Early Years Apprentice - Kids Planet Hanford

The SSI Group; Stoke-on-Trent; On-site; GBP 11,000 - 17,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free breakfast

Accredited training through KP Academy

Enhanced leave for family

Wellbeing rewards

Long service awards

Birthday day off

Competitive salary

Pension plan

Enhanced holiday allowance

Friendly central support team

Job summary

Kids Planet Hanford is seeking an enthusiastic Early Years Apprentice to join our team. You will be enrolled on to a training programme through the Kids Planet Training Academy to gain a qualification in Early Years while supporting children in our setting.

You will learn how to care for and inspire children birth to age five, while safeguarding their wellbeing, building warm relationships with families, and working as part of a supportive team in a fully refurbished setting.

Qualifications

• To meet minimum apprenticeship eligibility criteria, including having lived in the UK for a minimum of 3 years.
• To pass maths and English entry assessments.

Responsibilities

• Learn how to support, care for, and inspire children during their earliest years, from birth to age five.
• Ensure safeguarding of children in your care.
• Work as part of a successful team.
• Build warm, trusting relationships with families through kind, open communication.
• Liaise with parents on matters relating to the most important person in their world.

Job description

What if your next job meant more than just work, what if it meant shaping futures, every day?

Kids Planet is a proud family-run business, we do things with heart and we’re passionate about giving every child the best possible start. No two settings are the same, but all of them are built around our shared values: care, curiosity, and a genuine love for early years.

Join Kids Planet Hanford as an Early Years Apprentice!

We’re now looking for an Early Years Apprentice to join our team, someone who’s ready to get stuck in, spark imaginations, and help children thrive. As an Early Years Apprentice, you will be enrolled on to a training programme through the Kids Planet Training Academy to gain a qualification in Early Years.

Why Kids Planet Hanford?

• Fully refurbished setting
• The team have flexibility to choose their own training and qualification pathways
• Great Place to Work Certified 2025/26
• Ranked #1 UK Best Workplaces for Women, for the second year running
• Crowned NMT’s Large Nursery Group of the Year, for the second year running
• Awarded one of the UK's Best Workplaces in Education & Training by Great Place to Work 2026
• 80% Childcare Discount – T&Cs apply

What we offer our Early Years Apprentices:

• Free breakfast, lunch, and healthy snacks to fuel your day!
• Accredited training through our awesome KP Academy and bespoke training platform.
• Enhanced leave for maternity, paternity, fertility, and adoption because family matters.
• Wellbeing goodies, staff rewards, and fun events all year round.
• Long service awards to celebrate your commitment.
• Take the day off on your birthday, it’s all about you!
• Competitive salary, pension plan and enhanced holiday allowance.
• Friendly central support team always on hand to help.

How you’ll make a difference as an Early Years Apprentice:

• By learning how to support, care for, and inspire children during their earliest years, from birth to age five.
• Through learning how to ensure the safeguarding of children in your care.
• By learning how to work as part of a successful team.
• Through working to build warm, trusting relationships with families through kind, open communication.
• By working as part of a successful team.
• Through liaising with parents on matters relating to the most important person in their world.

What an Early Years Apprentice needs:

• To meet minimum apprenticeship eligibility criteria, including having lived in the UK for a minimum of 3 years.
• To pass maths and English entry assessments.

Sound like the place for you?

As a guide, Level 2 apprenticeships take approximately 15 months to complete, and Level 3 apprenticeships take approximately 18 months to complete.

We embrace everyone. Our goal is to create a truly inclusive culture and diverse workforce. We break down barriers so you can be your authentic self—and flourish!

Kids Planet is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of children and young people. An enhanced DBS check will be required for this role. We expect all staff and volunteers to uphold this commitment, and safeguarding training is a fundamental part of every role. All colleagues are required to complete regular training to ensure they understand and fulfil their responsibilities. A Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate is mandatory for all positions, and this role will be subject to enhanced checks as part of our safeguarding duties.