Nursery Apprentice

Early Years Apprentice

📍 Acorn Nursery, Rowans - Fullers Slade
🎓 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 @ Rowans. 

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.

Acorn Early Years is a well-established not-for-profit childcare provider with over 35 years’ experience, delivering high-quality early years education across Milton Keynes, Northampton and Bedford.

Our nurseries are built on strong values, including nature-based learning, child-centred practice, and professional development, and we are proud to have been recognised as a ‘Top 20 Recommended Nursery Group 2025’ by Day Nurseries.

About Acorn Rowans

Acorn at Rowans is a 50 place day nursery in Fullers Slade, Milton Keynes. Attached to the Rowans Family Centre, we offer fully funded places for eligible 9 month old, 2, 3 and 4 year olds.

The nursery provides children with a caring, challenging and stimulating environment. Children are supported by a highly qualified and experienced staff team who have ample knowledge and experience of child development and special education needs. All children are assigned a key person which helps children to become familiar with the setting and to feel confident and safe within it.

We are proud to provide a nurture group with a focus on supporting children with language delays and/or challenging behaviour.

The outdoor area is continually evolving and benefits from a large, covered decking area that provides children with shelter and shade throughout the year. The back garden has a fully equipped mud kitchen; there are digging and planting areas for the children to explore a more natural environment. In the front outdoor area, there is a large, covered sandpit and play structure so the children can enjoy outdoor play all year round.

The Acorn room is a bright, colourful room for infants, aged 4 months to 2 and a half years old. The room is set up to help develop and meet all children’s needs and accommodates up to 18 children. The Squirrel and Oak Room aged 2 and a half years - 4-year-olds is a hive of activity that accommodates up to 28 children. Activities are based around children’s interests and their age and stage of development. For the Oaks, we provide age-appropriate activities and group time to prepare children for their transition to school.

The Squirrels (2 - 3 year olds) and Oaks (3 - 4 year olds) room are joined together, accommodating 28 children in total. Children are supported by members of staff who provide activities that are age and stage appropriate for all children to encourage their overall development, as well as providing age appropriate activities and group time to prepare children from Oaks for their transition to school.

We place a strong emphasis on outdoor learning and the children enjoy play outside in all weathers. Pre-school children, (Oaks) develop their outdoor learning at regular Forest School sessions, and a variety of imaginative and creative play activities can be enjoyed alongside regular outings and trips.

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