Early Years Level 3 Apprenticeship - Lodge Farm Nursery

An exciting opportunity for someone eager to progress their career in childcare. The nursery is based in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside with lots of safe outdoor space. The role involves planning and carrying out activities and caring for children 0-5. As a level 3 apprentice you will be a key member of the nursery team; your daily activities may include planning and implementing fun and educational activities with the children, playing alongside and with children to support their play, supporting children’s creative and imaginative experiences, maintaining development records on key children, supervising children at rest times and at mealtimes, contributing to and promoting health and safety, ensuring the play area is clean and tidy at all times, and working closely with parents and providing feedback on their child.

• Recognise when a child or a colleague is in danger or at risk of abuse and act to protect them in line with safeguarding policy and procedure.
• Apply legislation, policy and procedure to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children in the setting (for example, food safety, diets, starting solid food, allergies, COSHH, and accidents, injuries, and emergencies).
• Apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management within documentation and practice.
• Teach children to develop skills to manage risk and maintain their own and others safety.
• Use a range of communication methods, including technology, with other professionals to meet the individual needs of the child.
• Develop and maintain effective professional, collaborative relationships with others involved in the education and care of the child.
• Undertake the role and responsibilities of key person.
• Recognise and apply theories of attachment to develop effective relationships with children.
• Provide sensitive and respectful personal care for children from birth to 5 years.
• Advocate for all children’s needs, including those requiring SEND or EAL support.
• Promote and facilitate children’s interpersonal communication to develop their social interactions and relationships.
• Support children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and culture.
• Support children to understand and respond to their emotions and make considered choices about their behaviours.
• Assess the responsiveness of the environment for effective child‑centred experiences in line with curriculum requirements.
• Create inclusive, child‑centred, dynamic, innovative, and evolving physical environments both indoors and outdoors.
• Create inclusive and supportive emotional environment that enables the child to feel safe, secure, respected and experience a sense of wellbeing; maintaining and prioritising the individual child’s voice.
• Apply strategies that support children’s ability to manage change, transition, and significant events.
• Analyse observation evidence to assess and plan holistic individual learning based on a comprehensive understanding of the child’s needs and interests.
• Facilitate and support child‑centred opportunities and experiences based on the setting’s curriculum and pedagogy.
• Provide adult‑led opportunities and experiences based on the setting’s curriculum and pedagogy.
• Use reflection to develop professionally and personally.

All year round, we offer flexible sessions with the option of term‑time only for parents who do not need childcare during school holidays. Our holiday club “Meadows” also welcomes children up to 11 years old during the school holidays.

We’re looking for someone who is friendly and approachable, patient, caring, flexible, reliable, trustworthy, and motivated—someone with a bubbly, outgoing personality who can work independently and is prepared to commit to the apprenticeship.

Qualifications

Level 3 Early Years Educator Diploma; Functional Skills in English and Maths if required; End‑Point Assessment (EPA); GCSE or equivalent in Mathematics (grade 4‑9) and English (grade 4‑9). Additional communication skills and team‑working are desirable.

Progression to a higher level qualification or full‑time employment may be available after completion of the apprenticeship.

Lodge Farm Nursery School prides itself on offering a unique and different experience for your child’s care and early years education. The nursery is based in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside and is within easy access to the M4 and A350. The nursery is situated in extended farm buildings on a working farm with lots of safe outdoor space, an outdoor classroom and a woodland/forest school area. We have daily forest school sessions with our qualified practitioner and a wellie walk opportunity in all weather. “I am a parent myself with three children, and when I opened the nursery in 1991, it felt there was a need for excellent quality early years childcare where children can be nurtured and developed in a homely environment.” – Diane Collins, Principal (Cert. Ed). We look forward to meeting you in the future.