Level 2 Early Years Practitioner Apprenticeship
CATERPILLARS NURSERY.CO.UK LTD
Wolverhampton (WV8 2EH)
Closes in 23 days (Monday 2 November 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 9 October 2026
Contents
Summary
Are you passionate about working with children, creative, caring and ready to learn? Join the team and start your career in Early Years! You’ll gain valuable hands-on experience working alongside experienced practitioners and have the opportunity to develop the skills and confidence you need for a rewarding career in childcare.
- 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)
Under 19: £8.00 per hour
Aged 19 or over and in your first year: £8.00 per hour
Aged 19 or over and completed your first year: You receive the standard National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage for your age group:
Aged 18 to 20: £10.85 per hour
Aged 21 and over: £12.71 per hour
- Training course
- Early years practitioner (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday between 7.00am and 6.00pm (set days).
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 16 November 2026
- Duration
-
1 year
- 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
- Supporting children aged 0-5 years with their care, learning and development
- Building positive, caring relationships with children and helping them feel safe, happy and confident
- Taking part in fun, creative activities such as arts and crafts, messy play, music, stories, outdoor play and sensory experiences
- Supporting children's learning through play and exploration
- Helping children develop their communication, language and social skills
- Supporting children's everyday routines, including mealtimes, personal care, toileting and sleep routines
- Getting involved in planning activities based on children's individual interests and needs
- Observing children's development and contributing to their learning journeys
- Creating a safe, welcoming and stimulating environment for children to learn and have fun
- Working closely with your team and learning from experienced Early Years practitioners
- Developing positive relationships with parents and carers
- Learning about and following important areas such as safeguarding, health and safety, safer eating and safer sleeping
- Completing your apprenticeship training and putting your new knowledge and skills into practice
Where you'll work
3
Chapel Lane
Codsall
Wolverhampton
WV8 2EH
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
JUNIPER TRAINING LIMITED
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
Level 2 Early Years Practitioner apprenticeship (or Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship for those with experience.
Support with English and Maths skills gaps.
Work based learning.
End point assessment.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Patience
- Friendly and approachable
- Willingness to learn and grow
- Positive attitude
- Kind and caring nature
- Reliable and punctual
Other requirements
Enhanced DBS check is required (please advise if you already hold one and are on the update service).
About this employer
Caterpillars Day Nursery is a well-established, family-run nursery with over 20 years of experience providing high-quality childcare and early education. We have one setting in the local area of Codsall and pride ourselves on creating a fun, nurturing and supportive environment where children can learn, grow and thrive. We are passionate about our children, families and staff team, and are committed to providing excellent care and opportunities for everyone within our Caterpillars family.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
A full time position will be offered upon successful completion of the apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
JUNIPER TRAINING LIMITED
Diane Jones
diane.jones@junipertraining.co.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000058194.
Apply now
Closes in 23 days (Monday 2 November 2026 at 11:59pm)