Apprentice Early Years – Practitioner Little Owls Nursery (LS2 8BB)

Overview

What will the apprentice be doing?

• To support the team to provide high quality care and education for all children and support for families
• To support the team to provide a broad and balanced Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum that will meet the requirements of relevant national and local standards
• To learn how to follow Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and the Early Support Programme for children with Special Educational needs (SEN) and implement that learning in the workplace
• To learn to observe and monitor children’s development and contribute to written reports of their progress and to implement that learning in the workplace
• To maintain client confidentiality
• To report any injury or accident ensuring that health and safety of the individual is maintained
• To follow the process for reporting any suspicious or suspected non-accidental injury complying with Departmental Child Protection Procedures in line with Local Safeguarding Children Board Procedures (West Yorkshire Consortium Procedure Manual)
• To refer parents and families for support where necessary
• If necessary, to take responsibility for a group of children during any building evacuation
• To support the team to provide educational visits for children and families, observing Health and Safety policies
• To understand and support Leeds City Council and Departmental Policies including these on Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety
• To undertake other duties commensurate to the post or grade as required by the Department
• To undertake the accountabilities of the post in accordance with Council policies including the Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety policies

About the Employer

Leeds City Council Children’s Services directorate has 30 Little Owls Nurseries across Leeds with full day care and term time only settings employing more than 600 staff and is the largest childcare employer in Leeds. The Local Authority has been operating childcare for more than 20 years and is highly committed to the apprenticeship program. The entry level position of apprentice childcare assistant is designed to give applicants an opportunity to gain experience working in childcare while studying for a level 2 qualification. At the end of the 12 months’, ‘graduating apprentices’ will be guaranteed an interview for the post of nursery assistant and it is expected that successful applicants will go on to work in settings across Leeds with potential opportunities for advancement. Little Owls nurseries serve local communities and are lined to children centres and for this reason, they different from private and voluntary sector day care. Little Owls nurseries provide services to a wider range of families including working parents, children with special educational needs and disabilities and some of the most vulnerable in Leeds, due to their location mostly in inner city communities.

Things to Consider

The post holder will work from a single or two storey building in a residential area. Leeds City Council operates a non-smoking policy. There will be regular lifting and handling of children. There will be regular Lifting and moving of play equipment. The post holder will be required to kneel, sit on the floor or bend down to low levels in order to effectively interact with children. There are a number apprenticeship opportunities available at centres throughout the city, candidate can confirm centre location at the interview stage. Locations include: Chapeltown; Meanwoord; Hunslet; Chapel Allerton; Seacroft; Beeston; Middleton; Harehills; Gipton; Holbeck; Bramley; Swarcliffe; Rothwell; Woodhouse; Osmondthorpe; Broadway and Burley.

Training to be Delivered

The Level 2 Apprenticeship is delivered in partnership with the workplace you will be expected to attend college 1 day a month, where you will gain knowledge and understanding of the working within the early years sector.

You will develop skills on the job where you will be supported by a workplace mentor.

An Assessor from Leeds City College will visit you on a regular basis to support your learning journey

The Apprenticeship framework comprises of:

• Level 2 Early Years Practitioner

Functional Skills qualifications:

• Level 1 Functional Skill in English
• Level 1 Functional Skill in maths

End point assessment:

• Multiple choice exam
• Professional discussion