Job summary
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
Start your childcare career and make a difference every day!
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.
About us
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. This includes commitments to professional development but also 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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.
When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.
When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- 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
Desirable
- Some experience of working with or looking after children
Further Training
Essential
- The ability to keep updated in Childcare issues
Desirable
- Willing to do further training for personal development
Special Skills/Aptitudes
Essential
- Patients First - An 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.
- Ownership - Accuracy & attention to detail
- Effective communication skills both verbal and written.
- Effective organisational skills
- Unity - Ability to work as part of a team Ability to work in partnership with parents and any outside agencies in a professional manner.
- Deliver - Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the role of a Nursery Practitioner.
- Understanding the requirements of confidentiality in a Childcare setting
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- 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
Desirable
- Some experience of working with or looking after children
Further Training
Essential
- The ability to keep updated in Childcare issues
Desirable
- Willing to do further training for personal development
Special Skills/Aptitudes
Essential
- Patients First - An 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.
- Ownership - Accuracy & attention to detail
- Effective communication skills both verbal and written.
- Effective organisational skills
- Unity - Ability to work as part of a team Ability to work in partnership with parents and any outside agencies in a professional manner.
- Deliver - Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the role of a Nursery Practitioner.
- Understanding the requirements of confidentiality in a Childcare setting
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Northern General and Royal Hallamshire Hospital
Glossop Road
Sheffield
S10 2SB
Employer's website
https://www.sth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
