Early Years Apprentice - THE ARK

Summary

If you’re interested in working with younger children, an apprenticeship in Early Years with us can be the perfect route into your chosen career. Not only will you earn as you learn, but the qualification will give you practical skills as well as theoretical knowledge, leading to a wide range of job opportunities.

Annual wage

£14,722.50 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

£7.55 Per Hour

Training course: Early years practitioner

Hours: Monday - Friday Shifts between 7.15am - 6.15 pm
37.5 hours a week

Start date: Sunday 16 November 2025

Duration: 12 Months

Positions available: 2

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

Ours is a high-achieving nursery based in Littleborough. It has an excellent reputation with Ofsted Good judgement and has been known for exceptional levels of behaviour and focus on teaching and learning. The staff team is well established and stable, and there is a culture of support and development. We are always looking for enthusiastic and passionate people to join us at The Ark. We pride ourselves on valuing our employees and recognising hard work as well as progression, training and support throughout your career.

We are one of three nurseries therefore potential to train and grow is immense.

Duties will include:

Under supervision and with support provide all aspects of care for children including washing, changing and feeding
To assist with meeting the personal and emotional needs of individual children
To provide adult interaction with children in the nursery
To be a part of a friendly team of educators

Where you’ll work

The Ark, Featherstall Road, Littleborough, OL15 8DH

Check your travel to work

Directions map will appear here

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.

College or training organisation

ROCHDALE TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Your training course

Early years practitioner

Equal to Level 2 (GCSE)

Course contents

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.

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.

Your training plan

Company training day
Safeguarding training
First aid training
Food hygiene training
Other CPD opportunities throughout the year whilst working towards Early Years qualification

Requirements

Desired qualifications

GCSE Maths & English (Grade 4 or above) desirable

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Patience
kind
Caring
Willing to Learn

Other requirements

Role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and two references

About this company

The Ark has been providing highest quality childcare from 2002 when it opened its flagship nursery in Mytholmroyd. Building upon the experience and expertise of the senior management team and highly qualified staff team, The Ark at Littleborough has been born! The former police station has undergone a conversion and is purpose-designed, in order to provide the highest quality childcare for children in Littleborough and the surrounding areas. The stimulating, caring day nursery, out of school and holiday club offers an exciting provision for children aged. attend team meetings and imputing ideas

https://nurserylesenfants.co.uk (opens in new tab)