Apprentice Nursery Practitioner

As an apprentice nursery practitioner, you will rotate around nursery rooms and the Forest School, gaining hands-on experience in all areas. Your apprentice training in Early Years will equip you with the skills, experience, and qualification to progress into a qualified educator role.

This apprenticeship will be for a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner or Level 3 Early Years Educator, depending on your experience. From there, you can develop your career at N, opting for a managerial route or pursuing a specialism.

What you'll be doing day to day:

• Support your team in the delivery of basic childcare routines.
• Be responsible for the delivery of our 'learning through play' educational ethos.
• Innovate with activities and constantly challenge children’s learning and development.
• Build and maintain excellent relationships with parents.
• Promote child welfare and ensure safeguarding procedures are followed.
• Work a flexible shift pattern within the opening hours (7.00 am - 7.00 pm).

What we can offer you:

• Wage: £19,656 for Level 2 or £20,717 for Level 3.
• Funding: Your apprenticeship will be funded.
• Development: Be part of N Academy, potentially leading to an EY degree upon completion. Professional development, specialisms, coaching, and mentoring through N Academy.
• Bonus: Performance-related bonus of up to £750 per year (once working within ratio).
• Holiday: Up to 32 days a year (including bank holidays, birthday off, and 3 days during Christmas and New Year), rising with service.
• Perks: Free daily lunch and drinks, personal development fund of £100 per year, annual clothing allowance of £100 (no uniform).
• Leave: Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave pay after 2 years' service. 5 days full sick pay, with potential for discretionary leave.
• Training: Paid training, including 2 inset days per year.
• Discounts: 10% childcare discount, rising to 25% for Nursery Managers. Emergency childcare: 6 back-up days.
• Long Service: Round the world trip and 2 weeks' additional holiday for 5 years' service.
• Referral: Refer a friend bonus of £500.
• Wellbeing: Wellbeing week per term, Headspace premium membership, free counselling, 10% ClassPass discount, hardship fund.
• Commute: Season pass loan and cycle to work scheme.

To become an apprentice, you must:

• Be 16 or over and not already in full-time education.

Training:

• You will be included on a Level 2 or 3 Early Years Practitioner apprenticeship.
• Each apprentice will be supported with structured teaching, e-learning, face-to-face training, and workplace mentoring.

What happens at the end:

This is a permanent position upon successful completion of the apprenticeship programme.

Key Details:

• Wage: £19,656 a year
• Working week: 5 days out of 7, including weekends. Shifts vary on a rota basis (earliest start 7.00 am, latest finish 7.00 pm).
• Hours: 40 hours per week
• Duration: 1 Year 3 Months
• Start date: 2026-11-20
• Closing date: 2026-10-30
• Apprenticeship standard: Early years practitioner (level 2)
• Training provider: BABCOCK SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING LIMITED