Early Years Practitioner Apprenticeship
Early Years Practitioners work in a variety of childcare and education settings, including nurseries, pre-schools, children’s centres, reception classes, playgroups, family hubs and home-based provision. They support the learning, development and care of children from birth to five years of age in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
Throughout the programme, learners develop the skills and knowledge needed to support children’s learning through play, planned activities and everyday experiences. Working as part of an early years team, they help create safe, nurturing and inclusive environments where children can learn, develop and thrive.
Early Years Practitioners work closely with children, parents, carers and other professionals to support each child’s individual needs, including children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). They contribute to observing, assessing and planning learning experiences, while supporting children’s personal care, wellbeing, communication and development.
A key part of the role is promoting children’s safety and welfare by following safeguarding, health and safety, and child protection procedures. Practitioners learn to recognise concerns, support positive outcomes for children and work in partnership with families and colleagues to provide high-quality care and education.
On completion, learners will be equipped to work confidently within a range of early years settings, supporting children to learn, grow and achieve their full potential as part of a professional childcare team.
As part of the Apprenticeship, you will have monthly workplace visits from a Learning Development Advisor, with 6 hours per week off the job training which will be tracked. You will build a portfolio showing your work-based evidence.
We offer this apprenticeship at our Scarborough campus. The duration of the apprenticeship programme will differ depending on which location you apply for. Apprenticeships delivered at our Scarborough Cayley Court campus require you to attend the Scarborough campus once every two weeks.
What you will study
- Child development from birth to age seven
- Safeguarding, child protection and online safety
- Health, wellbeing, nutrition and physical development
- The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
- Communication and language development
- Creating enabling learning environments
- Observation, assessment and planning
- SEND and inclusive practice
- Working with parents, carers and other professionals
- Health, safety, risk management and infection control
- Equality, diversity and inclusion
- Sustainability in early years settings
- Professional practice and continuous development
- Safeguarding and child protection
- Health, safety and infection control
- Supporting children’s wellbeing and personal care
- Communication and language development
- Play-based learning and curriculum delivery
- Observation, assessment and planning
- Early literacy and numeracy support
- SEND and inclusive practice
- Supporting children’s emotional and social development
- Working with parents, carers and other professionals
- Managing transitions and significant life events
- Teamwork, reflection and professional development
- Care, compassion and child-centred practice
- Professionalism, honesty and integrity
- Positive role modelling
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Commitment to children’s learning and development
- Equality, diversity and inclusion
- Reflective practice and continuous professional development
- Respect for British Values and individual differences
Early Years Practitioner Level 2
What's Next?
Careers
- Manager of an Early Years Setting
