Trainee Early Years Educator Apprentice

Summary

An Early Years apprenticeship is more than just gaining a qualification. It’s an opportunity to gain real workplace experience, develop professionally and make a genuine difference to the lives of children.

Start your Early Years career with Bright Little Stars and earn, learn and grow with us.

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Wage

£17,493 a year

If selected Option 2: 30 hours, Mon-Fri, shifts set 9am-3:30pm for 1st year, then 2nd year will increase to 40 hours.

Training course

Early years practitioner (level 2)

Hours

Option 1: 40 hours, Monday - Friday, shifts rotating 8.00am - 5.00pm/9.00am - 6.00pm. Option 2: 30 hours, Monday - Fridsy, shifts set 9.00am - 3:30pm for 1st year, then 2nd year will increase to 40 hours.

40 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 30 September 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

• Welcome children and help them settle into the setting
• Support children during play and learning activities
• Set up age-appropriate games, activities and resources
• Encourage children’s communication, confidence and social skills
• Support indoor and outdoor play
• Help with creative activities such as painting, music and messy play
• Assist with snack and mealtimes
• Support children with personal care and hygiene routines
• Supervise children and help maintain a safe environment
• Observe children and share information about their development with colleagues
• Help keep rooms, equipment and resources clean and organised
• Work as part of the Early Years team
• Communicate appropriately with parents, carers and colleagues
• Follow safeguarding, health and safety and setting procedures
• Complete training, observations and apprenticeship learning as part of the working day

Where you'll work

177 Leicester Road
Barnet
EN5 5EB

Training

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

Training provider

HAWK MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED

Training course

Early years practitioner (level 2)

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

• Training will take place mainly in the apprentice’s workplace, supported by their training provider.
• The apprentice will complete a combination of workplace training, online learning, tutor support and practical learning activities.
• Training will take place during the apprentice’s normal working hours and will include dedicated time for apprenticeship learning and development.
• The apprentice will have regular meetings with their tutor/training provider to review progress, complete learning activities and prepare for their assessment.
• Training and development will take place throughout the apprenticeship, alongside the apprentice’s day-to-day role.

More training information

Further information about the training provider

• The apprentice will be supported by an experienced, approved apprenticeship training provider.
• The training provider will deliver the Level 2 Early Years Practitioner apprenticeship through a combination of tutor support, online learning, workplace learning and practical activities.
• The apprentice will have regular contact with their tutor to review progress, receive feedback and identify any additional support required.
• The training provider will work closely with the employer and apprentice to ensure the training supports the apprentice’s role and development within the early years setting.
• How the training course will be structured
  The apprentice will complete their training alongside their normal day-to-day role in the workplace.
• Learning will cover the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to work effectively as an Early Years Practitioner.
• The apprentice will complete planned learning activities, assignments and workplace tasks to develop and demonstrate their skills.
• Regular tutor reviews and progress meetings will take place throughout the programme.
• The apprentice will build a portfolio of evidence through their day-to-day work, observations and learning activities.
• Training will include preparation for the End-Point Assessment, where the apprentice will demonstrate their knowledge and practical skills.

Requirements

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
• Team working
• Creative

Other requirements

You will be required to complete and pass an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before working with children.
You must be willing to complete any safeguarding and background checks required by the employer.

You must be willing to complete the required apprenticeship training and assessments alongside your workplace duties.

A 5-week paid trial period may be used to help identify your strengths, learning needs and the type of apprenticeship support that will suit you best. Where applicable, you will then be matched with a suitable apprenticeship training provider.