Apprentice Nursery Nurse

ST THOMAS DAY NURSERY LTD

OXFORD (OX1 1JL)

Closes in 29 days (Sunday 5 July 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 5 June 2026

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Summary

At St Thomas Day Nursery, we are looking for a happy, cheerful Apprentice Nursery Nurse to join our friendly team. You’ll support children’s learning and development while gaining skills and experience through a structured apprenticeship.

Wage

£22,323 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  • 30 hours per week - £12.71 p/h
  • 6 hours per week - £8 p/h

Wages are reviewed annually and will increase upon completion of training. 

Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Thursday, 8.00am - 5.45pm.

36 hours a week

Start date

Monday 20 July 2026

Duration

2 years

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

  • Plan and deliver a varied, engaging EYFS programme tailored to each child’s needs
  • Support children’s personal care, including nappy changing and toileting
  • Prepare rooms for mealtimes (clear toys, set up tables and chairs)
  • Assist with serving meals and clearing away
  • Set up stimulating activities during lunchtime periods
  • Maintain strict confidentiality at all times
  • Work as part of a team to keep the nursery clean, safe, and hygienic
  • Work towards a recognised childcare qualification through training and coursework
  • Set out exciting resources and play opportunities for children both inside and outside
  • Help with personal care including nappies, toileting and feeding
  • Develop quality relationships with the families and children
  • Form respectful and collaborative relationships with staff and other professionals
  • Have fun

Where you'll work

ST THOMAS DAY NURSERY
40 ST THOMAS STREET
OXFORD
OX1 1JL

Training

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

Training provider

ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE

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

Duration:

21 months practical training period, plus 3 months for End Point Assessment

Delivery model:

  • Work-based training with your employer
  • Attendance for a study workshop at either Abingdon/Witney campus (1 day or 2 half days a month)
  • Approximately 12 on-site assessment visits per year
  • Regular meetings with your training coordinator to monitor progress and well-being
  • Level 1 Functional Skills in Maths and English (7 days at college for each, if required)
  • Apprentices will need to complete a minimum of 300 hours of off-the-job training during their apprenticeship

Qualifications included:

  • Level 1 Functional Skills in English and Maths (if required)
  • Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner
  • Level 2 Early Years Practitioner Apprenticeship

End Point Assessment:

  • Knowledge test
  • Professional discussion

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4 (C) or above)
  • Maths (grade 4(C) or above)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Creative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Positive attitude
  • Caring
  • Strong written communication
  • Excellent spoken communication

Other requirements

This role involves spending a significant amount of time outdoors, so you’ll need to be comfortable working in all weather conditions and come prepared with appropriate clothing.

A good level of spoken and written English is a must for this role.

Any new person applying for apprenticeship roles where Abingdon and Witney College deliver the training will be required to complete a series of initial assessments, essential paperwork, and a phone interview to find out more about the apprenticeship process and training. If you would like to talk to us about the assessments or if you would need any extra support to attend the Apprenticeship Assessment and Information Session please call us on 01235 216216.  By applying for this vacancy you are giving Abingdon and Witney College permission to undertake a Learner Record Service check on your previous qualifications. We make every effort to ensure that applicants from non-traditional academic backgrounds or those who may not have the formal GCSE entry requirements can access apprenticeships where possible.  

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) for Apprentices is £8 per hour from April 2026. This applies to 16 - 18 year old apprentices and those aged 19 and over during the first year of their apprenticeship. After this, the National Minimum wage appropriate to their age applies. The Wage for apprentices applies to both time spent on the job plus time spent training.

About this employer

St Thomas Day Nursery is open throughout the year, except for bank holidays and the period between Christmas and New Year, offering full and part-time care for children.

We are currently located in the town centre, within walking distance of the city centre, with regular bus services and close proximity to the railway station. As such, the nursery is best accessed by public transport, cycling or walking.

Please note, we are due to relocate to a new building at St Barnabas School in September 2027.

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

Company benefits

  • Paid Christmas Lunch
  • Pension Scheme
  • Company Sick Pay after qualifying period
  • Small friendly charity run Nursery
  • Opportunity for further training and development

After this apprenticeship

We are committed to supporting the professional development of our apprentices from day one. This is a permanent position, with ongoing training and development opportunities, including the option to progress onto higher-level apprenticeships as you grow within the role.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE

The Apprenticeship Team

apprenticeships@abingdon-witney.ac.uk

01235 216 216

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000035429.

Apply now

Closes in 29 days (Sunday 5 July 2026 at 11:59pm)