Early Years Apprentice

SEYMOUR HOUSE LTD.; Wickford; On-site; GBP 22,000; Full time

Job summary

An established nursery care provider in Wickford is seeking an Early Years Apprentice to support children's development from 0-5 years. Responsibilities include organizing activities, assessing learning, and ensuring a safe environment. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills, creative initiative, and a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership. This apprenticeship offers a salary of £22,000 annually, rotating shifts, and a supportive mentorship from experienced educators. The role aligns with EYFS guidelines and emphasizes equal opportunities.

Benefits

£500 refer a friend bonus!

Training course: Early years educator (level 3)

Potential for career growth

Qualifications

• Completion of a first aid course as per EYFS requirements.
• Voluntary aid society membership or recognition by a trade body.
• Will undertake an enhanced DBS check funded by Seymour House.

Responsibilities

• Support children’s play and nurture their development.
• Organise activities and assess children's learning.
• Work with experienced Early Years Educators for guidance.

Skills

Communication skills

Team working

Creative

Initiative

Patience

Education

Level 5 Diploma in Leadership

Honours Degree in Early Years

Early Years Teacher (EYITT) or Primary Teacher (QTS)

Functional skills in English and maths

Job description

The role of the Early Years Apprentice is to help ensure all children receive outstanding quality care and education and support families to thrive. Meeting the children's individual needs, creating an enriched learning environment, and working alongside the Nursery Leadership Team to implement and promote the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Responsibilities

• You will be working with children between the ages of 0-5 years, helping support children's play and nurture their development.
• You will be involved in organising activities, in the assessment and record keeping of children's learning and development and working in partnership with colleagues and parents.
• You will work alongside experienced Early Years Educators, have a dedicated mentor and have the support of your fellow apprentices. 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 & Requirements

• Communication skills
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Patience, Level 5 Diploma in Leadership
• Honours Degree in Early Years
• Early Years Teacher (EYITT) or Primary Teacher (QTS)
• Functional skills in English and maths if required
• Completion of a first aid course as per EYFS requirements
• Voluntary aid society membership, recognition by a trade body with approval & monitoring, or acknowledgement by the Health and Safety Executive, to achieve qualified Early Years Educator status within 12 months.
• Will undertake an enhanced DBS check funded by Seymour House, with regular updates through the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Additional Information

• Salary: £22,000 a year
• Start date: Monday 2 February 2026
• Duration: 1 year 3 months
• Hours: Monday to Friday on a rota basis, 7:00am – 6:00pm, 40 hours a week
• Check minimum wage rates.
• £500 refer a friend bonus!
• Training course: Early years educator (level 3)
• Classed as having a high degree of contact with children and exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Seymour House actively promotes equal opportunities and is committed to equality and diversity for all our children and staff. Applicants will be considered on merit only. Candidates should be aware that we may conduct an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted candidates to identify any publicly available information relating to incidents or issues that could be relevant to the recruitment process. A copy of the Company's Equal Opportunities Policy and Disclosure Information Policy is available on request.

GCSE in: English Literature and / or Language (grade Level 2), GCSE in: Maths (grade Level 2). Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Founded in 1988, we have over 30 years' experience in care, education and preparing children for school. This history has enabled us to invest in our team, resources and environment to give children the best possible start. Our fantastic team of Educators and Teachers have achieved outstanding Ofsted judgements at all our eleven nursery schools.