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Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner Apprenticeship

Saplings Rural Day Nursery and Preschool LTD · Tonbridge · posted 8 October 2026

Wage
Competitive
Hours
40 hours a week
Duration
1 Year 8 Months
Level
Higher (Level 5)
Standard
Early years lead practitioner (level 5)
Starts
2 December 2026
Closing date
1 December 2026
Positions
1

Apply on the official government service →No Apprentice League account needed — we never gate applications.

  • Providing care: Ensuring children are safe and well, and responding to their needs
  • Supporting learning: Facilitating play and learning opportunities, and developing children's speech, language, and communication
  • Leading practice: Participating in and leading daily routines, and promoting best practices for observation, assessment, and planning
  • Promoting diversity and equality: Ensuring all children are included and supported
  • Complying with safeguarding: Ensuring the setting complies with all safeguarding legislation, policies, and strategies
  • Reflecting and building on practice: Using professional enquiry and action research to contribute to the setting's pedagogical approach
  • Leading other practitioners: Supporting others in developing their own practice

Your training

  • Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner
  • The programme offers a blended approach including virtual classrooms, webinars, work-based tasks and online assignments
  • Candidates are not required to attend college
  • You will  receive one-to-one support and tuition from your apprenticeship tutor, this tutor will make in person visits to you at the nursery, or schedule online meetings every 5-6 weeks

Where it leads

The Early Years Lead Practitioner Level 5 is the equivalent to a foundation degree. You could progress to a top-up degree and Early Years Teacher Status.

About Saplings Rural Day Nursery and Preschool LTD

Situated on the outskirts of Hadlow village, Saplings Nursery and Pre-School provides a safe and fun environment for your child to learn and explore.
At saplings, we believe that every child is unique, complex and individual. Through nurture and creative experiences we endeavour to develop each child’s potential, confidence, strength and skills in an educational atmosphere of fun, warmth and safety. We have a holistic approach, surrounding care, education, inspiration and connection. It’s a home away from home and a supportive community for you and your family.
At Saplings, every day as a new opportunity to connect with nature, to grow and to build on children’s natural curiosity that will create a life-long love of learning. Our objective is to be a bridge between the home and school by providing the highest standards of childcare and education for babies, toddlers and pre-school children.
Registered and inspected by Ofsted, we offer sessional care for children aged between 6 months and 5 years of age, as well as Before School and After-School clubs for children of primary school age. We are open 50 weeks of year, from 07:45 till 18:00.

Things to consider

Safeguarding Statement

This authority/organisation is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, requiring all staff and volunteers to uphold this commitment.

As part of the safer recruitment, you will require an enhanced DBS. This will be applied for by the employer if successful. 

It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Right to Work & Residency

Requirements Applicants who are not UK nationals must meet apprenticeship funding eligibility rules, including having lived in the UK or EU for at least 3 consecutive years prior to the start date.

You must hold a valid visa that does not expire within 18 months of your apprenticeship start date. We will require a share code to verify your right to work and study in the UK.

After submitting your application, you will receive a screening form where you can securely provide your share code for eligibility checks.

Skills they're looking for

Communication skillsIT skillsAttention to detailOrganisation skillsCustomer care skillsProblem solving skillsPresentation skillsAdministrative skillsNumber skillsAnalytical skillsLogicalTeam workingCreativeInitiativeNon judgementalPatience

Entry requirements

  • GCSE English (grade 4) — essential
  • Level 3 Early Years Educator Qualification Level 3 Early Years Educator (grade Pass) — essential

Where you'll work

  • 2 COURT LANE, HADLOW, TONBRIDGE, TN11 0DP

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