Childcare Apprentice in Oxford

Join Childbase Partnership and be part of something extraordinary.

Location: Julia Durbin Day Nursery | Oxford | OX3 7JU

Contract: 37.5 hours/week | 52 weeks/year

Working pattern: Varied shifts Monday-Friday between 07:30-18:30

Start date window: 12th March - 17th April 2026

Salary: £7.57 per hour to start, rising to £12.24 per hour after six months in post.

We have been delivering childcare excellence since 1989. Within our 43-day nurseries, Head Office, and Training Academy, EduBase, our ethos is simple: we all belong, we all matter, and we all contribute. We believe in careers, not jobs, supporting one another to grow and succeed.

Why join us?

• Generous annual leave: 23 days paid leave per annum (pro-rata), rising to 28 days with length of service, plus paid bank holidays.
• Childcare discount: 75% discount (or 40% grandparent discount) on your fees at any Childbase nursery, from day one.
• Exclusive partner benefits: Long-service rewards, qualification bonuses and retail discounts.
• Wellbeing support: Free meals, mental health and occupational health support, flu jabs, eye care vouchers and a free will-writing service.
• Career development: Team inset days, access to online training in addition to your course and a permanent role as a Qualified Nursery Practitioner (subject to you successfully completing your apprenticeship).

About us

• We are employee-owned: Every colleague is a partner with a voice, who helps drive our success; when we do well, we each receive an annual tax-free dividend.
• We are number 1: Ranked top of the Nursery World league tables for our Ofsted outcomes.
• We are community driven: Supporting causes close to our hearts, we have raised more than £3.5 million for charity.
• We are environmentally responsible: Building a greener tomorrow our nurseries all hold Green Flag awards and are powered by 100% renewable energy.
• We are invested in your development: Our commitment to delivering high-quality teaching and learning has established our academy, EduBase, as a trusted provider in the sector.

About you

• You are passionate about building a career with children: You have an interest in child development and would like to build a career in early years where you will care for babies and young children under the age of five.
• You are keen to learn: You thrive when engaging in practical tasks and are excited about learning how to plan and implement high quality, engaging activities that are linked to the early years curriculum and promote children's learning through play; observing, assessing and recording children's progress.
• You are nurturing and empathetic and prioritise safety: You will ensure every child feels safe, valued, and happy, their well-being is promoted and their individual needs are met at all times, whilst demonstrating a respect for our policies and procedures and following direction given by your management team and your Trainer/Assessor.
• You are able to manage your time effectively: You will make good use of your 'off the job' learning time within your working week to engage in your studies, allocate time outside of work to complete your written work and submit your coursework by the deadlines set by your Trainer/Assessor.
• You are collaborative: You enjoy working in partnership with others as part of a team, have strong communication skills (verbal and written) and will build strong and positive relationships with children, parents and colleagues.

What does our apprenticeship offer you?

• A blend of practical experience and underpinning theory: Your role will be based at the nursery and a Trainer/Assessor from our academy will visit you regularly to guide your learning; you will also attend regular group training sessions (usually once every 6-8 weeks) at our academy in Newport Pagnell with other apprentices from across our partnership.
• A Level 2 or Level 3 early years qualification: You will engage in either a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner qualification or a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification; there will be an online initial assessment during our screening stage to determine the most suitable level for you.
• English and/or maths Functional Skills qualifications: If you do not already hold suitable English and maths qualifications, in line with the apprenticeship rules set by the government and the EYFS requirements, you will undertake the relevant functional skills qualification/s.
• A paediatric first aid qualification: The first aid course will take place at our academy and your certificate will be valid for three years.

Eligibility criteria:

• For your application to be considered, at the time you apply you must have documentation to evidence your Right to Work in the UK and your National Insurance Number.
• Ideally have photographic ID in the form of either a valid passport or a driving licence (full or provisional).
• Have access to a computer (laptop or PC) to undertake the initial online assessment and to submit ongoing coursework.
• Have been resident in the UK for at least the last three years.
• Be comfortable travelling to and from group training sessions at our academy in Newport Pagnell (MK16 8NJ); your travel costs will be covered for you.

We are an inclusive employer and we welcome applicants of all ages (16+ due to apprenticeship rules set by the government) and backgrounds. We're committed to FREDIE (fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, and engagement) and will consider any reasonable adjustments required. If you meet the essential criteria for this role, your application will be automatically shortlisted for review by our Recruitment Team who will determine if an interview is the next step. Applicants must currently reside within a commutable distance of the nursery, meet the eligibility criteria and hold suitable Right to Work in the UK; VISA sponsorship is not available. Safer recruitment checks apply, which include an Enhanced DBS check. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early.