Set in the heart of the picturesque village of Liphook, Ivy Mill Day Nursery is a beautiful, independent, family-owned nursery who believes in learning through play and creativity, and the power of a thoughtfully designed environment. This is a superb opportunity to join them as an Apprentice Early Years Educator to join them and study for an Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprenticeship.
What you will gain:
- The chance to work within a Steiner influenced nursery where learning through play, creativity and the power of a thoughtfully designed environment is at the forefront of every day.
- The chance to work in rural setting surrounded by nature and animals,
- The opportunity to earn while you learn with an organisation who wholly supports and reflects the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and the Every Child Matters Agenda, which ensures every individual child and their family is at the centre of all learning and development.
Key Responsibilities included but not limited to:
- To ensure the provision of a high-quality environment to meet the needs of individual children from differing cultures and religious backgrounds, and stages of development.
- The preparation and completion of activities to suit the child's stage of development.
- To contribute to a programme of activities suitable to the age range of children in your
- area in conjunction with other staff.
- Work alongside the Manager and staff team to ensure that the vision, philosophy and objectives behind Ivy Mill Day Nursery are fulfilled.
- Assist with planning a programme of activities, suitable for the age range of the children, following the guidelines for the implementation of the EYFS
- To ensure that safeguarding, health and safety and security measures are constantly maintained.
- To provide the highest standards of quality care and education.
- To ensure that health and safety and security measures are constantly maintained.
- To be aware of and act in accordance with current legislation, policy and procedures.
- To keep a proper record of achievement file on your key children, for parents.
- Foresee the needs of Special Needs children and give physical, emotional, intellectual guidance as appropriate and work alongside parents of special needs children to give full integration in the Nursery.
- Support all staff and engage in a good staff team.
- To attend all out of working hours activities, e.g. training, staff meetings, parents’ evenings, events, etc.
- To be flexible within working practices of nursery.
- Be prepared to help where needed, including to undertake certain domestic jobs within the nursery, e.g. preparation of snack meals, cleansing of equipment, putting out bins, doing the laundry, etc.
Who you will be:
- Someone who will provide comfort and warmth to all children.
- Someone who is conscientious and capable of providing effective supervision of the children ensuring a high standard of physical, emotional, social and intellectual care, remaining positive and caring in all interactions with the children
- Someone who is observant and will take a shared responsibility for health, safety and cleanliness throughout the nursery.
- Someone who will act as an ambassador for Ivy Mill Day Nursery both within the nursery and in the wider community
- Someone who already has a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner qualification and is looking to progress in their career
Key Skills:
- Team Player
- Caring and kind nature
- Positive personality
- Willingness to learn
- Dedicated
- Patient
- Good communication
- Excellent organisation
- Reliable
- Punctual
- Friendly
Working Week: Minimum 30 hours per week working 3 shifts of 8am-6pm to maximum 40 hours per week over 4 shifts of 8am-6pm to include 6 hours of study per week.
Salary: From £16,926 for a 30-hour week
Qualifications Required:
- GCSE Maths and English will be required to apply for this apprenticeship
- Early Years Practitioner Level 2 Qualification will be required to apply for this apprenticeship
Future Prospects: Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship there will be potential to become a fully fledged member of the team with opportunities to develop with supported training and coaching.
About the employer: Ivy Mill Day Nursery is in the heart of the village centre in Liphook, ideally situated close to the village's schools, amenities and main transport links. Ivy Mill opened in October 2022 and is registered with Ofsted for 56 child places across the age groups.
Open 51 weeks of the year, they only close for the Christmas week and offer year-round places between 08:00 and 18:00, Monday to Friday, as well as a limited amount of term-time only places.
Ivy Mill has a clear mission statement to provide quality care and education in a safe and stimulating environment. Under the guidance of an experienced Management Team, Ivy Mill Nursery provides for all the physical, emotional and educational needs of children from three months to five years. For further information please visit:
https://www.ivy-mill.co.uk/
What you need to know:
- This is 18-month apprenticeship including end point assessment.
- To apply for a Level 3 you will already need to have the Level 2 qualification.
- To apply you must have lived in the UK for a minimum of 3 years before the start date of the apprenticeship learning and have authorisation to work in the UK.
- You cannot apply if you already have a qualification equal to or higher than the apprenticeship standard being studied.
- You can apply if you have a higher qualification than the apprenticeship standard in an unrelated subject.
- You should live in the area local to the employer and the college campus offering the apprenticeship.
- This is a combination of work and learning so you will need to commit to the learning and stay at the employers until the apprenticeship is successfully completed.
- Hours are a minimum of 30 per week. If required, this could increase to a maximum of 40 hours per week with a maximum salary of £27,040, which would be discussed with the successful applicant at interview.
- Company Benefits include: Employee Discount, Referral Programme, Ongoing Development Opportunities, Enhanced Private Medical Insurance, Pension Scheme, Company Events, Free on-site parking, Attendance Incentive Scheme (Additional Holiday or Financial)
Further Information: Apprenticeship National Minimum Wage (ANMW): The National Minimum Wage for Apprentices is £8.00 per hour (As of the 1st April 2026). This is the legal minimum pay per hour applying to 16- to 18-year-old apprentices and those aged 19 and over in the first year of their apprenticeship. For apprentices 19 or over who have completed their first year and are continuing their apprenticeship, the National Minimum Wage appropriate to their ages applies.
Pay: £16,962.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Liphook GU30 7AB: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Application question(s):
- Why are you interested in working with Ivy Mill Day Nursery Ltd?
- Can you confirm you already have a Early Years Practitioner Level 2 qualification?
- Why do you think you are suited to this role?
Education:
- GCSE or equivalent (preferred)
Location:
- Liphook GU30 7AB (preferred)
Work Location: In person
