Early Years Apprenticeships

The first few years of a child’s life lay the foundation for their future learning and development and early years practitioners play a crucial role. Childcare practitioners need to be equipped with the right skills so they can effectively support children mentally, socially and emotionally as they learn, develop and prepare for school. Working in this industry can be hugely rewarding and offers learners a range of career opportunities, from community work, to education and self-employment. For employers striving for exceptional childcare provision, investing in staff training and development will improve practice, staff retention and parents' loyalty and trust. Whether learners are new to the industry or experienced employees, our variety of apprenticeships provide learners of all levels with the skills they need to succeed.

Download our brochure to find out more about our apprenticeships

Download the brochure

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Employer benefits

Apprenticeships are accessible for all companies large or small, and are either part or fully funded.
Fill key skills gaps and identify developing talent in your organisation.
Apprenticeships support staff retention and could hold the key to sustainable employment and team longevity.
Attract the best team of workers – committed, and motivated individuals dedicated to build a career in this rewarding industry.
Providing internal opportunities can benefit your work culture and provide a testament of strength and employee interest to your company.
Elevate your business’s potential by providing your employees with tailor-made training programmes, structured learning outlets, and transferable skill sets.

The facts

In the UK over 339,800 people work in early years provision

There are 3,117 nursery schools in the UK

Learner benefits

You’ll gain valuable qualifications and skills while earning a salary and not paying tuition fees.
In the early years sector everyday is different. You will work with children of all backgrounds and abilities, helping them develop skills through a range sensory and play activities.
You will play an important role in helping children from birth to school age reach their full potential.
The early years sector provides abundant opportunities for a varied and exciting career, you could work for charities, in education or even set up your own business.
An early years apprenticeship can bring fun, enjoyment and job satisfaction to every day, seeing the children in your care develop as individuals and knowing that you’re giving them the best possible start in life.
Through your apprenticeship you will have a mentor who can guide and advise you, give you feedback and help you decide what are the best steps for advancing in your early years career.
You will benefit from a combination of workplace learning and classroom learning, and through STS your employer may opt to offer you an added value experiential learning course at one of our 12 training centres.