Childcare Apprentice

Transformationunitgm; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 17,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in Sheffield is seeking a Level 2 Early Years Apprentice to support children's learning and development at their nurseries. The role involves planning activities linked to the EYFS framework, building relationships with children and parents, and contributing to high-quality care. Candidates should have a passion for working with young children, good communication skills, and a willingness to engage in ongoing training. This apprenticeship offers a great opportunity for hands-on experience and qualification in an encouraging environment.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Flexible working

Good annual leave and pension schemes

Health and wellbeing packages

Qualifications

• GCSE Grade D/3 in English or Functional Skills English Level 1 required.
• GCSE Grade D/3 in Maths or Functional Skills Maths Level 1 required.
• General IT Skills needed.

Responsibilities

• Support children's learning and development.
• Plan engaging activities linked to EYFS.
• Build positive relationships with children and families.

Job description

Employer: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Northern General and Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield
Salary: £14,722 pa/pro rata for part‑time staff
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 18/12/2025 23:59
Interview date: 05/01/2026

We are committed to helping our staff balance their work and home lives and ensure they feel supported, valued and appreciated. Whilst you care for our patients and clients, we’ll take care of you with career development opportunities, flexible working, good annual leave and pension schemes, health and wellbeing packages and financial support systems. Joining the Trust also allows you access to a number of saving options via our salary sacrifice schemes and a wide range of discount opportunities with retailers and service providers.

Job overview

Level 2 Early Years Apprentice – Join Our Team!

Working in early years is fun, rewarding, and full of variety. As a Level 2 Early Years Apprentice, you’ll support children’s learning and development while gaining hands‑on experience and a recognised qualification.

What You’ll Do

• Plan fun, engaging activities linked to the EYFS
• Build positive relationships with children and families
• Help create a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment
• Observe and record children’s progress
• Work closely with a friendly, supportive team
• Follow safeguarding procedures to keep children safe

What We’re Looking For

• Passion for working with young children
• A caring, enthusiastic, and creative approach
• Good communication and teamwork skills

Main duties of the job

The role involves supporting high‑quality care, learning, and development for children in line with EYFS, Ofsted, and nursery policies. You will work closely with colleagues, parents, and other professionals to meet each child’s individual needs, helping to create a safe, stimulating, well‑organised environment that promotes independence, healthy choices, and positive development.

Key responsibilities include contributing to planning and delivering age‑appropriate activities, maintaining accurate records of children’s progress, preparing displays, supporting children’s hygiene needs, and ensuring strong safeguarding practices. The role also requires housekeeping tasks, basic administrative duties, food preparation, and maintaining a safe and hygienic setting.

You must communicate effectively with parents, provide daily feedback, and ensure confidentiality at all times. Flexibility is essential, including occasional work outside normal hours and covering shifts at different nursery sites.

You are expected to follow all relevant legislation and nursery policies, uphold the Trust’s values, and engage in ongoing training, self‑reflection, and professional development. Health and safety awareness is essential, including monitoring risks, managing security procedures, and responding appropriately to concerns.

Working for our organisation

You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its employees, including commitments to professional development and many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.

This vacancy is advertised on a fixed‑term contract basis for a period of 18 months due to this being an apprenticeship/training programme. The fixed‑term contract status of the post holder will be reviewed in accordance with the Trust's legal obligations regarding fixed‑term contracts.

A learner/applicant must be a UK, EEA, or EU resident for at least the past three years to undertake an apprenticeship training programme.

The apprentice allowance as specified in the Minimum Wage Regulations will be paid for the first 12 months. The rate will increase after 12 months in line with these regulations for anyone that is age 19 or over.

Person specification

Qualifications

• English GCSE Grade D/3 or Functional skills English at Level 1
• Maths at GCSE Grade D/3 or Functional Skills Maths at Level 1
• General IT Skills

Experience

• Some experience of working with or looking after children

Further Training

• The ability to keep updated in Childcare issues
• Willing to do further training for personal development
• Interest in working with children and their families within a childcare setting
• Ability to provide good quality care with compassion, commitment, and competence
• Respectful – an understanding of the importance of effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Understanding of the needs of children and their families and providing care whilst maintaining dignity
• Effective communication skills both verbal and written
• Effective organisational skills
• Ability to work as part of a team and in partnership with parents and any outside agencies in a professional manner
• Understanding the role of a Nursery Practitioner
• Understanding the requirements of confidentiality in a Childcare setting

Please note that in order to comply with the UK Government’s rules on Skilled Worker sponsorship, any applicants who do not meet the eligibility requirements or concessions on salary thresholds under the Skilled Worker visa will not be eligible to receive sponsorship from the Trust. Further details on these concessions, and who qualifies for them, can be found here.

The Trust is committed to its obligations in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, and we positively encourage applications from all sections of the community. Should you require any assistance in applying for the position please contact the General or Medical Human Resources Departments on the number identified on the NHS Jobs page for the organisation.

All employment with the Trust is subject to a number of NHS Employment Checks being met to a satisfactory standard including verification of identity, eligibility to work in the United Kingdom, references and qualifications in addition to professional registration, a disclosure and barring records check and occupational health check if these are deemed to be a requirement for the position to be undertaken.

For more information about our organisation and the opportunities available, please visit our website and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.