Apprentice Nursery Practitioner (childcare early years)

Summary
North Curry Primary School (part of the Richard Huish Trust) are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, flexible and adaptable apprentice Nursery Practitioner.
Wage
£15,851 a year

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)

Hours
4 days a week, all year round.
38 hours a week

Start date
Tuesday 19 January 2027

Duration
1 year 6 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
Working in a nursery is a rewarding role where every day is different. You'll support children's learning and development, help create a safe and engaging environment, and work closely with families and colleagues to ensure every child thrives. This apprenticeship is ideal for someone who is caring, enthusiastic, and passionate about supporting young children's growth and development.
You will support the nursery team to create a safe, welcoming, and stimulating environment where children can learn, play, and develop. Daily responsibilities will include supporting children's learning through planned activities, helping with personal care routines, and encouraging positive relationships and healthy development.
Key duties include:
Supporting children's learning and development in line with the EYFS framework.
Planning and delivering engaging age-appropriate activities.
Observing children's progress and contributing to learning records.
Building positive relationships with children, parents, and carers.
Assisting with children's daily routines, including hygiene, mealtimes, and personal care.
Supporting children to develop independence, confidence, and social skills.

You'll help ensure the nursery remains a safe and nurturing environment for all children, following all safeguarding, health and safety, and hygiene procedures.
Key responsibilities include:
Maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene throughout the nursery.
Supporting safe food preparation and mealtime routines.
Following safeguarding and child protection procedures at all times.
Recording accidents, incidents, and administering first aid or medication where appropriate.
Ensuring children's individual needs, dietary requirements, and allergies are met.
Where you'll work
Greenway
North Curry
Taunton

TA3 6NQ

Training provider

UNIVERSITY CENTRE SOMERSET COLLEGE GROUP

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
This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
English (grade 4/C or above or equivalent)
Maths (grade 4/C or above or equivalent)
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
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Administrative skills
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Patience
Other requirements
Passing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check,
References
Right to work check