Summary
If you’ve finished GCSEs or A Levels and looking for your first step on the career ladder, a role in childcare means you can gain qualifications as you work. Our Nursery Practitioner Apprentice role at Cedars Day Nursery provides a stimulating, safe and caring environment for all children, promoting equality and diversity at all times.
Wage
£16,640 a year
Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday (shifts agreed at offer stage)
40 hours a week
Start date
Monday 27 October 2025
Duration
1 year 2 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
At Cedars Day Nursery and Pre-School we believe it takes a village to raise a child and it takes a nursery to complete the village.
As a Nursery Practitioner Apprentice, your main responsibilities will include:
As an Early Years Apprentice, you will study towards either a Level 2 or 3 Early Years Practitioner.
Duties include:
As an Early Years Apprentice, you will study towards either a Level 2 or 3 Early Years Practitioner
Duties include:
* Plan and carry out child initiated and adult led play activities supporting children’s individual needs and interests
* Provide play activities which encourage and promote children’s numeracy, literacy and language development
* Undertake the role of the key person to help children feel safe, secure and valued
* Carries out observations and use these effectively to understand the changing needs of their individual key children and plan for the interests in line with the early years foundation stage
* Carry out care routines such as nappy changing, toileting, hand washing and feeding routines with care, respect and compassion
* Work in partnership with other professionals, parents, colleagues and children to meet the individual needs of children
* Ensure the welfare, well-being and safety of children is promoted and report safeguarding issues and concerns to the person in charge
* Take an active part in the completion of their apprenticeship, meeting deadlines set by their trainer assessor and working with the dedicated mentor to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours
* Work in a non-discriminatory way to ensure all children have equal access to opportunities
In return for hard work and dedication we offer:
* Staff welfare ethos
* Stamp cards
* Bike to work scheme
* Childcare discount
* Development opportunities
Where you'll work
Church Road
RG7 4LR
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
REALISE LEARNING AND EMPLOYMENT LIMITED
Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
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
Your full role and responsibilities will be set out by your employer. They will provide you with all of the on-the-job training you need to up-skill in your role, and your 20% off-the-job learning will be incorporated as part of your working day
You will be working towards the Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship standard, which includes:
* Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours
* Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator
* Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid or Level 3 Award in Emergency Paediatric First Aid
* Level 2 Functional Skills in maths and English (if required)
This will be delivered by your dedicated training provider, Realise.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
Maths and English GCSE (grade Grade 3)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Attention to detail
* Communication Skills
* Creative
* Non judgemental
* Organisation skills
* Patience
Other requirements
You will need to complete an enhanced DBS.