Early Years Apprentice

Are you looking to start your career in childcare? Little Ones Childcare are looking to recruit apprentices in all our nurseries. Do you have a passion for working with young children and a positive attitude towards work? you ready to work hard and make the first steps towards a rewarding career in childcare? If so, then this is the opportunity for you.

During your apprenticeship you will be working alongside our qualified Nursery staff who will show you the ropes and make sure you feel at home as part of our team. Your role, as you work towards your qualification, is to be an important part of our team, to learn how to support and develop our Little Ones, to give the very best in care, love and attention. Little Ones has a family friendly culture and you will be given the opportunity to access all areas of the childcare setting to fully embrace the realms of the apprenticeship.

Duties will include:

- To establish a good relationship with all the children in the setting, valuing them as individuals and maintaining an environment where they will want to please and co-operate.
- To willingly take part in the more domestic tasks associated with Child Care
- To assist the Group Leader in providing a happy, stimulating environment for the children where mutual respect is fostered
- To contribute to building a strong working team in the setting and the nursery as a whole
- To carry out cleaning and other tasks willingly and competently
- To adopt a flexible approach to the job and be tactful and diplomatic at all times
- To be able to multi-task and see the big picture at the same time as work with small groups or individuals
- To contribute to the planning of the curriculum, ensuring that it provides a good basis for the children to develop well through the Early Years Foundation Stage
- To assist in the completion of observation/reports and the children’s development folders
- The Nursery Nurse Apprentice must be aware of safety issues and ensure that all the safety policies and risk assessments are adhered to at all times
- You must try to pre-empt accidents and be able to check equipment, toys and unit play area for dangers
- To remove broken or damaged toys immediately, and report all potential dangers to the Manager
- To ensure that children only leave with a known adult for whom we have permission
- To learn be able to use the correct procedure to administer medication as authorised by parents
- To be willing to undergo training in First Aid, Food Hygiene and Child Protection (where not already in place) You must be fully aware of “Safeguarding” Issues and ensure that all elements of the Safeguarding Policy and codes of practice are adhered to at all times.

Hours: 35.00 per week

About the employer:
Little Ones at Honiton is a purpose built nursery, designed to care for just 33 children per day aged from 3 months to 5 years. We have 2 separate play rooms and access to both an all weather play area and a lawned garden.

Requirements and Prospects:

- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Self-driven and highly motivated
- Ability to work individually, and as part of a team
- Initiative and problem-solving skills
- Willingness to learn, and put into practice, new technical skills
- No experience needed, just a hardworking and a 'can do' attitude
- Good organisational skills
- Punctuality
- Patience
- A commitment to safeguarding children at all times
- Works well within a team and demonstrates a supportive, inclusive attitude to colleagues
- Ability to work flexibly in a busy work environment
- A positive attitude to work
- Some ability to pre-empt accidents
- Able to make good, swift judgements about the needs of children and situations requiring urgent intervention
- Ability to use initiative and to take responsibility for actions
- Ability to challenge unacceptable behaviours in a supportive, non-threatening way
- Demonstrates a commitment to the Family Centre, the children and the staff team

On successful completion of your apprenticeship there may be opportunities to take up a permanent role at the nursery or progress onto the Level 3 Apprenticeship.

Training Provided:
Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship.
One day a week at Exeter College and visits into the workplace by a skills officer.

Additional Information:
Please consider the cost of travel to work and college.

Our apprentice pay scales are pitched above minimum wage;
Apprentice Age 16-17 £8.25 rising to £8.80 after 6 months successful probation

Age 18-20 £9.90 rising to £10.45 after 6 months successful probation

Please ensure you are able to travel to the setting.

Maths and English GCSE grade 4 or above or equivalent.