Childcare Apprenticeship - Oxford
Circadian Nest Nursery
Donnington Doorstep Family Centre Townsend SquareOxford (OX4 4BB)
Closes on Thursday 4 June 2026
Posted on 30 April 2026
Contents
Summary
Circadian Nest Nursery are looking for a new Nursery assistant Apprentice. You will be studying toward your Early Years Educator apprenticeship Level 3.
- Wage
-
£17,680 a year
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 08:30 - 17:30
42 hours a week
- Start date
-
Thursday 11 June 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 6 months
- Positions available
-
3
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
Circadian Nest Nursery is a brand-new, small-setting nursery based at Donnington Doorstep Family Centre in East Oxford, caring for children from birth to school age.
As our Apprentice Early Years Educator, you'll be part of a close-knit team led by an experienced Level 6 Manager and a Level 3 Deputy, learning every aspect of practice from the ground up.
You'll spend most of your time across our baby room and two-year-olds' room, supporting key persons, planning activities, and building strong relationships with children and their families. By the end of your apprenticeship, you'll be a confident, qualified Early Years Educator with hands-on experience in a nurturing, values-led setting.
Responsibilities:
- Support the planning and delivery of engaging activities aligned with the EYFS framework
- Help maintain a safe, calm, and stimulating environment across the baby and toddler rooms
- Build warm, secure attachments with key children and positive relationships with their families
- Observe and record children's progress, contributing to their learning journeys and next steps
- Assist with daily care routines including mealtimes, nappy changes, and rest periods
- Uphold high standards of hygiene, safeguarding, and health and safety at all times
- Attend off-the-job training and complete coursework alongside your day-to-day learning in the setting
Benefits:
- Direct mentorship from a Level 6 Manager and a Level 3 Deputy from your first day
- Small, supportive team in a brand-new setting where your contribution genuinely shapes the culture
- 28 days' annual leave inclusive of bank holidays
- Workplace pension scheme
- Excellent transport links — walking distance from Cowley Road and frequent buses from Oxford city centre
- On-site facilities
- Ongoing CPD and progression opportunities as the nursery grows
Where you'll work
Donnington Doorstep Family Centre
Townsend SquareOxford
OX4 4BB
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 Level 3 Apprenticeship
Requirements
Essential qualifications
Other in:
Desirable qualifications
Other in:
- English GCSE (grade )
- Maths GCSE (grade Pass)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Creative
- Initative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Presentation Skills
- 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
Join a brand-new boutique nursery in Oxford from day one. Work alongside experienced practitioners caring for children under five, gain your Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification, and help shape a warm, nature-led setting.
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 VAC2000029276.
Apply now
Closes on Thursday 4 June 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.