Summary
We are seeking a dedicated Early Years Practitioner Apprentice to provide high-quality care for children, supporting their physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development.
Wage
£15,704 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
40-hours per week. Monday - Friday within the hours of 07:30 - 18:00.
40 hours a week
Start date
Thursday 8 May 2025
Duration
1 year 3 months
Positions available
2
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
Ampfield Childcare Hub are on the lookout for a driven and enthusiastic Apprentice Early Years Practitioner to join their team!
Do you have previous experience looking after young family members, or just an interest in being able to support children at the most crucial stages of their lives? This role is ideal for someone just starting out with their journey in Childcare.
As a Nursery Practitioner, you will be integral in fostering a nurturing and stimulating environment for young children. Reporting to the Nursery Manager, your primary responsibilities will include:
* Providing high-quality childcare
* Supporting early childhood education, and effectively communicating with parents and staff
Your passion will be essential in creating engaging activities, by being a team player you will help to enhance team collaboration, and your relevant skills in English and driving will support effective communication and logistics. Join us in shaping the future of our children.
Responsibilities:
* With your staff team, deliver a programme of exciting play opportunities and activities suitable to the age range and developmental needs of the children you are working with which will motivate their learning and integration within the nursery
* To ensure that a caring and stimulating environment is provided for children that takes into account individual developmental needs and enables children to reach their full potential
* Keep well-informed of legislation, guidelines and policies to ensure the Children’s Act and the Early Years Foundation Stage Welfare Requirements are met at all times
* To have a good understanding of all the nursery’s policies and procedures and ensure you adhere to them at all times
* Support all staff and engage in the development of a strong, knowledgeable staff team
* To be flexible within working practices of 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.
* Work alongside the manager and staff team to ensure that the philosophy behind the nursery is fulfilled
* Ensure children are collected by someone known to the nursery
* To ensure compliance with legislative requirements at all times
* To ensure that the nursery conforms to and exceeds the requirements of Ofsted
* To ensure that the nursery consistently meets the requirements set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage to a minimum good standard
* To uphold and ensure a high standard of care in the nursery
* To help and support students/volunteers on placement
* To implement and maintain the company’s equality policy ensuring that children, parents and the staff team are valued, and practice is positive and non-discriminatory
* To monitor any safeguarding issues following nursery and local authority procedures
The key dates are to be used as a guide only. Should the right candidate be found, this vacancy may close early.
Where you’ll work
Deer Park
Southampton
SO21 2LD
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
LIFETIME TRAINING GROUP LIMITED
Your training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Equal to GCSE
Course contents
* Support babies and young children through a range of transitions.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 work setting and during off site visits.relating to both children and staff
* Demonstrate skills and understanding for the prevention and control of infection, including hand washing, food preparation and hygiene, dealing with spillages safely, safe disposal of waste, using correct personal protective equipment.
* Use equipment, furniture and materials safely, following the manufacturers’ instructions and setting’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 settings by encouraging babies and young children to consume healthy and balanced 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/complimentary feeding), nappy changing procedures, potty/toilet training, care of skin, teeth and hair and rest and sleep provision.
* Communicate with all children in ways that will be understood, including 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 communication methods to exchange information with children and adults.
* Work with colleagues to identify and plan enabling environments, activities (both indoors and outdoors), play opportunities and educational programmes (both adult led and child initiated) 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, sharing results accurately and confidentially in line with expected statutory framework and setting’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 assessment, planning, implementation and reviewing (the graduated approach) 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, mentoring and/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 and/or carers and recognise their role in the baby’s/child’s health, well-being, learning and development.
* Encourage parents and/or carers to take an active role in the baby’s/child’s care, play, learning and development.
* Demonstrate how to share information with parents/carers about the importance of healthy balanced diets, looking after teeth and being physically active.
* Support babies and young children through a range of transitions.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 work setting and during off site visits.relating to both children and staff
* Demonstrate skills and understanding for the prevention and control of infection, including hand washing, food preparation and hygiene, dealing with spillages safely, safe disposal of waste, using correct personal protective equipment.
* Use equipment, furniture and materials safely, following the manufacturers’ instructions and setting’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 settings by encouraging babies and young children to consume healthy and balanced 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/complimentary feeding), nappy changing procedures, potty/toilet training, care of skin, teeth and hair and rest and sleep provision.
* Communicate with all children in ways that will be understood, including 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 communication methods to exchange information with children and adults.
* Work with colleagues to identify and plan enabling environments, activities (both indoors and outdoors), play opportunities and educational programmes (both adult led and child initiated) 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, sharing results accurately and confidentially in line with expected statutory framework and setting’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 assessment, planning, implementation and reviewing (the graduated approach) 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, mentoring and/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 and/or carers and recognise their role in the baby’s/child’s health, well-being, learning and development.
* Encourage parents and/or carers to take an active role in the baby’s/child’s care, play, learning and development.
* Demonstrate how to share information with parents/carers about the importance of healthy balanced diets, looking after teeth and being physically active.
Your training plan
What's involved as part of the apprenticeship?
* You will be assigned an expert Lifetime Training coach to support you throughout your apprenticeship journey, with regular face to face and virtual catch ups every 4-6 weeks
* You will work towards your Early Years Practitioner Level 2 apprenticeship qualification over the course of 12-18 months
* A hands-on approach to learning and structured training plan delivered at your place of work without the expectation to attend college
* Dedicated time each week to focus on your learning
Requirements
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Communication skills
* Organisation skills
* Customer care skills
* Team working
* Patience