Forest School & Childcare Apprenticeship
Puddle Ducks Nurseries
Etchingham, Robertsbridge
Closes in 12 days (Sunday 10 May 2026)
Posted on 28 April 2026
Contents
Summary
We are looking to develop our future superstars for our growing nursery, with the opportunity to work with and learn from our experienced team, support our outdoor focused agenda, and gain your Childcare qualification and Forest School Leaders accreditation.
- Wage
-
£12,480 a year
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
No weekend or evening shifts
3 days per week, options for more if preferred
Usually 8am to 6pm
30 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 26 May 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
- Champion outdoor learning across our organisation supported by our experienced team, including our Head of Outdoor Learning and Forest School
- Assist in creating a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for children
- Organise activities, both inside and outside the nursery, which encourage creativity development, co-ordination, independence, self-expression and learning through play
- Engage with children in play-based learning activities to promote their social, emotional, and cognitive development
Assist with daily routines such as mealtimes, nap times and outdoor play - Collaborate with colleagues and parents to provide the best possible care and support for each child
- Complete the required training and development to build your skills and obtain your qualification
- Support and action our outdoor agenda set by our Head of Outdoor Learning and Forest School
Where you'll work
You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.
This apprenticeship is available in these locations:
- Station Road, Hurst Green, Etchingham, TN19 7PL
- Parsonage Stable, Parsonage Farm, Church Lane, Robertsbridge, TN32 5PJ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
EAST SUSSEX COLLEGE GROUP
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
Most the training will happen onsite in role with some time spent attending offsite training and frequent support from your tutor
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
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
- Passion for the outdoors
- Naturally nurturing with great enthusiasm
- Eager to learn and develop skills and knowledge
- Ability to travel to our site
- English and maths GCSE
- Successful DBS and reference check
About this employer
Puddle Ducks are two new Nurseries recently opened in the East Sussex countryside. Salehurst is a picturesque village on a working farm, with an all weather garden, farm paddock and old converted stable. Hurst Green is a village nursery, set in a former chapel, with wrap-around gardens on the cusps of acres of Sussex countryside. Our nurseries are perfect for babies and preschool children who would flourish in a smaller, quieter, rural setting with plenty of outside activities
http://www.puddleducksnurseries.com (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Additional leave
- Training and qualification including Forest School Leaders
- Discounted or Free Childcare
- Company funded social team events
- Free parking
After this apprenticeship
- On completion of training this role is expected to progress to a Nursery Practionnaire or a Forest School Leader among other opportunities
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
EAST SUSSEX COLLEGE GROUP
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000028648.
Apply now
Closes in 12 days (Sunday 10 May 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.