Apprentice Early Years Practitioner

CT Skills Summerhill Road, Dartford, Kent (DA1 2LP)
Closes in 29 days (Friday 6 November 2026)
Posted on 7 October 2026

Summary

This is an exciting opportunity to kick start your career in Early Years! Rainbow Day Nursery have a friendly and supportive team who will help you throughout your apprenticeship journey.

Wage
£15,600 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

Hours
Monday to Friday shifts between 7am and 6pm. 37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date
Monday 9 November 2026

Duration
1 year 4 months

Positions available
1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

• Working as part of a team under the direction of the Nursery Management/Leadership team and qualified practitioners
• Building confidence in liaising closely with parent/carers to develop strong parent partnerships to support children's holistic well-being
• Helping to provide an enabling environment in which all individual children can play, develop and learn
• Always maintaining Confidentiality and respecting information relating to all children, parents, visitors and staff members associated with Rainbow Day nursery
• Always ensuring effective supervision of the children and environment including understanding and being aware of staff: child ratios, as well as staff deployment
• Reading, understanding and adhering to all policies and procedures to ensure the safe running of the setting. This includes knowing where policies are kept
• Developing knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Characteristics of Effective Learning (CoEL)
• When the time comes, building confidence in developing role as a Key Person ensuring children's learning and development needs are met in accordance with the EYFS and CoEL
• Minimum of 6 hours per week spent on apprenticeship work and training

Where you'll work

Summerhill Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 2LP

Training

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

Training provider
CT SKILLS LIMITED

Training course
Early years practitioner (level 2)

What you'll learn

• 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's 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.