Nursery Apprentice

THE CHILDCARE CORPORATION LIMITED; City Of London; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent childcare provider in the City of London is seeking an Early Years Practitioner to support individual children's needs and engage them in a variety of activities. The role focuses on promoting a safe and supportive environment while following safeguarding procedures. Applicants should have a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner qualification and good communication skills. The position offers competitive benefits, including discounted childcare and access to a comprehensive employee benefits portal.

Benefits

Employee benefits portal with discounts

Staff referral scheme with cash rewards

Discounted childcare

Dedicated Wellbeing Day

24/7 remote GP appointments

Healthcare cashback plan

Awards ceremony with reward points

Qualifications

• Support babies and young children through transitions and significant events.
• Recognise and respond to child safety concerns.
• Use infection control techniques effectively.
• Observe and record children's outcomes accurately.

Responsibilities

• Identify and meet individual needs of children.
• Engage in interactive activities with children.
• Communicate effectively with children, parents, and colleagues.
• Implement activities supporting children's holistic development.

Skills

Administrative skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Creative

Customer care skills

Initiative

IT skills

Logical

Maths and English

Non-judgemental

Number skills

Patience

Presentation skills

Problem-solving skills

Team working

Education

GCSE or equivalent in maths and English (grade 3)

Level 2 Early Years Practitioner Qualification

Job description

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include identifying and meeting each child's individual needs, supervising and supporting them throughout the day, and engaging in a variety of interactive activities such as reading stories, helping at mealtimes, playing games, and changing nappies. You will act as a positive and practical role model, build friendly and professional relationships with staff and parents, and ensure you fully understand and follow safeguarding procedures.

• Support babies and young children through transitions and significant events, such as moving onto school, moving house, or the birth of a sibling.
• Recognise when a child is in danger or at risk of serious harm or abuse and explain the procedures to be followed to protect them (domestic, neglect, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse).
• Identify risks and hazards in the provision and during off‑site visits, and report them following the reporting procedures.
• Use infection control techniques in hand washing and food preparation, handle spillages safely, dispose of waste correctly and use proper personal protective equipment.
• Use equipment, furniture and materials safely and securely, following manufacturer instructions and provision 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 well‑being by encouraging balanced meals, snacks and drinks, and by ensuring children are physically active through planned and spontaneous activity indoors and outdoors.
• Carry out respectful care routines appropriate to each child's development, stage, dignity and needs, such as feeding, weaning, nappy changing, potty or toilet training, care of skin, teeth and hair, rest and sleep.
• Communicate with all children, including those for whom English is an additional language and those with additional needs, using verbal and non‑verbal communication.
• Extend children’s development and learning through verbal and non‑verbal communication, and encourage the use of a range of communication methods.
• Use suitable 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 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 outcomes, and share results accurately and confidentially in line with statutory and provision 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 in mathematical learning, including numbers, number patterns, counting, sorting and matching.
• Use a graduated approach for the assessment, planning, implementation and reviewing of each child’s individual plan for care and participation.
• Work in ways that value and respect developmental needs and stages.
• Use feedback, mentoring or supervision to identify and support areas for development, goals and career opportunities.
• Cooperatively work with colleagues, other professionals and agencies to meet children’s needs and enable progress.
• Work alongside parents or carers and recognise their role in the child’s health, well’being, learning and development.
• Encourage parents or carers to take an active role in the child’s care, play, learning and development.
• Demonstrate how to share information with parents or carers about healthy, balanced and nutritious diets, oral health and physical activity.

Training and Qualifications

You will be working towards the Level 2 Early Years Practitioner apprenticeship standard, which includes

• Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours
• Level 2 Early Years Practitioner Qualification
• Functional skills in Maths & English if required
• Delivered by Realise, your dedicated training provider
• GCSE or equivalent in maths & English (grade 3); share any other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Key Skills

• Administrative skills
• Analytical skills
• Attention to detail
• Communication skills
• Creative
• Customer care skills
• Initiative
• IT skills
• Logical
• Maths and English
• Non‑judgemental
• Number skills
• Patience
• Presentation skills
• Problem‑solving skills
• Team working

About the Employer

At Grandir, our mission is to inspire children to grow into happy, smart, and healthy individuals who thrive. We believe that exceptional childcare and education are achieved when children and families are genuinely placed at the heart of everything we do. As a well‑known and sought‑after employer in the childcare sector, we recognise that it is our dedicated people who deliver outstanding education and care, always putting children and families first. Our Kiddi Caru Day Nursery in Hitchin is dedicated to providing high‑quality care in a warm and welcoming environment where children can learn, develop and grow. Our nursery offers a place where every child is valued, and their natural curiosity is encouraged through a wide range of engaging activities and experiences.

Benefits

• Access to an employee benefits portal with discounts at hundreds of high street stores
• Staff referral scheme with cash rewards
• Heavily discounted childcare
• A dedicated "Wellbeing Day" just for you
• 24/7 remote GP appointments with home‑delivered prescriptions
• A healthcare cashback plan covering treatments such as dental care and physiotherapy
• May I Say Thank You month, which includes an all‑expenses‑paid awards ceremony, reward points that can be converted into cash, and additional paid holiday during the Christmas closure