Early Years Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard Level 2

You will gain a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner qualification. You can choose to progress onto a Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship, similar full time qualification or continue with full time employment.

Typical job roles include: Nursery Assistant, Early Years Practitioner, Nursery Practitioner, Nursery Nurse, Assistant Childminder, Nanny and Early Years Worker

Please only apply for this course if you already have a suitable employer to support you throughout your Apprenticeship. If you do not currently have an employer you can apply for Apprenticeship vacancies by visiting www.peterborough.ac.uk/apprenticeships/apprenticeship–vacancies

Do you enjoy working with children and providing a safe and caring environment?
Are you an existing role and wanting to upskill?

Early Years Practitioners are found in a range of private and public settings, and support delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements set by government for learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years of age in both indoor and outdoor environments. As an Apprentice you will work and interact directly with children on a day-to-day basis, supporting the planning and delivery of activities, purposeful play opportunities and educational programmes within the ethos of the setting. You will work as part of a professional team ensuring the welfare and care for children under the guidance and supervision of a suitably qualified professional in the Early Years Workforce.

On a daily basis you will interact with parents, children colleagues and wider multi-agency professionals and partners such as health visitors, social workers and speech and language therapists. You will also work in partnership with other colleagues, parents and/carers or other professionals, with support from a more senior member of the team, to meet the individual needs of each child. Apprentices will have a responsibility for ensuring that you recognise when a child is in danger and/or at risk of serious harm or abuse and contributing to the health and safety of the children, staff and others on the premises.

Individuals will undergo all the checks as per the EYFS requirements to ensure suitability to work with children.

You can apply for an Apprenticeship if you are living in England, over 16 and not in full–time education. You must be in paid employment for the duration of your Apprenticeship, you cannot be self–employed or a volunteer. Employers must pay you the minimum Apprenticeship wage or more, for a minimum of 30 hours a week.

This Apprenticeship is designed for Early Years Practitioners to develop key knowledge, skills and behaviours to support progression towards management responsibilities.
Key Skills:
     •  Promote health and well-being in setting by encouraging babies and young children to consume healthy and balanced meals, snacks and drinks and be physically active
     •  Carry out respectful care routines appropriate to the development, stage, dignity and needs of the child
     •  Communicate with all children in ways that will be understood, including verbal and non-verbal communication and encourage babies and young children to use a range of communication methods.
     •  Work with colleagues to identify and plan enabling environments, activities (both indoors and outdoors), play opportunities and educational programmes to support children's holistic development.
     •  Observe children, assess, plan and record the outcomes, sharing results accurately and confidentially in line with expected statutory frameworks and setting requirements.
     •  Work co-operatively with colleagues, other professionals and agencies to meet the needs of babies and young children and enable them to progress. Work alongside parents and/or carers and recognise their role in the baby's/child's health, well-being learning and development.

Key Knowledge and Behaviours:
     •  How children learn and expected pattern of babies and children's development
     •  The importance of children's holistic development of speech, language and communication, personal, social and emotional development, physical development, literacy and numeracy
     •  The legal requirements and guidance of safeguarding, security, confidentiality of information and promoting the welfare of children and own role and responsibilities in relation to this
     •  Ways to communicate with all children appropriate for all their stages of development
     •  The key stages in the observation, assessment and planning cycle and the value of observation for the child, the parents/carers and the early years setting in planning the next steps.
     •  Partnership working (including parents/carers) in relation to working effectively with children with special educational needs and disabilities
     •  Own role and expected behaviours, including the importance of reflective practice and continued professional development to improve own skills and early years practice.
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As an Apprentice you will be expected to attend college 1 day a month as part of your ongoing 20% off–the–job training. Additional off–the–job training hours are expected to be completed within the workplace, however you may be asked to complete tasks at home via Google Classroom and One–file.

Please note you may also be asked to complete additional English and Maths qualifications as part of the Apprenticeship programme.