Apprenticeship Early Years Practitioner

ST AIDAN'S DAY NURSERY LIMITED

DONCASTER, DN2 5NH

Closes in 21 days (Sunday 16 March at 11:59pm)

Posted on 19 February 2025


Summary

The Apprentice Early Years Practitioner will be responsible to the Nursery Management Team. You will provide a safe, caring and stimulating environment in which children are nurtured and can play and develop. You will also ensure the effective implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Monday – Friday, shifts to be confirmed.

30 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 31 March

Duration

1 year

Positions available

2

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

General Responsibilities

  • To maintain and take guidance from appropriate policies, procedures and systems ensuring the educational, social, physical, emotional, health and welfare needs of the children are always met.
  • To develop a good knowledge of the Education Programme based on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and take support from the Early Years Team Supervisor in using children's interests and developmental needs to deliver effective activities which stimulate and extend children’s learning.
  • To become involved in the role of Key Person, with support from the Early Years Team Supervisor to complete effective assessments and recording systems.
  • To demonstrate care and sensitivity toward children and families within the facility.
  • To provide an environment that is safe, stimulating, and challenging.
  • To safeguard and promote the welfare of children and everyone who comes into contact with children and their families.
  • To maintain all necessary records to meet internal, DMBC and OFSTED requirements.
  • To take an active role in the promotion of excellent health and safety practices.  To respond effectively to any health and safety issues that may arise and report any necessary matters.
  • To assist in the admission and induction of new children, including conducting baseline assessments with parents, completing comprehensive settling in profiles, and liaising with other professionals as necessary.
  • To participate in training and staff meetings as directed by the Manager.
  • To perform any other duties commensurate with the general nature of the position requested by the Manager.

Specific Responsibilities

  • To take an active involvement in the daily routine and support the children in their play, considering the age and stage of development of the children within your care, in line with the guidance within the EYFS, as specified by the Team Supervisor/Key Person.
  • To always ensure the safety of all children and implement the setting’s safeguarding procedures when required.
  • To support the service of mealtime provision for the children, taking consideration of individual dietary requirements and to maintain a pleasant and social environment during service.
  • To ensure that high standards of hygiene, cleanliness and safety are always maintained.  This includes daily cleaning rotas, record keeping activities and any other reasonable duty outlined by your senior or management.
  •  To ensure that the well-being of each child is maintained, with any concerns reported to the nursery management in relation to illness or injury which requires action.
  • To begin to develop professional partnerships with parents and carers to ensure that a joint partnership of working is adopted in order to share relevant information regarding each child.
  • To ensure that all children’s needs are met to the highest of standards, taking into consideration their individual requirements such as medical needs, SEN and behaviour
  • To always work professionally in order to maintain the reputation of the setting both internally and externally both during and outside of your working hours.
  • To be flexible in your operational deployment throughout the entire nursery age ranges, as specified by the nursery management in line with nursery requirements
  • To maintain confidentiality in relation to all matters surrounding the children and families in your care.
  • To develop a sound knowledge of the Nursery and Trust policies and procedures and operate respectfully according to the guidelines.

Where you’ll work

10 ADLARD ROAD

WHEATLEY HILLS

DONCASTER

DN2 5NH

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

DN COLLEGES GROUP

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

Training will be at Doncaster College where you will access a wide range of facilities on offer. 

  • Day release 
  • You will undertake the Early Years Practitioner Level 2 standard
  • Early years practitioner / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education
  • You will undertake Functional Skills for English and/or Maths if needed   

You will undertake both on and off-the-job training by a team of industry qualified professionals to give you the best skills, knowledge and experience that will help you become a childcare professional of the future! 

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

  • Maths and English (grade Grade C/4 and above)

Other in:

  • Childcare (grade Level 1 or Level 2)

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
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

You must be able to travel to and from work and college. Apprentices are paid for their normal working hours and training that's part of their apprenticeship (usually one day per week). The Apprenticeship National Minimum Wage guide is updated every April (ANMW): https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates

About this company

At St Aidan's Nursery we provide a safe, secure and nurturing environment, an environment that provides opportunities for exploration, creativity and fun. The diverse needs of our children are met by a highly committed and professional staff who have both experience and theoretical knowledge of the early years foundation stage. Plans are based on individual children’s interests, needs and stage of development, identified by qualified professionals through observations, and through working closely with parents and each other. Our daily activities and routines make full use of both our indoor and outdoor facilities which includes an all weather outdoor play area and vegetable plot.

https://www.staidansdaynursery.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Successful completion of the apprenticeship could lead to a higher-level apprenticeship or full-time employment for the right candidate.

We would look at supporting the right candidate through their childcare apprenticeships from level 2 all the way up to level 5.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

DN COLLEGES GROUP

Edward Corsi

edward.corsi@don.ac.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000304885.

Apply now

Closes in 21 days (Sunday 16 March at 11:59pm)

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