Apprentice Nursery Assistant

Summary

You are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the children in your care. The children’s needs must always be your first consideration, and your highest priority must be to provide a safe, secure, caring and stimulating environment, whilst also ensuring that you meet the developmental needs of each individual child.

Wage

£15,808 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

This is starting above NMW for apprentices.

Training course

Early years practitioner (level 2)

Hours

Monday to Friday. Total 38 hours to include 6 hours towards your dedicated learning.

38 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

1 year

Positions available

3

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

Understand and be committed to safeguarding and whistle blowing and to put the safety and welfare of the children first
Treat each child as a unique individual and to ensure that every child is valued and cherished as an individual and that their developmental needs are met
Be a proactive member of staff who provides a safe stimulating and inclusive environment and are supported and encouraged to achieve their full potential
Provide a welcoming environment for all nursery users
Maintain confidentiality about all issues related to children and their families, safeguarding and GDPR policies
Ensure that the nursery is supportive of the EYFS and activities promote the children’s learning and development needs
Work with parents, carers and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that all children are treated with equal respect
Be welcoming and fully accepting of any children, parents or carers with additional needs or requirements
Provide a warm, safe, welcoming and stimulating environment for the children in accordance with the policies and procedures of the nursery
Be responsible for ensuring that the children’s environment is safe and hygienic
Keep detailed and accurate records, including progress reports, observations and accident/incidents reports on the children as required by the policies and procedures
Be an effective key person to those children assigned to you and to take on other assigned responsibilities
Ensure that opportunities for learning and play outdoors are taken and to have suitable outdoor clothing to play in all weathers
Promote health and wellbeing including the benefits of healthy eating, exercise and personal hygiene
Wherever possible be aware of the emotional and welfare needs of your colleagues and take these into consideration or bring them to the attention of a more senior member of staff
Ensure you always act professionally and set the best example possible with regard to office politics and diffusing gossip and taking any matters to management as necessary
You must be committed to providing the highest standard of care at all times
You must be committed to undertake further training and attend additional courses to constantly improve your skills and update your knowledge to allow you to do your job well
You must be committed to continuous professional self-development, and you must be willing to carry out the study, reading and research required for you to do your job to the best of your ability. This should include nursery practice, activities and developmental stages relevant to your age group as well as the skills required for all modern nursery practitioners to ensure inclusion and the care of children with special educational needs
You must be committed to the nursery always acting in a professional manner and respecting the ethos of the nursery and upholding its good name whilst at work and outside of work
You must understand, follow, and contribute to the execution, monitoring and review of all policies and procedures of the nursery and strive at all times to work towards continuous improvement and excellence
You must understand the respect and need for consistency of care for the children. This includes reporting for work on time, maintaining regular attendance
You may be required to attend meetings outside of nursery hours, these may include staff meetings and parents’ evenings, or special events as required. This is an essential and mandatory part of your role, but consideration will be made to outside commitments where possible
You may be required to provide staff cover within the group. This is an essential and mandatory part of your role, but consideration will be made to travelling in terms of time and cost

Where you’ll work

Aldwick Close
Farnborough
GU14 8FH

Training

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

College or training organisation

C.M.S. VOCATIONAL 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 Apprenticeship Standard
Functional skills in maths and English (if required)
All training will be delivered on-line with 1:1 tutor support and independent learning
Delivered via live Zoom meetings, days to be discussed

More training information

Delivered via live Zoom meetings, days to be discussed with line manager and tutor.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Math’s and English GCSE’s (grade C/4 or above)

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
Number skills
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Physical fitness
Reliable
Flexible

Other requirements

Ensure you can travel on a daily basis. We may be able to start the learner earlier than September.

About this company

Pebbles Day Nursery has been part of Naturally Curious Childcare since 2011. Currently we can look after children from three months until they leave for school after their fourth birthday. We have three main playrooms at the setting, including baby unit. Pebbles Day Nursery follows the Curiosity Approach method of teaching and learning, the nursery is filled with open end resources to inspire and make little minds inquisitive to the wider world. The homely 12 place baby room is fully equipped to deal with everything the under twos can (quite literally at times) throw at us. With staff ratios of 3:1 it’s a safe and peaceful environment that enables learning opportunities and positive relationships for all. Practitioners use what they have known about the children to plan learning invitations to entice your children covering all areas of learning such as adventurous play promoting physical development, personal, social and emotional development plus the skills to stay safe and manage appropriate risks. Provocations are provided to encourage learning opportunities and extend the children’s knowledge and understanding. Resources and equipment are often changed to promote curiosity and imagination to explore the environment around them becoming confident little people. We love to get creative with a wide range of paints, sand, water and other art materials so please dress your child for mess on a nursery day. School readiness is a key part in our early year’s environment - school readiness is known as something that a child should be achieving before starting reception. As early years educators we have an important role to play in supporting and promoting school readiness and transitions. Sometimes we feel pressure to get our children 'school ready' but most children will gain the important characteristics and skills to transaction to school within our approach. It's not all about writing their names or counting up to 10 but providing children with confidence and high self-esteem which is embedded in them through allowing them to lead their own play, become engaged, ask questions, build friendships, investigate and become independent. Do they understand how to stay safe? What acceptable behaviour is? Do they understand their actions have consequences? Will they take turns and share with one another? Can they actively learn, confidently share ideas and critically think? These are some of the vital skills that will ensure your children progress well at school and become confident learners. We, of course cover areas such as literacy and maths but in an interesting, inspiring way. Our children are all amazing, unique and individual people, so let’s allow them to learn in their own way empowering them to be creative and confident little people. Meals are enjoyed together providing socialisation and communication amongst all the children and adults. Children are encouraged to be independent, setting the table, dishing out their food and passing items along the table for their friends. Sharing foods socially with friends is an ideal way to introduce children to healthy ways of eating, and such situations will be all the more successful if the children are free to choose and access the food independently. Social learning happens throughout our meals times as children learn new vocabulary and practice skills such as turn taking, waiting and sharing.

https://naturallycuriouschildcare.co.uk/pebbles-day-nursery-farnborough/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Possibility of securing a permanent position within the nursery on completion of the apprenticeship programme and progression to a level 3 qualification.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

C.M.S. VOCATIONAL TRAINING LIMITED

Mandy Hodson

mandy.hodson@cmsvoc.co.uk

01924614523

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000312491.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 2 June 2025

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