Operation jobs in United Kingdom

Closes in 24 days (Tuesday 20 January 2026 at 11:59pm)

As an Early Years Apprentice, you will be supporting the learning and development of every child in your care, while promoting best practice among colleagues to maintain the highest standards across the nursery. Work collaboratively with the team to create a safe, nurturing environment where every child can play, learn, and thrive.

Hours Monday to Friday, working on a shift pattern across 5 days, with one dedicated day for college training. 30 hours a week.

Start date: Monday 16 February 2026

Duration: 1 year 6 months

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands‑on experience.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• To provide the highest standards of quality care and education.
• To ensure that health and safety and security measures are constantly maintained.
• To be aware of and act in accordance with current legislation, policy and procedures.
• To contribute to a programme of activities suitable to the age range of children in your room in conjunction with other staff.
• To keep an accurate and up to date Learning Journal for your key children, for parents.
• Work alongside parents of special needs children to give full integration in the Nursery. Foresee the needs of Special Needs children and give physical, emotional, intellectual guidance as appropriate.
• Support all staff and engage in a good staff team.
• To work in close partnership and to develop and maintain good relationships with parents / carers and other family members or outside agencies.
• To attend ALL out of working hours activities, e.g. training, staff meetings, Graduation Fun Day, parent training evenings, events, etc.
• To be flexible within the working practices of the nursery. Be prepared to help where needed, including to undertake certain domestic jobs within the nursery, e.g. preparation of snack meals, cleansing of equipment, putting out bins, doing the laundry, etc. Also, flexibility with regard to working in different rooms as and when required to ensure effective operation of the nursery.
• Work alongside the Manager, Area Manager and staff team to ensure that the vision, philosophy and objectives behind Kingfishers Day Nursery are fulfilled.
• To respect the confidentiality of information received.
• To ensure the provision of a high-quality environment to meet the needs of individual children from differing cultures and religious backgrounds, and stages of development.
• To develop your role within the team especially in your capacity as a Key Person:

. Keep children's files up to date including photographs.
. Complete observations in a variety of formats.

• The preparation and completion of activities to suit the child's stage of development.
• To ensure that mealtimes are a time of pleasant social sharing.
• Washing and changing children as required.
• Providing comfort and warmth to all children.
• Providing conscientious and effective supervision of the children.
• To interact and engage with the children.
• To be aware of the high profile of the nursery and to uphold its standards at all times. To be an ambassador for Kingfishers both within the nursery and in the wider community.
• To ensure good standards of hygiene and safety standards appropriate for the needs of young children.
• To take reasonable care of yourself and others and to comply with the Settings Health and Safety rules.

• To initiate and conduct effective risk assessment.
• To run the room smoothly and effectively in the absence of the Head of Room.
• To support the Room Leader in supervising and monitoring students in training and Nursery Assistants if necessary.
• To ensure planning and observations are being completed.

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

• Recognise when a child or a colleague is in danger or at risk of abuse and act to protect them in line with safeguarding policy and procedure.
• Apply legislation, policy and procedure to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children in the setting (for example, food safety, diets, starting solid food, allergies, COSHH, and accidents, injuries, and emergencies).
• Apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management within documentation and practice.
• Teach children to develop skills to manage risk and maintain their own and others safety.
• Use a range of communication methods, including technology, with other professionals to meet the individual needs of the child.
• Develop and maintain effective professional, collaborative relationships with others involved in the education and care of the child.
• Undertake the role and responsibilities of key person.
• Recognise and apply theories of attachment to develop effective relationships with children.
• Provide sensitive and respectful personal care for children from birth to 5 years.
• Advocate for all children' needs, including children which require SEND or EAL support.
• Promote and facilitate children's interpersonal communication to develop their social interactions and relationships.
• Support children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and culture.
• Support children to understand and respond to their emotions and make considered choices about their behaviours.
• Assess the responsiveness of the environment for effective child-centred experiences in line with curriculum requirements.
• Create inclusive, child-centred, dynamic, innovative, and evolving physical environments both indoors and outdoors.
• Create inclusive and supportive emotional environment that enables the child to feel safe, secure, respected and experience a sense of wellbeing; maintaining and prioritising the individual child's voice.
• Apply strategies that support children' ability to manage change, transition, and significant events.
• Analyse observation evidence to assess and plan holistic individual learning based on a comprehensive understanding of the child's needs and interests.
• Facilitate and support child-centred opportunities and experiences based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
• Provide adult led opportunities and experience based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
• Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally.

This apprenticeship combines hands‑on experience with regular training through a college or approved training provider. At least 20% of your working hours will be dedicated to study and professional development. It is a higher‑level programme designed for those aiming to progress into senior roles within early childhood education.

• Day Release (one day every week, online remote delivery)
• On‑the‑job and off‑the‑job training (minimum of 6 hours per week).
• Functional Skills in English and Maths (if required).
• End‑point assessment to demonstrate knowledge, skills, and behaviours

GCSE in:

• Maths (grade 4-5)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

• Customer care skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Physical fitness

At Kingfishers Day Nurseries, we have been providing high‑quality childcare in Thornton Heath, Croydon, and Coulsdon for over 20 years.

We believe every child is unique and strive to create a happy, caring, and stimulating environment where they feel secure and valued. Our mission is to support each child's emotional, social, and intellectual growth through a broad, balanced, and creative curriculum that encourages independence and teamwork. By nurturing lifelong learning skills and promoting British Values, we aim to help every child make a positive contribution to their community and society.

This role focuses on delivering high‑quality care and education for children, with an emphasis on teamwork and professional development within the nursery setting.

The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CROYDON COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000004607.

Closes in 24 days (Tuesday 20 January 2026 at 11:59pm)