Apprentice Nursery Assistant

NEXT Retail Ltd.; England; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading childcare provider in the UK seeks an enthusiastic caregiver to support children's development. Responsibilities include assisting in daily activities, promoting safety, and fostering interpersonal communication. A GCSE in English and Maths is required, along with strong communication skills. Transport by car is necessary as the site has no public transport. The role offers a salary of £14,133.60 with training provided for early years education.

Benefits

Training course: Early Years Educator (Level 3)

Responsibilities

• Support a room of children alongside the room senior.
• Take part in all activities including play, feeding, and changing.
• Follow all health and safety duties in place.
• Provide caring and committed support to all children.
• Recognise when a child or colleague is in danger.
• Apply principles of risk assessment and risk management.
• Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally.

Skills

Communication skills

Organisation skills

Customer care skills

Team working

Initiative

Non-judgemental

Patience

Physical fitness

Reliable, flexible

Education

GCSE in English (grade 4)

GCSE in maths (grade 4)

Job description

Next Steps Nursery is looking for an enthusiastic and committed person to join their team of experienced and professional staff. If you are enthusiastic about working with young children, this could be the right career start for you as you will assist practitioners in daily duties, including supporting children's learning and development. Please note that our location requires driving to get here.

Responsibilities

• Support a room of children alongside the room senior
• Take part in all activities including play, feeding, and changing
• Follow all health and safety duties in place
• Provide caring and committed support to all our children; recognise when a child or a colleague is in danger or at risk of abuse and act to protect them in line with safeguarding policy and procedure
• Apply legislation, policy and procedure to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children in the setting (for example, food safety, diets, starting solid food, allergies, COSHH, and accidents, injuries, and emergencies)
• Apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management within documentation and practice
• Teach children to develop skills to manage risk and maintain their own and others safety
• Use a range of communication methods, including technology, with other professionals to meet the individual needs of the child
• Develop and maintain effective professional, collaborative relationships with others involved in the education and care of the child
• Undertake the role and responsibilities of key person
• Recognise and apply theories of attachment to develop effective relationships with children
• Provide sensitive and respectful personal care for children from birth to 5 years
• Advocate for all children's needs, including children which require SEND or EAL support
• Promote and facilitate children's interpersonal communication to develop their social interactions and relationships
• Support children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and culture
• Support children to understand and respond to their emotions and make considered choices about their behaviours
• Assess the responsiveness of the environment for effective child-centred experiences in line with curriculum requirements
• Create inclusive, child-centred, dynamic, innovative, and evolving physical environments both indoors and outdoors
• Create inclusive and supportive emotional environment that enables the child to feel safe, secure, respected and experience a sense of wellbeing; maintaining and prioritising the individual child's voice
• Apply strategies that support children's ability to manage change, transition, and significant events
• Analyse observation evidence to assess and plan holistic individual learning based on a comprehensive understanding of the child's needs and interests
• Facilitate and support child-centred opportunities and experiences based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy
• Provide adult-led opportunities and experience based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy
• Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally

Qualifications

• GCSE in English (grade 4)
• GCSE in maths (grade 4)
• Communication skills
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Team working
• Initiative
• Non‑judgemental
• Patience
• Physical fitness
• Reliable, flexible

Other requirements

• Transportation by car necessary; there is no public transport available to the site

Salary & Details

• £14,133.60 for your first year, with potential increase depending on age (National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices applies)
• Training course: Early Years Educator (Level 3)
• Hours: Monday – Friday, shifts between 8:30 am – 6:00 pm (36 hours a week)
• Start date: Monday 17 November 2025
• Duration: 1 year 3 months