Childcare Apprenticeship - Chandlers Ford
Dragonflies Day Nursery & OOSC ( part of Emperor Nurseries Group )
Skys Wood RoadEastleigh (SO53 4SJ)
Closes on Wednesday 3 June 2026
Posted on 29 April 2026
Contents
Summary
Dragonflies Nursery are looking for a new Childcare Apprentice. You will be studying toward your Early Years Educator apprenticeship L3.
- Wage
-
£20,311.20 a year
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
8am-6pm, 3 days per week between Monday-Friday.
36 hours a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 10 June 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 6 months
- 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
Are you tired of being just another number in a corporate chain nursery?
Ready to take the next step in your career where you are truly valued?
At Dragonflies, we offer something different — a warm, independent, home-from-home setting where staff are appreciated, supported, and empowered to grow.
Rated the #1 nursery in Chandlers Ford, we are looking for a passionate Apprentice to join our thriving team!
Day-Day Responsibilities:
- Provide a warm, safe, and nurturing environment where children feel secure, valued, and supported in their development.
- Offer consistent love, care, and attention to all children attending the setting, ensuring their individual needs are met at all times.
- Work closely alongside experienced staff within your assigned room to support the daily routine and smooth running of the setting.
- Assist in planning and delivering engaging, age-appropriate activities that promote learning through play and exploration.
- Deliver outstanding standards of care and early years education in line with the setting’s policies and procedures.
- Support children’s learning and development by encouraging independence, creativity, and curiosity.
- Observe children during activities and contribute to tracking their progress and development milestones.
- Ensure children’s health, safety, and wellbeing are always maintained, following safeguarding and health & safety procedures.
- Help prepare and tidy learning environments, ensuring resources are clean, safe, and ready for use.
- Act as a positive role model for best practice, demonstrating professional behaviour and high standards of care.
Where you'll work
Skys Wood RoadEastleigh
SO53 4SJ
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 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
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 18-month Apprenticeship, you will have obtained your Early Years Educator apprenticeship L3 Apprenticeship.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
Other in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Creative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Teamworking
- Communication 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
Established by a working mum in 2018, our aim here at Dragonflies is to nurture through nature, providing a homely, caring environment in which children can explore, play and learn in a safe, secure space, supported by our kind, fun loving staff. We want children to feel happy and included, and give them the confidence to try things out and gain independence through gentle encouragement and support. We believe in providing the right experiences and environment to give your children wings to fly.
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 VAC2000028969.
Apply now
Closes on Wednesday 3 June 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.