Early Years Practitioner Apprentice

Responsibilities

• Working with children in the setting and on outings.
• Ensuring the safety and security of children.
• Promoting children\’s learning and enjoyment through provocations and invitations to play.
• Supporting children\’s care routines, meal and sleep times.
• Planning, carrying out and clearing a wide range of childcare activities from outdoor play to creative activities and storytelling.
• Supervising and supporting children\’s play, ensuring they feel safe and secure, and supporting babies and young children through transitions and significant events such as moving onto school, moving house or the birth of a sibling.
• Recognising when a child is in danger or at risk of serious harm or abuse and explaining procedures to protect them; covering domestic, neglect, physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
• Identifying risks and hazards in the provision and during off‑site visits for children and staff and following reporting procedures.
• Applying prevention and control of infection techniques, hand washing, food preparation, hygiene, safe disposal of waste and use of correct personal protective equipment.
• Using equipment, furniture and materials safely and securely, following manufacturers’ instructions and provision requirements.
• Encouraging children to be aware of personal safety and develop personal hygiene practices (including oral hygiene).
• Promoting health and wellbeing through healthy balanced nutrition, active play indoors and outdoors, and regular physical activity.
• Carrying out respectful care routines appropriate to the developmental stage, such as feeding, weaning, nappy changing, potty training, caring for skin, teeth and hair, and rest and sleep provision.
• Communicating verbally and non‑verbally with all children, including those with English as an additional language or additional needs, in ways that are understood.
• Extending children’s development and learning through verbal and non‑verbal communication; encouraging a range of communication methods.
• Sharing information with children, parents or carers and other professionals using appropriate communication methods.
• Working with colleagues to identify and plan educational programmes supporting children’s holistic development through play, creativity, social development and learning.
• Implementing and reviewing activities to support play, creativity, social development and learning, and clearing up after activities.
• Observing children, assessing, planning and recording outcomes, and sharing results accurately and confidentially in line with statutory and provision requirements.
• Using learning activities to support early language development and early interest in marking, writing, reading and listening.
• Supporting interest and development in mathematical learning, including numbers, patterns, counting, sorting and matching.
• Applying a graduated approach for the assessment, planning, implementation and review of each baby’s and young child’s individual plan.
• Valuing and respecting the developmental needs and stages of babies and children.
• Using feedback, mentoring or supervision to identify and support areas for development and career opportunities.
• Working cooperatively with colleagues, other professionals and agencies to meet the needs of babies and young children and enable them to progress.
• Working alongside parents or carers, recognising their role in the baby or child’s health, well‑being, learning and development, and encouraging them to take an active role.
• Demonstrating how to share information with parents or carers about healthy diets, teeth care and physical activity.

Qualifications

• GCSE in English (grade 4/C+).
• GCSE in Maths (grade 4/C+).
• Relevant qualifications and industry experience.
• Excellent communication skills.
• IT skills.
• Patience.
• Passion for learning.
• Friendly demeanour.

Rainbow Ridg Day Nursery is a family‑run nursery situated on the outskirts of Stockport town centre. We offer care for children from birth to 5 years old and provide a range of age‑appropriate resources and activities to encourage their development. We have a qualified teacher on site 51 weeks of the year and each room has its own focused “teacher time” activity each week.