Nursery Educator Apprenticeship

Working in a childcare setting with children ranging from ages 0–5. You will be working towards an Advanced Diploma in Early Years. Your apprenticeship will last for 14 months. This apprenticeship requires dedication, commitment & punctuality for you to be successful.

What you'll do

• Creating fun, engaging and safe environment for the children
• Teaching within the EYFS requirements
• Partaking in a range of indoor and outdoor activities
• Supporting the children with a range of self-care needs, such as feeding and personal hygiene
• Communicating with other team members and parents
• Working in a childcare setting with children ranging from ages 0-5
• Also, being able to liaise with external customers and parents, and provide a high level of service for the childcare setting

Training

• You will be working towards an Advanced Diploma in Early Years
• Your apprenticeship will last for 14 months, where you will be supported by a dedicated assessor throughout your apprenticeship, as well as a mentor and other staff within the nursery
• This apprenticeship requires dedication, commitment & punctuality for you to be successful
• This apprenticeship will open doors to a variety of future roles & career paths within the childcare sector
• Training will take place in the workplace
• You will need to attend online training with your assessor for 1 day a week for the first 8 weeks of your 14-month apprenticeship, for your classroom-based learning and you will be working within the nursery for the rest of the time with the support of your dedicated childcare assessor
• You will complete a qualification in paediatric first aid
• Apprenticeship is 14 months in duration
• Working in a nursery setting full time, min 30hrs a week
• Attending online group classroom sessions 1 day a week for the first 8 weeks
• Updating online portfolio in a timely manner to meet deadlines
• The training schedule will be communicated once the candidate is successful

After the apprenticeship

Developing into a Level 3 Practitioner, with the potential of a full-time position upon successful completion. Other prospects could include applying for:

• Room leader positions
• Possible management training
• Springboard into primary education
• Paediatric nursing
• Continuous development in the current nursery setting

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience

Qualifications

• Essential: GCSE, English (grade 4)
• Essential: GCSE, Maths (grade 4)

About the employer

The 1st Place Family

1st Place was born from the vision of local children and parents as part of the Aylesbury Sure Start Programme in 2005. The aim was to provide a special place where children and their families came first. Parents could find the support that they needed, different professionals could get to know each other, and partners could learn to change the way that they work to make their services better for local families.

To this day, our families still lie at the heart of what we do and we are proud of our long-lasting relationships with parents and their children. Many of our families continue to support us even when they have moved out of the area, and a number of our staff and volunteers began their links with 1st Place as parents.

Apprenticeship details

• Course: Early years educator (level 3), Education and early years
• Apprenticeship level: Advanced (level 3)
• Training provider: SWIFT ACI LIMITED
• Expected duration: 1 Year 2 Months
• Hours: 30 hours a week. Working week: Apprentices are required to be flexible to meet the needs of the business, and punctuality is key. Working as part of a team and using own initiative are essential. The minimum working week will be 30+ hours, Monday- Friday, shifts TBC.
• Start date: 16 December 2026
• Positions available: 2
• Wage: £12,480 a year