Are you passionate about working with children and looking to start your career in early years education?
We have an exciting opportunity for a Nursery Apprentice to join our friendly, supportive team!
About the role:
As a Nursery Apprentice, you’ll work alongside our experienced practitioners to create a safe, caring, and stimulating environment where children can learn and grow. You’ll gain hands-on experience while studying towards your Level 3 Early Years qualification.
Duties include:
- Supporting children’s learning and development through play
- Helping to plan and deliver engaging activities
- Assisting with daily routines such as mealtimes, nappy changing, and outdoor play
- Building positive relationships with children, parents, and colleagues
- Maintaining a safe, clean, and welcoming environment
What we’re looking for:
- A genuine passion for working with young children
- A positive attitude and willingness to learn
- Good communication and teamwork skills
- Reliability, enthusiasm, and a caring nature
- Commitment to ongoing development (we’ll support you all the way!)
- Willing to undergo a DBS check
- Provide two references
What we offer:
- Full training and support from our experienced team
- A fun, nurturing work environment
- Opportunity to gain a recognised childcare qualification
- Potential for progression within the setting
Qualification Bonus Your qualification is an investment in children’s futures — and we believe it deserves recognition, so here is how we say thank you: -
- Level 3 – £250 bonus after 6 months of service, then £250 for every additional year of service after that
- Level 5 – £350 bonus after 6 months of service, then £350 for every additional year of service after that
- Level 6 – £450 bonus after 6 months of service, then £450 for every additional year of service after that
Childcare Discount for Staff We know how important quality childcare is for working parents — that’s why we offer a 50% discount on nursery fees for your own little ones, so they can learn and grow right alongside you.
Birthday Holiday You will receive a paid day off on your birthday each year — our way of helping you enjoy your special day.
Extra Holiday for Years of Service For every full year of service, you will gain one additional day of paid holiday — up to a maximum of 10 extra days. Loyalty matters, and we reward it.
Attendance Bonus Holiday For every three-month period in which you take no more than the equivalent of three working days worth of hours as sick leave, you will receive a paid holiday day.
Employee of the Week Each week, we highlight one outstanding team member as our Employee of the Week. The winner receives some paid time off as a thank you for going above and beyond.
Ofsted Inspection Bonus A team bonus of £2000, where the distribution amongst the team is at the manager’s/deputy manager’s discretion, is awarded if:
- Before September 2025, if we are rated “Outstanding” after an inspection.
- After September 2025, under the new inspection framework: -Safeguarding is marked as Met -At least 6 evaluation areas are rated Exemplary -The remaining area is rated at least Strong
Refer-a-Friend Bonus Refer a friend and earn up to £350!
- Receive £100 for referring a Level 2 that is working towards Level 3
- Receive £200 for referring a Level 3
- Receive £275 for referring a Level 5
- Receive £350 for referring a Level 6
- Bonus is paid after 6 months of their employment — you must still be employed to receive it.
Paid Christmas Party We have a fully paid-for Christmas party every year for our team — a chance to relax, have fun, and celebrate everything we have achieved together.
Birthday, Easter, and Christmas Gift Bag We love to celebrate our team! On your birthday, at Easter, and at Christmas, you will receive a thoughtfully curated gift bag as a token of our appreciation for everything you do.
Annual Pay Reviews Your pay will be reviewed every April as part of our annual review process, ensuring your salary reflects your role, progress, and dedication.
Staff Appreciation Board We love celebrating creativity, dedication, and achievements. Our Staff Appreciation Board gives recognition where it is due.
Enhanced DBS & Update Service We pay for your enhanced DBS check when you join and also cover the cost of registering you on the Update Service.
Mileage Paid for Training If you attend off-site training courses booked by the manager or deputy manager, we’ll reimburse 45 pence per mile for travel by car to the training.
Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) If you work overtime, you can opt for Time Off in Lieu instead of extra pay. TOIL must be approved by the Manager or Deputy Manager and taken within the same calendar year in which the overtime was worked.
Career Progression Opportunities Real opportunities for career progression, including clear paths to room leader and senior roles
Training Access to a wide range of online training and CPD courses
Higher Apprenticeships Apprenticeship pathways to help you gain higher qualifications while working
A Experienced Management Team Regular coaching, supervisions and performance reviews with the management team
Treat Days We are always celebrating treat days for our staff, whether this is a paid for breakfast, or a gift bag just because, we want to celebrate you and ensure you feel like a valued member of the team
If all of this isn’t enough, we have our staff testimonials available on request. Please also see our most recent Ofsted inspection here:
https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50254093
How To Apply
If you’re ready to start your journey in early years education, we’d love to hear from you!
Please send us your CV, including you email and/or phone number, with the best time to contact you.
We’re excited to meet the next amazing person to join our nursery family. Come and find out what makes St Andrews a truly special place to work
Warm Regards,
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £7.56-£10.01 per hour
Expected hours: 40 per week
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Childcare
- Company events
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
