Early Years Apprentice

Are you looking to train in childcare? A friendly, preschool in Southampton, Hampshire is looking for an Early Years Apprentice to join their team. The successful candidate will work and interact directly with children on a day-to-day basis supporting the planning of and delivery of activities.

What you'll do

As an Early Years Apprentice, you will contribute to a high quality caring environment for children.

This includes:

• Creating a warm, friendly and stimulating atmosphere in which the children can develop emotionally, socially and educationally
• Under supervision you will provide all aspects of care for children
• Assisting with meeting the personal and emotional needs of individual children
• Acting as key worker to a small group of children and recording observations and planning for them
• Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
• Being aware of the preschool's policies and procedures and ensure they are adhered to
• Completing all work to desired timescales as set by Showcase Tutor

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation.

At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

After the apprenticeship

Upon completing the Level 2 qualification, you may be offered the opportunity to progress onto the L3 or for a full time role and further training.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience

Qualifications

• Essential: GCSE, English (grade 4 or C and above)
• Desired: GCSE, Maths (grade 4 or C and above)

About the employer

Sticky Fingers have 5 pre-school settings in Millbrook, Shirley, Portswood and Sholing, Southampton.

We are a charity based preschool and are run by a voluntary committee of parents, carers, and supporters within the community.

We provide children aged 2-4 years (from 9 months within our toddler's area at our Newlands & Portswood settings) with exciting opportunities to learn and develop which helps them prepare for their transitions to school.

We offer spaces to children, depending on availability, for all government funded 3-4 year olds (from the term after their 3rd Birthday) and those in receipt of 2 year old funding and working families entitlements.

Paid sessions for children, prior to receiving government funding, may also be available dependant on ratios.

Apprenticeship details

• Course: Early years practitioner (level 2), Education and early years
• Apprenticeship level: Intermediate (level 2)
• Training provider: SHOWCASE TRAINING LTD
• Expected duration: 1 Year 3 Months
• Hours: 34.5 hours a week. Working week: Monday - 8.00am - 4.00pm (7.5 hours)

Tuesday - 8.00am - 3.30pm (7 hours)

Wednesday 8.30am - 3.30pm (6.5 hours)

Thursday 8.30am - 3.30pm (6.5 hours)

Friday 8.30am - 4.00pm (7 hours)

• Start date: 9 November 2026
• Positions available: 2
• Wage: £20,192 a year
• Other locations: Southampton, SO15 4PF