Early Years Educator Apprentice

Isbi; York (York County); On-site; USD 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

St Peter's School York invites applications for the Nursery Practitioner Apprentice role at The Rise Nursery. Four positions available starting January 2027, with a combined on-site and college-based apprenticeship, supported by a Nursery Manager.

The apprenticeship lasts 18 months plus end-point assessment, with college study at York College and a full induction, mentor support, and a strong commitment to safeguarding, language-rich environments, and professional development.

Qualifications

• 4 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above to include English and Maths (delivered by York College).
• You will have a mentor and a full induction programme with excellent training.

Responsibilities

• Create a safe, stimulating, language-rich and child-led learning environment for babies and children.
• Plan in-the-moment responses to play to expand learning.
• Be a devoted, compassionate and attuned keyperson.
• Assess and share learning milestones with parents via focus child approach.
• Engage with training programmes and the Curiosity Approach and Reggio Emilia Inspired philosophy.
• Be a collaborative team member and support new staff.
• Communicate thoughtfully with parents and carers to build positive relationships.

Education

4 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above including English and Maths

Job description

Post: Early Years Educator Apprentice (4 positions available)

Department: The Rise Nursery

Responsible to: The Nursery Manager

Salary: £24,785 p.a.

Working hours: Four days per week in nursery working 8.30am-5pm and one day per week at York College for apprenticeship study

Start date: January 2027 (with two weeks of in-house training with our Nursery Manager prior to the Rise opening)

Are you excited by a career in childcare and looking for an exciting Apprenticeship opportunity in a remarkable Private Day Nursery setting? At St Peter’s School York, we are wishing to appoint a Nursery Practitioner Apprentice to join our highly skilled and supportive team. We are looking for a caring, creative and hard-working individual who ideally has relevant previous experience of working with children and a strong commitment to becoming an excellent practitioner in the future. We will support you fully in your journey to becoming a Level 3 Practitioner. You will work a five-day week, with one day per week offsite for your studies. You will have a mentor, a full induction programme and an excellent training programme to help you feel confident and happy in your role and to ensure you thrive with us.

The duration of this apprenticeship is 18 months for the Level 3 Early Years Educator plus an additional 3 months for the end point assessment, with attendance in college onpaid dayrelease. The start date is to be confirmed.

All apprentices must meet the entry which are 4 GCSE’s at grade 4/C or above to include English and Maths. This will be delivered by your dedicated training provider, York College. Your tutor from York College will observe and meet with you regularly at their setting as part of your training programme.

What Your Role Involves:

As a valued member of our team you will:

Create a safe, stimulating, language-rich and child-led learning environment where babies and children thrive

Plan ‘in the moment’ in response to the play of babies and young children expanding the learning possibilities in creative and exciting ways

Be a devoted, compassionate and attuned keyperson

Assess and support children’s learning milestones and share these through our focus child approach with parents

Fully engage with our training programme and Curiosity Approach and Reggio Emilia Inspired philosophy

Be a committed, positive and collaborative member of the team, supporting new staff in the team and being a great team player

Offer thoughtful, unhurried and reassuring communication with parents and carers and build positive relationships with families

General

1. Health & Safety - You have a legal duty to take reasonable care of your own health and safety and that of others and you are expected to be familiar with, and adhere to, St Peter’s School’s Health and Safety policy.
2. School values - You have a duty to ensure your work, communication and approach conforms to the school’s core values and mission. You will need to be aware and comply with school rules, policies and procedures at all times including, but not limited to, those relating to safeguarding, conduct, equality and data protection.

St Peter's School strives to be diverse and inclusive. We encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the school. The school is committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees and pupils. This means that employees are treated fairly, irrespective of sexual orientation, ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, gender, marital status or other reason. The post holder is expected to always comply with the provisions set out in law and the St Peter's policies on equality and diversity.

The school is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.

Note: This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of duties and responsibilities associated with the post. The post holder will be expected to comply with any reasonable request to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description.

This job description may be amended at any time.