A nursery apprentice combines normal employee responsibilities with structured learning. Exact duties depend on level, age group, experience and the setting’s policies.
Typical day-to-day work
You may prepare activities, support children’s play, help with meals and care routines, observe learning, maintain safe spaces, communicate with colleagues and contribute to records. You will work within safeguarding, confidentiality, health and safety, and supervision procedures.
What you should not be expected to do
Your responsibilities must be appropriate to your competence and supervision. An apprentice should not be used simply as cheap staffing without protected training, or left to handle responsibilities they have not been trained and authorised to undertake.
Off-the-job training
Apprenticeship learning includes training away from the ordinary productive duties of the role. It must take place within paid working hours, though it may include workshops, assignments, mentoring, shadowing and structured learning rather than one fixed “college day”.
How responsibilities grow
A Level 2 apprentice usually develops supported practice. At Level 3, the role contains greater responsibility for children’s learning and development. Level 5 apprentices are already experienced and lead operational practice.