CC33 EARLY YEARS APPRENTICE at Little Explorers Nursery Limited

Summary

To deliver a high standard of learning, development and care for children aged 0-5 years. To ensure that the nursery is a safe environment for children, staff and others. 

Wage

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

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Training course

Early years practitioner (level 2)

Hours

Working hours are full time, Monday to Friday, 40 hours, on a shift basis.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 7 September 2026

Duration

1 year 3 months

Positions available

3

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

Responsible to: Senior Nursery Manager/ Deputy Nursery Manager

Job Summary:

• To deliver a high standard of learning, development and care for children aged 0-5 years
• To ensure that the nursery is a safe environment for children, staff and others
• To be responsible for any tasks delegated by the Early Years Practitioners, Room Leaders and Senior Managers
• To complete all academic aspects of the apprenticeship.

Key Responsibilities:

• To provide a safe, caring, stimulating environment, both indoors and outdoors, at all times
• To deliver an appropriate play-based Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum that enables children to make individual progress
• To help ensure the nursery meets Ofsted requirements at all times
• To understand and work to nursery policies and procedures, including how to deal with child protection issues appropriately and how to respond to incidents, accidents, complaints and emergencies
• To plan activities which ensure each child is working towards the early learning outcomes/ developments
• To report incidents to a member of staff to ensure records are properly maintained, e.g. accident and incident book, risk assessments
• To be involved in any overall nursery activities (including out of working hours activities) e.g. training, monthly staff meetings, parents evenings, fundraising events etc
• To be flexible within working practices of the nursery. Be prepared to help where needed, including to undertake certain domestic jobs within the nursery, e.g. preparation of snack meals, cleansing of equipment etc.
• To respect the confidentiality of all information received
• Supervision of meals and mealtimes, and where appropriate, preparation of babies' bottles, ensuring individual meal/milk requirements are met and ensure mealtimes are a time of pleasant social sharing
• To be aware of the high profile of the nursery and to uphold its standards at all times, both within work hours and outside
• Remain professional at all times with direct and indirect communication
• To undertake any other reasonable duties as directed, in accordance with the nursery aims and objectives
• To participate in any training relevant to the role.

Additional Information:

• Apprentices, as with all other nursery employees, must undertake an enhanced DBS prior to commencing employment.
• Apprentices must provide 2 referees on application.

The nursery will ensure that all apprentices receive a minimum of 20% off-the-job training and/or experience, to support their studies.

Working hours are full-time, Monday to Friday, 40 hours, on a shift basis.

Annual leave entitlement is 28 days a year, which includes all Bank Holidays. The nursery is open between Christmas and New Year.

Where you'll work

Chorley Business & Technology Centre
East Terrace, Euxton Lane, Euxton
Chorley
PR7 6TE

Training

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

Training provider

RUNSHAW COLLEGE

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

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English & Maths (grade A*-D / 9-3)

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

Skills

• Communication skills
• Customer care skills
• Patience

Other requirements

Additional Information

Apprentices, as with all other nursery employees, must undertake an enhanced DBS prior to commencing employment.

Apprentices must provide 2 referees, on application.

The nursery will ensure that all apprentices receive a minimum of 20% off-the-job training and/or experience, to support their studies.

Working hours are full-time, Monday to Friday, 40 hours, on a shift basis.
Annual leave entitlement is 28 days a year, which includes all Bank Holidays. The nursery is open between Christmas and New Year.