Nursery Apprentice in Leicester

Job Responsibilities

• Identifying and meeting each child’s individual needs, supervising and supporting them throughout the day, and engaging in a variety of interactive activities such as reading stories, helping at mealtimes, playing games and changing nappies.
• Act as a positive and practical role model, build friendly and professional relationships with staff and parents, and ensure full understanding and adherence to safeguarding procedures.
• Support babies and young children through a range of transitions and significant events, such as 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 – domestic, neglect, physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
• Identify risks and hazards in the provision and during off‑site visits relating to children, staff and visitors and follow reporting procedures.
• Use prevention and control of infection techniques for hand washing, food preparation and hygiene; deal with spillages safely, dispose of waste correctly and use appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Use equipment, furniture and materials safely and securely, following manufacturers’ instructions and provision 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 by encouraging babies and young children to consume healthy, balanced and nutritious meals, snacks and drinks appropriate for their age and to be physically active through planned and spontaneous activity indoors and outdoors.
• Carry out respectful care routines appropriate to the child’s development, stage, dignity and needs – eating (feeding and weaning / complementary feeding), nappy changing, 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 – both verbally and non‑verbally.
• Extend children’s development and learning through verbal and non‑vertically communication.
• Use a range of 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 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 outcomes, share results accurately and confidentially in line with statutory and provision requirements.
• Support early language development, mark making, writing, reading and being read to.
• Support children’s interest in mathematical learning including numbers, number patterns, counting, sorting and matching.
• Apply a graduated approach to the assessment, planning, implementation and review of each baby’s and young child’s individual plan for care and participation.
• 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 children and enable their 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, looking after teeth and being physically active.

Apprenticeship and Qualification Requirements

• Work towards the Level 2 Early Years Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard, which includes:
• Knowledge, skills and behaviours for the Standard.
• Level 2 Early Years Practitioner qualification.
• Functional skills in maths and English (if required); GCSE or equivalent in maths and English (grade 3) – share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience; the apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Additional Skills and Attributes

• Administrative, analytical and IT skills.
• Attention to detail, initiative and problem‑solving skills.
• Communication, creative, customer‑care and presentation skills.
• Logical, number and maths skills; patience and non‑judgemental attitude.
• Team‑working.

About Grandir

At Grandir, our mission is to inspire children to grow into happy, smart and healthy individuals who thrive. We believe that exceptional childcare and education are achieved when children and families are genuinely placed at the heart of everything we do.

As a well‑known and sought‑after employer in the childcare sector, we recognise that it is our dedicated people who deliver outstanding education and care, always putting children and families first. Grandir UK is the home of multiple nursery brands across the United Kingdom and has been delivering outstanding childcare solutions to families with babies, toddlers and preschool children for over 25 years in Essex, Hertfordshire, Hampshire, Leicestershire, London, Midlands, Surrey, Sussex and South West.

Benefits

• Access to an employee benefits portal with discounts at hundreds of high‑street stores.
• Staff referral scheme with cash rewards.
• Heavily discounted childcare.
• Dedicated “Wellbeing Day” just for you.
• 24/7 remote GP appointments with home‑delivered prescriptions.
• Healthcare cashback plan covering treatments such as dental care and physiotherapy.
• “May I Say Thank You” month – all‑expenses‑paid awards ceremony, reward points that can be converted into cash, and additional paid holiday during the Christmas closure.