Childcare Apprenticeship (level 3)

Childbase Partnership; Chobham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading childcare organization in Chobham seeks a childcare apprentice to nourish children’s development and gain a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification. Responsibilities include maintaining safe learning environments, adhering to nursery routines, and maintaining communication with families. This full-time role offers hands-on training, guidance from experienced assessors, and a pathway to future roles such as Team Leader or Nursery Manager upon qualification.

Benefits

23 days of paid annual leave

75% childcare discount

Career development opportunities

Wellbeing support services

Qualifications

• Evidence your NI number and right to work in the UK.
• Valid photographic ID (passport or driving licence).
• Access to a computer.
• Been resident in the UK for at least 3 years.
• Comfortable travelling to training sessions.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain safe environments for children.
• Interact positively with nursery users.
• Adhere to nursery policies and routines.
• Submit coursework by deadlines.
• Manage safety and wellbeing of children.

Skills

Communication skills

Team working

Creative

Initiative

Non judgemental

Patience

Education

GCSE English (grade 4)

GCSE Maths (grade 4)

Job description

As a childcare apprentice, your main responsibilities will be to:

• Work as part of a team to create and maintain safe and supportive learning environments across the nursery, plan and implement opportunities to enhance children's development, and complete observations linked to the early years curriculum
• Interact positively with all nursery users and work in partnership with colleagues and parents to ensure all children's individual needs are met at all times whilst they are in your care
• Adhere to nursery routines and policies and to seek guidance from your leadership team as required
• Successfully manage your time to ensure you submit your coursework by the deadlines set by your assessor / tutor, 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' 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' 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

Training Schedule

This apprenticeship will provide you with the opportunity to learn how to provide outstanding early years care and education. By the end of your apprenticeship with us you will gain:

• Level 3 Early years educator qualification – there will be an online assessment during our shortlisting stage to determine the right level of apprenticeship for you
• Appropriate functional skills qualifications in maths and English, if you do not already have equivalent qualifications in these subjects when you commence your apprenticeship
• A paediatric first aid qualification

Our Apprenticeship Offers You

• The opportunity to gain valuable, practical childcare experience, working with children aged 0‑5 years in a nursery setting
• ‘Off the job’ learning time within your working week which will support your studies
• A childcare trainer/assessor from our in‑house training academy of excellence, who will visit you at the nursery on a regular basis to guide and direct you
• Group training sessions, with other apprentices from across our partnership, held at our academy in Newport Pagnell – there are 11 sessions as part of the Level 3 course
• A permanent contract subject to you successfully gaining your qualification, where after completion you will be appointed as a qualified Nursery Nurse within our partnership

GCSE Requirements

• English (grade 4)
• Maths (grade 4)

Additional Skills

• Communication skills
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience

Other Requirements

• Evidence your NI number and right to work in the UK
• Valid photographic ID (passport or driving licence)
• Access to a computer
• Been resident in the UK for at least 3 years
• Comfortable travelling to the training sessions in Newport Pagnell

Fun is an essential ingredient in all Childbase Partnership nurseries where the care and education opportunities for each and every child are as extraordinary as our colleagues who provide them. This is your opportunity to be part of the fun and to join us as an apprentice at our Pennypot Day Nursery in Chobham.

About Childbase Partnership

We have been delivering childcare excellence since 1989. Our mission is to give children the best possible start in life and instil a lifelong passion for learning. Across all 44‑day nurseries, Head Office, and our EduBase Academy, our dedicated colleagues work together to create a lasting, positive impact in our local communities. We are determined to be excellent and constantly strive for the best outcomes, not only for the children in our care but for every colleague too.

What Makes Us Special?

• We are employee‑owned: Every colleague is a partner with a voice, who helps drive our success; when we do well, we each receive an annual tax‑free dividend
• We are number 1: Ranked top of the Nursery World league tables for our Ofsted outcomes
• We are community‑driven: Supporting causes close to our hearts, we have raised more than £3.5 million for charity
• We are environmentally responsible: Building a greener tomorrow our nurseries all hold Green Flag awards and are powered by 100% renewable energy
• We are invested in your development: Our commitment to delivering high‑quality teaching and learning has established our academy, EduBase, as a trusted provider in the sector

https://edubaseacademy.com/apprenticeship/

Salary

£17,131 a year. As an apprentice at Childbase Partnership, you will be paid an hourly pay rate of £7.57. This will increase to £10.00 an hour after 6 months in post.

Training Course

Early years educator (Level 3)

Hours & Schedule

This is a full‑time role. You will work 37.5 hours a week throughout your apprenticeship, usually between the hours of 7.15 am–6.30 pm from Monday to Friday. You will experience all aspects of the daily routine at nursery.

Start Date & Duration

Start date: Thursday, 12 March 2026

Duration: 1 year 4 months

Longer term, as a Level 3 qualified practitioner, you will be able to progress into roles such as Team Leader, Deputy Manager and Nursery Manager.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave: 23 days paid leave per annum (pro‑rata), rising to 28 days with length of service, plus paid bank holidays
• Childcare discount: 75% discount (or 40% grandparent discount) on your fees at any Childbase nursery, from day one
• Exclusive partner benefits: Long‑service rewards, qualification bonuses and retail discounts
• Wellbeing support: Free meals, mental health and occupational health support, flu jabs, eye care vouchers and a free will‑writing service
• Career development: Team inset days, access to online training in addition to your course and a permanent role as a qualified nursery practitioner (subject to you successfully completing your apprenticeship)