Early Years Apprentice

This is a great opportunity for the right candidate to undertake an Early Years Practitioner Apprenticeship.

What you'll do at work

• Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
• Act as a key person, building positive relationships with key children and their parents / carers
• Promote positive relationships in our nursery setting
• Work flexibly as part of the wider staff team to support the smooth running of the nursery
• Communicate regularly and effectively, sharing knowledge and experience so colleagues can support and learn from one another
• Respect and value all staff, helping to maintain a positive, inclusive and diverse working environment
• Reflect on nursery practice and suggest improvements where needed
• Attend regular staff meetings and CPD
• Carry out peer observations and provide constructive, positive and non-judgemental feedback
• Understand and promote the nursery’s values and your role within the team
• Take responsibility for the welfare, care and education of children in your key group
• Provide purposeful, stimulating indoor and outdoor environments that follow the nursery curriculum
• Contribute to a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all children
• Complete planning regularly, with support from the room leader
• Plan learning activities that reflect children’s next steps, development, interests, language and cultural backgrounds
• Use the planning cycle to ensure observations and assessments support children’s progress
• Reflect on practice and routines, adapting them to meet the needs of key children
• Complete assessments for key children and identify when intervention, additional support or external referrals may be needed, with SENDCO support
• Understand and apply the 3 I’s: Intent, Implementation and Impact, alongside Cultural Capital
• Work in partnership with parents through regular face-to-face communication and electronic systems such as Seesaw and Parenta
• Support new children and families during settling-in, ensuring information and paperwork are completed accurately
• Complete children’s diaries daily and publish them for parents via the Parent Portal app
• Follow nursery policies and procedures, reporting any possible breaches promptly and professionally to the nursery manager
• Read and understand the policy of the month
• Complete regular room and resource risk assessments, reporting health and safety issues promptly
• Follow safeguarding procedures in line with local authority and nursery policy, with support from DSLs
• Remain vigilant and report concerns about harm, abuse or poor practice immediately, following child protection and whistleblowing procedures
• Complete, sign and store daily paperwork accurately, including accident, incident, medication, temperature and sleep records
• Monitor attendance and report recurring or unexplained absences to the room leader and nursery manager. Room leaders must contact parents by phone where absence is unexplained
• Complete room registers accurately, recording arrivals, departures, absences, sickness and holidays
• Complete key reports to a high standard and within required timescales, including transition reports, summative assessments, 2-year progress checks, school transition reports and SEN reports
• Reflect on daily practice and identify areas for improvement
• Be flexible within nursery practice and assist where needed, including overtime, domestic tasks and cooking
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, including regular sterilising of toys and resources
• Undertake other nursery duties as required
• Attend training and complete courses needed for continuing professional development
• Follow and maintain statutory requirements in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage framework
• Report any wellbeing or safeguarding concerns to the nursery manager immediately