Nursery Apprentice

Early Years Apprenticeship Scheme – at any of our Fennies Nurseries

• Salary:
  Up to £27,262 per year
• Bonus:
  Potential to earn a further £1,000 in bonus
• 4‑day or 5‑day working week available

Start your career in early years while gaining a recognised qualification.

At Fennies, we believe great childcare starts with great people. You don’t need previous nursery experience to join us – just a genuine passion for working with children and a willingness to learn.

As an Early Years Apprentice, you’ll earn while you learn, gaining hands‑on experience in a nursery while working towards your Level 2 Early Years Practitioner qualification with a leading training provider.

• Up to £26,190 annual salary
• Performance‑related bonuses up to £1,000

• Choice of a 4‑day or 5‑day working week
• 20 days annual leave increasing by 1 day per year of service (up to 25) plus bank holidays
• Free daily meals from the Fennies Café
• Summer BBQs, Christmas events, company celebrations and Apprentice Week events
• Recognition and reward through the Fennies Club long service awards
• Work towards the Level 2 or 3 Early Years Practitioner qualification
• Structured apprenticeship programme (typically 12 months)
• Dedicated trainer with regular coaching and check‑ins
• Blended learning, including on‑the‑job training, workshops and online sessions
• Support to progress to Level 3 Early Years Educator
• Personalised development plans, mentoring and support

As an Early Years Apprentice, you’ll work as part of a supportive team while learning the skills needed to become a qualified early years professional.

• Support children aged 0‑5 during play, learning activities and daily routines
• Help create experiences that encourage curiosity and development
• Work alongside experienced educators to keep the nursery safe, organised and welcoming
• Build warm relationships with children and their families
• Support children’s confidence, independence and wellbeing
• Learn how to observe children’s development and contribute to their learning journeys

You’ll gain real experience every day, helping children grow through play, exploration and meaningful interactions.

This is a structured training programme designed to set you up for long‑term success in early years.

• Learn essential skills in child development, safeguarding and early years practice
• Complete off‑the‑job training (around 6 hours per week) alongside your role
• Build a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate your progress
• Receive regular support from your trainer and Nursery mentor
• Complete an End Point Assessment (EPA) to achieve your qualification

Upon completion, you’ll be a qualified Early Years Practitioner with opportunities to progress at Fennies or the wider early years sector.

• Friendly, patient and caring
• Interested in working with children
• A positive team player who enjoys working with others
• Reliable and motivated to learn new skills
• Ideally you will have Maths and English (Grade 4/C or above) or a willingness to work towards them.

Most importantly, you bring enthusiasm, curiosity and a desire to build a meaningful career.

• Starting your career after school or college
• Want to earn while gaining a qualification
• Looking to start a meaningful career
• Have experience in care roles and enjoy working with people
• Have worked as a teaching assistant, nanny or babysitter
• Looking for a career change into childcare/education
• Want a role where every day is active, rewarding and different
• Want to join a company that is committed to building exceptional places to work.

Fennies is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check and provide proof of identity. In line with Safer Recruitment guidance, online searches (including social media) may be conducted for shortlisted candidates.

At Fennies, we celebrate diversity and believe inclusive teams create stronger learning environments for children. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.