Apprentice

Early Years Apprentice

📍 Acorn Nursery, Sharnbrook
🎓 Level 2 or Level 3 Apprenticeship Opportunity

Full time - 36 hours per week

Are you looking to start your career in early years and gain a recognised qualification while working? We are looking for an Early Years Apprentice to join our team at Acorn Nursery in Sharnbrook.

This is a fantastic opportunity to earn while you learn, working towards your Level 2 or Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification while gaining hands-on experience in a supportive and nurturing environment.

About Acorn Nursery, Sharnbrook

Located within the picturesque grounds of Colworth Science Park in Sharnbrook, our nursery has ample space for children to explore, discover and investigate their local surroundings, which lends itself to providing opportunities such as tree climbing and large open spaces for the children to explore.  The play space within the nursery offers a light, large area with a wide range of natural resources to allow children to learn through first hand experiences.  Children have opportunity to free flow between the inside and outside throughout the day, with a variety of activities and resources available to extend individual children’s learning.

We offer full and part-time care for up to 65 children from the age of four months to four years, and are open from 7.15am to 6.15pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. 

We strive to make our nursery a place where positive and close relationships with children and parents are welcomed and valued. We believe it is important to create a home from home experience where children feel happy, safe and secure, and as a result, thrive within our nursery. Aimee and her team work closely with parents and carers to develop children’s interests and skills, ensuring each of them reaches their full potential. A variety of imaginative and creative play activities, including forest schools, will ensure children have plenty of opportunities to play and learn in a warm and happy environment.

The nursery has also achieved their Eco-Schools Green Flag award which is an international accreditation that recognises young people's environmental actions! Alongside this, Sharnbrook was awarded an additional Eco-Schools award as 'Water School of the Year'.

About the Role

As an Early Years Apprentice, you will:

• Work as part of the nursery team while completing your qualification
• Learn how to support children’s learning, development and play
• Help create a warm, safe and stimulating environment
• Build positive relationships with children, parents and colleagues
• Gain experience in EYFS practice and safeguarding procedures
• Work closely with a mentor to achieve your apprenticeship objectives

What You’ll Be Doing

• Supporting children through play-based learning and activities
• Being a positive role model for behaviour and engagement
• Learning how to deliver a holistic early years curriculum
• Supporting children’s progress and development
• Observing children and learning about planning in the moment
• Encouraging curiosity through creative, outdoor and messy play
• Developing strong communication skills with children and adults
• Learning and applying Acorn’s values, ethos and practices
• Ensuring children are safe and well cared for at all times

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is passionate about working with children
• Enjoys outdoor learning and creative play
• Is enthusiastic, reliable and eager to learn
• Can balance work and study commitments
• Has a positive, caring and proactive attitude
• Wants to develop a long-term career in early years

(No prior qualification is required — full training will be provided as part of the apprenticeship.)

What We Offer

• A recognised Level 2 or Level 3 Early Years qualification
• Hands-on experience in a supportive nursery environment
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Enhanced pension contributions
• 65% childcare discount
• Four annual nursery closure days dedicated to staff training
• The opportunity to work for a not-for-profit organisation that puts children first

Equality, Diversity & Safer Recruitment

At Acorn, we are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong. We value diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

Successful applicants must:

• Have the right to work in the UK
• Provide two satisfactory references
• Complete an Enhanced DBS check prior to starting

As a thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to making Acorn a safe, nurturing and fun place for our children to be, we offer:

• Payscales that are competitive, transparent and reviewed annually
• 65% Childcare discount Pro-rata according to contracted hours
• Generous family leave
• Christmas closure
• 25 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays (and the option to buy more)
• 4 dedicated training days and individual development plans
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Cyclescheme
• Techscheme
• Length of Service awards
• Summer and Christmas parties
• Pay advances for when times are tough
• Employee assistance wellbeing programme