicated team of staff looking after them and making sure that they have the best early life experiences. By combining excellent facilities and the expertise of their qualified staff, they ensure that all of the children enjoy their time at the nursery.
After this apprenticeship
- There will be opportunities to apply for a full-time, qualified role on completion of the apprenticeship
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
HAWK MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000007999.
Apply now
Closes on Thursday 30 April 2026