Apprentice Early Years Practitioner at Ashley Manor Preparatory School

What you\’ll do at work

Your duties will include:

• To work as a member of a team to provide at all times a safe, caring, stimulating environment for the children, in line with The Early Years Foundation Stage ( EYFS)
• Working with children aged 1-4. This is a physically demanding job which requires an adequate level of mobility and fitness
• To ensure the maintenance of adequate standards of cleanliness and hygiene for the children attending the kindergarten
• To undertake certain domestic jobs within the kindergarten, e.g. cleaning of equipment etc. and the cleaning of areas
• To assist in the planning of appropriate experiences for the children in-line with the Kindergarten guidelines on teaching and learning

Training

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

• Support babies and young children through a range of transitions and significant events. 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 provision and during off site visits relating to both children and staff and visitors and follow reporting procedures.
• Use prevention and control of infection techniques for hand washing and food preparation and hygiene, deal with spillages safely, safe disposal of waste, using correct personal protective equipment.
• Use equipment, furniture and materials safely and securely, following the manufacturers’ instructions and provision’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 the provision by encouraging babies and young children to consume healthy, balanced and nutritious 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 or complementary feeding), nappy changing procedures, potty or toilet training, care of skin, teeth and hair and rest and sleep provision.
• Communicate with all children, including those for whom English is an additional language and those with additional needs, in ways that will be understood. This includes 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 appropriate communication methods to share information with children, parents or carers and other professionals.
• Work with colleagues to identify and plan educational programmes 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, share results accurately and confidentially in line with expected statutory and the provision’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 graduated approach for the assessment, planning, implementation and reviewing 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 and mentoring 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 or carers and recognise their role in the baby or child’s health, well-being, learning and development.
• Encourage parents or carers to take an active role in the baby or child’s care, play, learning and development.
• Demonstrate how to share information with parents or carers about the importance of healthy, balanced and nutritious diets for their child, looking after teeth and being physically active.
• Training is delivered in the workplace, plus two or three College-based sessions throughout the course
• This can be supported by some remote delivery if required

Requirements

GCSE in:

• Maths (grade 1)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Initiative

Other requirements

A genuine enthusiasm for working with young children. A commitment to overcoming barriers to learning. An ability to inspire confidence. A positive attitude. To provide a wide variety of activities for the children that is suitable to their individual stages of development.

About this employer

Ashley Manor Nursery is part of the Ashley Manor Preparatory School. We welcome children in the Nursery from the age of 9 months old, up until the end of their Pre‑School year, before heading onto Reception to start their school journey. The Nursery children have full access to an art studio, a fully equipped baby gym and an outdoor playground which has been created to promote health and well‑being along with space for children to grow and be adventurous. Ashley Manor Nursery has been designed with our youngest children at the heart of our practice. Situated in the Georgian Manor House, our New Nursery boasts a range of beautifully designed classrooms which enables our youngest children to be curious and develop their natural instinct for learning and exploring.

No uniform. Holiday – 25 days per year (5 days to be used between Christmas and New Year when the Nursery closes) plus 8 Bank Holidays. Access to a collaborative learning community. Coaching development. Free lunch and parking provided.

After this apprenticeship

• Potential position upon completion of the apprenticeship

Apply now

Closes in 8 days (Monday 27 October 2025 at 11:59pm)

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