Nursery Practitioner Apprentice
| Posting date: | 06 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £20,051 per year, pro rata |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 15 February 2026 |
| Location: | Paignton, Devon (Little Thinkers - Curledge Street Academy) |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | The Thinking Schools Academy Trust |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: |
Summary
We are looking for a passionate early years apprentice practitioner to join our family at Little Thinkers at Kings Ash and Curledge Street Nursery.
Ideally you should be able to read stories upside down, with at least 10 interruptions per page
You will preferably have a little quirkiness - if a child request that you be an astronaut navigating a rocket ship full of dinosaurs throughout space, you will be the best astronaut you can be!
The ability to sing in tune is not necessary, however the ability to sing out of tune in front of a crowd of tiny humans is essential!
️☃️Must not be afraid to dance in the rain, make mud pies and build sandcastles in the snow
Possessing the skills required to rapidly count the heads of numerous moving small people is the utmost importance!
Nose wiping skills are essential!
As a Nursery Practitioner, you will play a vital role in providing high-quality care and education to children in our nursery. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills to engage effectively with children, parents, and colleagues, and a genuine enthusiasm for supporting children’s growth and development.
Fluency in English, both written and spoken, is essential, and we will support and train you in the skills and knowledge you need to fulfil the role.
Key Skills:
Foster a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment for children and plan and deliver age-appropriate activities supporting development.
Supervise and interact with children throughout daily routines, monitor and assess individual progress, identifying developmental needs.
Collaborate with parents and guardians to ensure the well-being and development of each child.
Follow all health and safety guidelines to ensure the well-being of children at all times.
Maintain accurate records and uphold safeguarding and health and safety standards
Able to be flexible in working in different spaces. Team members may be asked to work or cover in other settings.
Benefits
Competitive salary
Ongoing professional development opportunities
Supportive work environment with a collaborative team
Opportunities for career advancement within the organisation
If you are enthusiastic about working with children, have excellent communication skills, and are committed to providing high-quality care, we would love to hear from you!
About Us
Little Thinkers is a small family of Nurseries providing childcare and early years provision to families in Portsmouth and Torbay. We pride ourselves on providing a safe, nurturing environment filled with learning opportunities.
Not all Nurseries think in the same way…
We are a part of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust which makes us a ‘thinking nursery’ – this means we think big thoughts. We provide wonderous experiences and we develop confident, curious and resilient individuals
Next Steps
Early applications are encouraged, and we reserve the right to close the vacancy if a suitable candidate is found.
Prospective candidates are invited to visit our welcoming schools. We strongly encourage any applicants who may be interested in working at Little Thinkers to contact Jo Mitchell (Nursery Manager) Jo.Mitchell@littlethinkers.org.uk
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. As per KCSIE we will also undertake online searches for all shortlisted candidates. If you have any questions regarding this process, please email recruitment@tsatrust.org.uk
Ideally you should be able to read stories upside down, with at least 10 interruptions per page
You will preferably have a little quirkiness - if a child request that you be an astronaut navigating a rocket ship full of dinosaurs throughout space, you will be the best astronaut you can be!
The ability to sing in tune is not necessary, however the ability to sing out of tune in front of a crowd of tiny humans is essential!
️☃️Must not be afraid to dance in the rain, make mud pies and build sandcastles in the snow
Possessing the skills required to rapidly count the heads of numerous moving small people is the utmost importance!
Nose wiping skills are essential!
As a Nursery Practitioner, you will play a vital role in providing high-quality care and education to children in our nursery. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills to engage effectively with children, parents, and colleagues, and a genuine enthusiasm for supporting children’s growth and development.
Fluency in English, both written and spoken, is essential, and we will support and train you in the skills and knowledge you need to fulfil the role.
Key Skills:
Foster a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment for children and plan and deliver age-appropriate activities supporting development.
Supervise and interact with children throughout daily routines, monitor and assess individual progress, identifying developmental needs.
Collaborate with parents and guardians to ensure the well-being and development of each child.
Follow all health and safety guidelines to ensure the well-being of children at all times.
Maintain accurate records and uphold safeguarding and health and safety standards
Able to be flexible in working in different spaces. Team members may be asked to work or cover in other settings.
Benefits
Competitive salary
Ongoing professional development opportunities
Supportive work environment with a collaborative team
Opportunities for career advancement within the organisation
If you are enthusiastic about working with children, have excellent communication skills, and are committed to providing high-quality care, we would love to hear from you!
About Us
Little Thinkers is a small family of Nurseries providing childcare and early years provision to families in Portsmouth and Torbay. We pride ourselves on providing a safe, nurturing environment filled with learning opportunities.
Not all Nurseries think in the same way…
We are a part of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust which makes us a ‘thinking nursery’ – this means we think big thoughts. We provide wonderous experiences and we develop confident, curious and resilient individuals
Next Steps
Early applications are encouraged, and we reserve the right to close the vacancy if a suitable candidate is found.
Prospective candidates are invited to visit our welcoming schools. We strongly encourage any applicants who may be interested in working at Little Thinkers to contact Jo Mitchell (Nursery Manager) Jo.Mitchell@littlethinkers.org.uk
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. As per KCSIE we will also undertake online searches for all shortlisted candidates. If you have any questions regarding this process, please email recruitment@tsatrust.org.uk