Level 2 Early Years Apprenticeship

DIMPLES DAY NURSERY LTD

DARTFORD (DA2 7HT)

Closes in 30 days (Monday 30 March 2026)

Posted on 27 February 2026

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Summary

Earn while you learn! 40 hour working week. Monday – Friday all year around. The role involves caring for and educating children aged 9 month - 5 years. Planning activities, observing and assessing children. Apprenticeship wage, age dependant.

Wage

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Wages are reviewed on a regular basis.

Non contractual bonuses. 

Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 40 hour working week - 9 hour day, 8 hours paid with a 1-hour unpaid lunch break. Shifts can be anything between 7.30am - 6.00pm. We are a full-day care setting, so we are open all year around.

40 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 31 March 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

5

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

  • 40 hour working week - 9-hour day, 8-hours paid with a 1-hour unpaid lunch. Shifts can be anytime between 7.30am - 6.00pm Monday - Friday all year around
  • Students work closely with the other members of staff who mentor them to ensure they have the right training, support and guidance throughout their qualification
  • Wherever possible, we keep students supernumery, i.e. they are not counted in ratios. We feel this gives the student the best opportunity to learn on the job and develop their knowledge and skills
  • Plan activities for children aged 9 months - 5 years. Observe and assess children's development
  • Partake in Forest School activities in all weathers
  • Nappy changing
  • Promote positive behaviour for all children
  • Students are paid at the apprenticeship wage, age depending
  • Students will be expected to pay for their enhanced DBS
  • Dimples Day Nursery is committed to the safeguarding of all its children, their parents, our employees, volunteers and visitors

Safeguarding is a priority and procedures are put in place so that everyone feels safe whilst in our care. Learning experiences and individual achievements are very important to us and safeguarding initiatives are implemented to impact positively upon this.

Dimples ensures that safeguarding legislation and guidance is adhered to and is taken into account when developing and reviewing policies and procedures.

Dimples provides a safe physical environment for its children, their parents, their employees, volunteers and visitors, ensuring that the premises are of a good standard. Health and safety arrangements are in place to ensure adherence to current guidance and legislation.

Applicants will be subject to rigorous recruitment and selection procedures which are designed to emphasise Dimples' commitment to safeguarding responsibilities. These procedures include completion of a recruitment pack, questioning at interview stage, verifying of appropriate qualifications, acquiring references, completing any necessary safety checks.

Where you'll work

GREEN STREET
GREEN ROAD
LANE END
DARTFORD
DA2 7HT

Training

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

Training provider

PARENTA TRAINING 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

  • Dimples Day Nursery is located in Darenth, DA2 7HT. We are located near to Darent Valley Hospital
  • The apprentice will complete their training at Dimples Day Nursery, time is given during the nursery day to complete work and speak with their mentor and tutors. An element of the course work will also need to be completed in the students' own time
  • Access to a laptop or computer is necessary
  • GCSE maths, English and ICT are desired but not essential. If the applicant does not hold at least a 4 or above in maths, English and ICT they will need to complete Functional Skills
  • At the end of the student's studies, they will be awarded with a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner qualification. Many students complete both their Level 2 and Level 3 with us and go on to be a qualified member of our team

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • ICT (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

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
  • Number skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness
  • Caring nature
  • hard working

Other requirements

We are a Forest School, and we are set in 8 acres. We highly value outdoor play and our motto is 'there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing'. Staff and children spend a large portion of the day in the nursery gardens, the Forest School fields and off site at the local woods etc. It is imperative that applicants enjoy being outside.

About this employer

Dimples is a family run full day care setting which provides a home from home environment for children aged 9 months to 5 years. We are a Forest School that provides children with experiences and skills that they will need for life long learning. We encourage all of our staff to progress and support them to train to their full potential.

http://www.dimplesnursery.co.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Birthday off as if it falls on your working day. Staff yoga sessions. Possible discounts on childcare fees. Additional holiday for long service. On-site staff car park. Staff room with all amenities. Regular social events. 

After this apprenticeship

If an apprentice completes the Level 2 Early Year Practitioner qualification, then they can either progress onto the Level 3 Early Educator qualification or apply for a qualified Level 2 position.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

DIMPLES DAY NURSERY LTD

Sandra Roles

enquiries@dimplesnursery.co.uk

01322 285885

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000018310.

Apply now

Closes in 30 days (Monday 30 March 2026)

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