Childcare Apprenticeship - Sevenoaks

Plaxtol Nursery School

School Lane PlaxtolSevenoaks, TN15 0QD (TN15 0QD)

Closes on Friday 20 February 2026

Posted on 16 January 2026

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Contents

Summary

Plaxtol Nursery School are looking for a new Nursery Assistant Apprentice. You will be studying toward your Early Years Practitioner Level 2.

Wage

£11,778 to £19,047.60, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 08:30 - 15:15 - Term Time Only (38 Weeks)

30 hours a week

Start date

Friday 27 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

Plaxtol Nursery School provide a stimulating and nurturing place for children to learn, develop and have fun. We recognise that happy, skilled staff are fundamental to excellent care and so we do all that we can to support, train and retain our staff. We provide a professional, caring and friendly environment with lots of opportunities for personal growth.

We are currently looking for talented, enthusiastic Apprentice Nursery Practitioners to join and complement our friendly team.

Responsibilities:

  • Engage children in educational and recreational activities
  • Provide a safe and clean environment for children to play and learn
  • Supervise and support children at all times
  • Ensure the individual children's needs are met, including learning, feeding, nappy changing and sleep time
  • Contribute to maintaining an attractive and welcoming environment
  • Cover housekeeping duties, including laundry and general cleanliness of the nursery
  • Read, understand and implement all company values, policies, procedures and operational practices
  • Maintain a positive attitude at all times with children, parents, visitors and work colleagues
  • Ensure confidentiality is maintained where appropriate
  • Attend regular staff meetings, planning meetings and undertake training as required

The salary for this role is national minimum wage for your age, not the apprenticeship rate.

Where you'll work

School Lane PlaxtolSevenoaks, TN15 0QD
TN15 0QD

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

  • At Shaping Lives, we are dedicated to one mission: helping nurseries like yours nurture future generations through high-quality early childhood education
  • As a trusted training provider, we specialise in developing skilled, passionate educators who make a meaningful difference in the lives of children aged 0 - 5.
  • Whether you're looking to enhance your current team's skills or recruit new talent, we’re with you every step of the way
  • Upon completion of this 12 month Apprenticeship, you will have obtained your Early Years Practitioner Level 2 Apprenticeship

Requirements

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Creative
  • Initative,

About this employer

At Plaxtol Nursery School, we are proud to offer Fun, Friendly and Firm Foundations that help every child feel valued, supported, and inspired to flourish. Rooted in over 50 years of early years expertise, our nurturing and inclusive setting provides a joyful, play-based learning experience that sparks curiosity, creativity, and confidence. We build strong foundations through meaningful relationships with children, families, and the wider community—ensuring every child feels safe, respected, and ready to explore the world around them. Together, we grow happy hearts, curious minds, and lifelong learners.

After this apprenticeship

  • There is a possibility of being offered a full time role after successful completion of the apprenticeship

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

PARAGON EDUCATION & SKILLS LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000009249.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 20 February 2026

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