Level 3 Nursery Practitioner Apprentice
ROSEDALE NURSERY LTD
Bedford Rd (MK41 6EJ)
Closes in 29 days (Friday 10 July 2026)
Posted on 2 June 2026
Contents
Summary
Are you passionate about working with children and want to begin a rewarding career in early years education, while gaining valuable hands-on experience? Puddleducks Nursery, in Clapham, Bedford, are looking for a reliable, enthusiastic, and motivated individual to join their friendly and supportive team.
- Wage
-
£18,720 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 8.00am to 5.00pm / 9.00am to 6.00pm (45 minute paid lunch break).
45 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 4 August 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 9 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
Puddleducks is a nursery school and pre-school located in Clapham, Bedford. The nursery provides full day childcare and early years education for children from birth to 5 years old in a welcoming and family-focused environment.
As a Level 3 Nursery Practitioner Apprentice, you will begin by spending time across the nursery’s three rooms to become familiar with the staff, children, parents, and daily routines. You will work closely with qualified team members to develop your understanding of how the nursery operates and how to support the children’s individual needs.
As you settle into the role, you will take on more responsibilities, including helping with the day to day running of the rooms, preparing snacks, supporting lunchtime routines, and setting up engaging, age-appropriate activities for children across all age groups. You will also take part in maintaining a clean and safe environment, including tidying up after activities, sweeping, hoovering, and general cleaning duties shared amongst the team.
Candidates who can demonstrate confidence in leading play activities and engaging positively with young children and colleagues will be well suited to this role.
You will attend Bedford College as part of your apprenticeship training, with this being a paid day release.
Where you'll work
Woodlands Park
Clapham
Bedford Rd
MK41 6EJ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BEDFORD COLLEGE
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
Level 3 Early Years Educator.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
- Early Years Practitioner (grade 2)
- Maths (grade 3)
- English (grade 3)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Caring and kind
- Communication skills
- Motivated and eager to learn
- Work well as part of a team.
Other requirements
Puddleducks Nursery is located in Clapham Bedford MK41 6EJ, please consider your journey before applying.
You will be required to attend Bedford College one day a week for your apprenticeship training.
This is a 45hr per week contract. If you are under 18 years old, it will be reduced to 40hrs.
Candidates must attend an initial interview with a member of the Bedford College Apprenticeship Recruitment Team, if they meet the initial criteria, as part of the recruitment process. Only candidates who have fully completed the application will be considered. Please be aware that the closing date is subject to change without prior notice.
About this employer
Puddleducks is a nursery school and pre-school located in Clapham, Bedford. The nursery provides full day childcare and early years education for children from birth to 5 years old in a welcoming and family-focused environment.
After this apprenticeship
Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, there may be opportunities to progress into a Lead Practitioner position or specialise in areas such as SEND support, Health and Safety, or Safeguarding Lead roles.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BEDFORD COLLEGE
Ramona Stevens
jobenquiries@justapply.co.uk
01234 291000
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000033788.
Apply now
Closes in 29 days (Friday 10 July 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.