Early Years Apprentice

Your future in Early Years starts here – apply for a LEYF Apprenticeship ¦ Starting salary of £16,640- £21,320 ¦ Places available across our London-based nurseries -  At LEYF, our Apprentices love that they’re part of something bigger – learning on the job, gaining a recognised qualification, and helping children aged 0-5 grow and develop. We provide extra paid training each week in our dedicated Apprenticeship Academy, which is part of one of our nurseries, so you’ll be supported every step of the way.

But don’t just take our word for it, here’s what our people say:

“Doing the Apprenticeship was the best decision I’ve ever made. The Apprenticeship team are amazing, there’s so much support behind it. If you’re ever struggling with anything they’re always there. I’m now a qualified Teacher!” Becky, Level 3 Early Years Teacher

“I never would have thought at the age of 19 that I would find a career that would bring so much fulfilment and happiness. Even now my passion for influencing a child’s learning journey and making it the best experience possible for them stays with me. Now, I continue to do this by supporting the next generation of Apprentices to find the same joy in this amazing career.”

Michelle, Apprenticeship Programme Manager

• Full-time role, 40 hours/week, Monday–Friday
• You’ll get the national apprenticeship salary of between £16,640 - £21,320
• You’ll be part of a small cohort of 20-25 learners where you’ll make friends and have study buddies to help each other through your apprenticeship
• Get support in achieving your Level 3 Early Years qualification with additional in-house tutor support plus learning and study sessions every week in our Apprenticeship Academy
• Guaranteed interview for a permanent Teacher role once qualified, bringing your salary to a minimum of £30,784. We have a 100% success rate!
• Extra training available in topics like Special Educational Needs, Coaching and Sustainability!
• 70% childcare discount for your children/grandchildren at a LEYF nursery
• 35 days’ holiday, including bank holidays and your birthday off
• Sector-leading parental leave, wellbeing support, shopping discounts, annual conference and awards, and more!
• If you are a care leaver, you’ll get an extra study bursary. Just let us know when you apply
• A whole host of extra benefits and discounts specific to being an Apprentice! on our website

You’ll enjoy being around children, be ready to learn, and excited to start a long-term career in Early Years. We’re looking for people who believe, like we do, that every child deserves the best start in life. Our Apprentices are our future Teachers, who care deeply about children’s wellbeing, who take the time to listen, to smile, to show up with kindness and patience every single day.

If you believe in changing the world one child at a time, we’ll give you the tools, training and support to do exactly that. Plus, you’ll have a job for life once you achieve your qualification with LEYF!

• Be aged 16+ (no upper age limit!)
• Have the right to work in the UK
• Have lived in the UK/ European Economic Area (EEA) for the last 3 years
• Be available full-time, all year round
• If you don’t have Level 2 Functional Skills or GCSE Maths and English Grade C/4 then don’t worry because we’ll help you to achieve this

Our Apprenticeships usually start in April, September and November so it’s never too late to apply. You’ll get hands‑on learning in our Apprenticeship Academy with our amazing team. They’ve been through it themselves and can help you complete your apprenticeship in as little as 12 months.

When you join, you’ll be based at a specific nursery for 4 days a week. Your 1 day per week at the Academy is included in your paid 40 hours. You’ll enjoy educational trips with your cohort, access to a rich library of learning resources, and ongoing support from both your nursery manager and coach.

We’re the London Early Years Foundation, a family of 43 nurseries in London. With our unique charitable social enterprise model, we’re leading change in Early Years, ensuring equal education and care for all children to give them the best start in life. 75% of our nurseries are in deprived areas of London, meaning you have the chance to make the biggest impact by working with us.

Any profits we make get reinvested back into the business, giving more to our people and to the children.