Nursery Practitioner Apprenticeship

Summary

The role of the Nursery Practitioner is to effectively support the day-to day running of the nursery with support of the nursery management team and to deliver the highest standards of care and education. We are committed to equality and celebrating diversity through love.

Wage

£14,133.60 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

It can be increased in the second year.

Training course

Early years educator (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm, shifts, may work evenings and weekends.

36 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 13 October 2026

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

• Promote high standards of quality within the nursery in respect of the environment, resources and experiences offered to children
• To ensure a high standard of physical, emotional, social and intellectual care and development for children placed in the Day Nursery
• Ensure that all children attending the nursery receive rich and stimulating experiences appropriate to their age and stage of development
• Ensure that practice and provision in the nursery meets the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage
• Ensure that you follow Safeguarding Procedures, when necessary and children are kept safe
• Promote and facilitate partnerships with parents/carers and other family members
• Support the development of good practice with regards to special needs and inclusion
• Delivering the EYFS; ensure that provision in the nursery meets the requirements of the local Tower Hamlets Early Years in relation to nursery education grant funding for two-, three- and four-year-old children
• Create and maintain a culture of self-evaluation and reflective practice
• Ensure the health and safety of the children, their parents and carers, the team and any visitors to the nursery

Adhere to all health and safety policies and procedures:

• Be fully aware of all emergency and security procedures
• Facilitate inspections by regulatory bodies and implement any recommendations
• Support with fulfilling occupancy targets
• Support Nursery Assistants, Volunteers and Apprentices to ensure delivery of high-quality childcare practice
• Develop open and positive working relationships with staff
• Support peers in delivering good practice and evaluating their day-to-day workings
• Proactively represent the Company and advance its interests in the local community
• Promote the nursery to current parents and potential customers
  Ensure that you develop and maintain friendly and professional relationships with parents and carers
• Ensuring that all complaints and concerns are taken seriously and acted upon in a timely manner and reported to the Deputy and Nursery Manager

Adhere to all Company policies and procedures:

Undertake any other duties as reasonably requested by line management

Where you'll work

21 Burdett Road Mile End
London
E3 4TU

Training

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

Training provider

WALTHAM FOREST COLLEGE

Training course

Early years educator (level 3)

What you'll learn

• 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

Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard:

• Waltham Forest College - 707 Forest Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 4JB
• 1 day a week
• On-site training

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4)
• Maths (grade 4)

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
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Physical fitness

Other requirements

passing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check