Early Years Practitioner Apprentice

The Olive Tree Nursery

Somerset (TA6 5HT)

Closes on Sunday 1 June 2025

Posted on 28 April 2025


Summary

Start your childcare career with an Early Years Practitioner Apprenticeship at The Olive Tree Nursery. You'll support children's development through high-quality care and engaging play, following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). A brilliant opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a warm, supportive setting.

Wage

£14,526.20 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Hours
From Monday to Friday, there is the opportunity to do overtime.

37 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 9 September 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

  • Support a safe, stimulating environment that meets the needs of all children
  • Work closely with professionals like Health Visitors and SEN services
  • Be flexible with hours when needed and support staff cover
  • Taking part in team discussions and room planning meetings
  • Follow key nursery policies, especially safeguarding and health & safety
  • Supporting colleagues across roles, from SENDCo to the kitchen team
  • Building positive, respectful relationships with families and staff
  • Attending regular training to boost the knowledge and confidence
     

Where you’ll work

Westonzoyland Road
Bridgwater
Somerset
TA6 5HT

Training

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

College or training organisation

BRIDGWATER AND TAUNTON COLLEGE

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

This training plan 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 3-9)
  • Maths (grade 3-9)

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
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

About this company

The Olive Tree Nursery in Bridgwater will provide your child with an excellent start to their education. Committed, experienced staff, nutritious food, and a stimulating learning experience ensure your child's best start in life. This is what you can expect from The Olive Tree Nursery and we’d love to show you around our nursery.

After this apprenticeship

Early Years Practitioner (Qualified Level 2)
You’ll be qualified to work as a practitioner in nurseries, pre-schools, or reception classes, supporting children’s learning and development.

Next Steps in Career Progression:
Early Years Educator (Level 3 Apprenticeship)
This is a natural next step. It deepens your knowledge and qualifies you to take more responsibility, including being a key worker for children and leading activities.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BRIDGWATER AND TAUNTON COLLEGE

Tash Astill

info@theolivetreenursery.co.uk

01278 457581

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000317052.

Apply now

Closes on Sunday 1 June 2025

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.