Summary
A Level 2 Childcare apprentice is required. You will work full time at your nursery setting as a nursery assistant, gaining your practical experience. This will involve a range of activities from arts and crafts to singing and outdoor play.
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
Mon-Fri between 8am-6pm, includes 1 hour unpaid lunch.
40 hours a week
Start date
Saturday 2 August 2025
Duration
1 year 3 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
Duties:
* Maintain accurate and effective children’s records
* Respond appropriately to issues requiring confidentiality
* Support, promote and implement policies relating to diversity and equality
* Work well as part of a team
* Work with the team to ensure the smooth running of the nursery day
* Work in partnership with parents
* Attend parent events and meetings as required.
Where you’ll work
Chalkhouse Childrens Services Ltd
Kerak (Blossom Hill)
Kidmore End
Reading
RG4 9AS
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
CHILTERN TRAINING 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
* Level 2 Early Years Practitioner
* You will attend college once a month.
* Functional Skills in English and maths if required.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
* English (grade 3)
* Maths (grade 3)
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
* Problem solving skills
* Team working
* Creative
* Initiative
* Patience
* Caring
Other requirements
Childcare is not about playing with babies all day. There will be a variety of activities to plan and deliver each day. You may have key children that you look after and will have to communicate with staff, children, managers and parents at the nursery. There will be a lot of cleaning to do and you may have to work long hours, although this will vary with each employer. It is hard work but it is very rewarding.