Apprentice Early Years Practitioner

Little Owls Nursery

Leeds (10 available locations)

Closes in 23 days (Friday 11 September 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 18 August 2026

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Summary

An exciting opportunity to support the provision of a stimulating and effective Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, which will enhance children’s emotional, social, physical and intellectual development. To support the provision of high quality child care that meets the professional inspection standards.

Wage

£24,480 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

There are a number apprenticeship opportunities available at centres throughout the city: Locations include

·       2 × Term Time Only (TTO) contracts – Osmondthorpe and City & Holbeck.

·       10 × All Year Round (AYR) contracts – Meanwood, Hawkswood, Middleton, Seacroft, New Bewerley, Burley, Harehills, Chapeltown, Swarcliffe and Two Willows.

Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Total Weekly Working Hours: 37 (7.5 hours per day) Working Days: Monday to Friday. Term time only and all year round posts are available dependent on centre

37 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 7 January 2027

Duration

1 year

Positions available

12

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

  • To support the team to provide high quality care and education for all children and support for families
  • To support the team to provide a broad and balanced Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum that will meet the requirements of relevant national and local standards
  • To learn how to follow Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and the Early Support Programme for children with Special Educational needs (SEN) and implement that learning in the workplace
  • To learn to observe and monitor children’s development and contribute to written reports of their progress and to implement that learning in the workplace
  • To maintain client confidentiality
  • To report any injury or accident ensuring that health and safety of the individual is maintained
  • To follow the process for reporting any suspicious or suspected non-accidental injury complying with Departmental Child Protection Procedures in line with Local Safeguarding Children Board Procedures (West Yorkshire Consortium Procedure Manual)
  • To refer parents and families for support where necessary
  • If necessary, to take responsibility for a group of children during any building evacuation
  • To support the team to provide educational visits for children and families, observing Health and Safety policies
  • To understand and support Leeds City Council and Departmental Policies including these on Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety
  • To undertake other duties commensurate to the post or grade as required by the Department
  • To undertake the accountabilities of the post in accordance with Council policies including the Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety policies

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:

  • Little Owls Burley Park, St Matthias' Street, Burley, Leeds, LS4 2DZ
  • Little Owls Meanwood, Potternewton View, Leeds, LS7 2DW
  • Little Owls Nursery Harehills, Cowper Terrace, Harehills, Leeds, LS9 7BA
  • Little Owls Nursery Hawksworth Wood, Broadway, Kirkstall, Leeds, LS5 3PS
  • Little Owls Nursery Meanwood, Potternewton View, Leeds, LS7 2DW
  • Little Owls Nursery Middleton Laurel Bank, 100 Middleton Park Avenue, Leeds, LS10 4HY
  • Little Owls Nursery New Bewerley, Bismarck Drive, Leeds, LS11 6TB
  • 129 Rookwood Road, Leeds, LS9 0LX
  • South Parkway, Leeds, LS14 6EP
  • Cardinal Square, Leeds, LS11 8HS

Training

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

Training provider

LUMINATE EDUCATION GROUP

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

The Level 2 Apprenticeship is delivered in partnership with the workplace, you will be expected to attend college 1 day every month, where you will gain knowledge and understanding of  working within the early years sector. You will develop skills on the job where you will be supported by a workplace mentor.

An Assessor from Leeds City College will visit you on a regular basis to support your learning journey.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 9-4)
  • Maths (grade 9-4)

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
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

  • There will be regular lifting and handling of children
  • There will be regular Lifting and moving of play equipment
  • The post holder will be required to kneel, sit on the floor or bend down to low levels in order to effectively interact with children

About this employer

Leeds City Council Children's Services Directorate operates 19 Little Owls nurseries across Leeds, offering both full-day care and term-time-only provision. The Council has been providing high-quality early years education and childcare for more than 20 years and is committed to apprenticeships as a key route into employment and career development.

The entry-level role of Apprentice Childcare Assistant has been designed to provide applicants with the opportunity to gain practical experience of working in an early years setting while studying towards a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner qualification. Throughout the apprenticeship, apprentices will develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to support children's learning and development in a high-quality childcare environment.

On successful completion of the 13-month apprenticeship, apprentices will be guaranteed an interview for the post of Nursery Assistant. Successful candidates are expected to progress into permanent roles within Little Owls nurseries across Leeds, with opportunities for further training and career progression.

Little Owls nurseries serve local communities and are closely linked to Children's Centres. This makes them distinct from many private and voluntary sector childcare providers, as they support a diverse range of families, including working parents, children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and some of the city's most vulnerable children and families. Many of the Council's nurseries are located within inner-city communities, enabling them to provide accessible, inclusive and community-focused early years services.

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

Apprenticeship level 3

Early Years Assistant

At the end of the apprenticeship, the successful candidate may be offered the opportunity to progress within the setting.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

LUMINATE EDUCATION GROUP

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000048646.

Apply now

Closes in 23 days (Friday 11 September 2026 at 11:59pm)