Early Years Apprentice - Upper Knapp Farm Day Nursery

UPPER KNAPP FARM (CAM) LIMITED

Cam (GL115JF)

Closes in 24 days (Saturday 31 October 2026)

Posted on 5 October 2026

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Contents

Summary

Join Upper Knapp Farm Day Nursery as an Early Years Apprentice, supporting children’s learning, play and daily routines in a safe, caring environment. You’ll gain hands-on childcare experience while working towards an Early Years qualification with guidance from an experienced nursery team.

Wage

£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
40 hours per week Monday to Friday.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 2 November 2026

Duration

1 year 2 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

  • Upper Knapp Farm Day Nursery, part of The Gardens Nursery Group, is looking for an enthusiastic Early Years Apprentice to join their friendly nursery team in Cam, Gloucestershire. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is passionate about working with young children and wants to begin or develop a career in early years childcare.

    As an apprentice, you will gain hands-on experience in a busy, supportive nursery environment while working towards an Early Years qualification. You will be supported by experienced nursery practitioners who will help you build your confidence, knowledge and practical skills.

    You will help create a safe, caring and stimulating environment where children can learn, play and develop. You will support children with daily routines, take part in activities, and encourage their social, emotional, physical and communication development through play and positive interaction.

    Your duties will include:

    Supporting children’s learning, development and wellbeing through play-based activities
  • Helping to create a safe, welcoming and stimulating nursery environment
  • Assisting with daily routines including mealtimes, rest times, outdoor play and personal care
  • Encouraging children to explore, communicate and build confidence
  • Building positive relationships with children, parents, carers and colleagues
  • Observing children’s progress and sharing information with senior staff
  • Supporting planned activities that meet children’s individual needs and interests
  • Helping to keep play areas, resources and equipment clean, safe and organised
  • Following nursery policies and procedures, including safeguarding, health and safety and confidentiality
  • Working as part of a team and taking part in training, supervision and staff meetings
  • Developing your knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and applying this in practice
  • Demonstrating a caring, reliable and professional approach at all times

The successful candidate will be caring, enthusiastic and keen to learn. Previous experience with children or in a nursery setting would be helpful, but it is not essential. What matters most is that you are reliable, positive, nurturing and committed to developing a career in early years education.

This role would suit someone who enjoys being creative, playful and active, and who can communicate well with children and adults. You should be willing to get involved in all aspects of nursery life and be able to remain calm and professional in a busy environment.

You will work 40 hours per week, with flexibility around the working pattern. This may be across five days or four longer days depending on nursery requirements. The role offers an hourly wage of £8, uniform provision, company pension, Simply Health insurance and between 23 and 33 days’ holiday depending on shift pattern.

This apprenticeship offers the opportunity to gain a full Early Years qualification while developing valuable practical experience. For the right candidate, there may be opportunities to progress within the nursery after successful completion of the apprenticeship.

Where you'll work

Manor Avenue
Cam
GL115JF

Training

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

Training provider

REALISE LEARNING AND EMPLOYMENT 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

Your full role and responsibilities will be set out by your employer. They will provide you with all of the on-the-job training you need to up-skill in your role, and off-the-job training will follow the time allocations outlined in the Occupational Standard and will be incorporated as part of your working day.
You will be working towards the Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship standard, which includes:
• Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours
• Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid or Level 3 Award in Emergency Paediatric First Aid
• Level 2 Functional Skills in maths and English (if required)

This will be delivered by your dedicated training provider, Realise.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • Mathematics (grade 4)
  • English Language (grade 4)

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

Skills

  • caring
  • Communication Skills
  • Creative
  • Friendly
  • Initiative
  • Patience
  • Team working

Other requirements

On-site parking, DBS update service required.

About this employer

Upper Knapp Farm Day Nursery has established an excellent reputation as a warm, welcoming and professional centre for child care amongst the communities we serve in Cam, Dursley and beyond since 1994.

After this apprenticeship

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

Full qualification gained.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

REALISE LEARNING AND EMPLOYMENT LIMITED

Asia Khan

Asia.Khan@realisetraining.com

0333 444 3973

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000057273.

Apply now

Closes in 24 days (Saturday 31 October 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.