Early Years Employers-2new

Early Years Employers:

Build Your Team. Shape Their Future. Support Every Child.

At Lanvey, we know that the heart of any early years setting is the team who nurture, educate, and inspire children every single day. Hiring an apprentice gives you the chance to grow a committed practitioner who is trained in your ethos, understands your children, and becomes a long-term asset to your nursery or childcare setting.

Why Hire a Teaching Apprentice?

Support Children’s Development

Apprentices are trained in child development, safeguarding, learning through play, and
creating safe, stimulating environments—helping your children thrive from day one.

Cost-Effective Staffing

Apprenticeships are an affordable way to bring extra support into your setting. With government funding available, you pay only a small contribution (or nothing at all if you’re a
smaller employer).

Tailored Training for Your Setting

Apprentices learn on the job and through structured training. They develop practical skills like managing routines, planning activities, and supporting children’s emotional well-
being—directly aligned to your daily practice.

Long-Term Commitment

When you invest in an apprentice, they grow with your setting. Many apprentices continue
into permanent roles as trusted Early Years Educators, senior practitioners, or even future
managers.

Fresh Ideas & Enthusiasm

Apprentices bring energy, creativity, and up-to-date training from their studies—helping to
refresh practice and inspire your team.

Supporting Ofsted & Quality Standards

Having well-trained apprentices shows Ofsted your commitment to workforce development
and high-quality childcare provision.

How It Works

Step 1

Tell Us What You Need

We’ll help you recruit the right apprentice for your setting, whether Level 2 Early Years Practitioner or Level 3 Early Years Educator.

Step 2

Training Built Around You

Apprentices spend most of their time working with you, supported by structured off- the-job training to cover theory, safeguarding, and best practice.

Watch Them Grow

Your apprentice becomes a confident, qualified practitioner—supporting children’s learning and development while strengthening your team.

What does it cost to hire an apprentice?

If your annual payroll is under £3m, you only pay 5% of the training cost, with the government funding the remaining 95%.

If you have fewer than 50 employees and hire a 16–21year old, training is fully funded.

How much time will they spend training?

Apprentices work with you most of the week. 20% of their time is spent on off-the-job training (e.g. online learning, assignments, workshops). This can often be built into their normal working day.

What support do I need to provide?

You’ll need to:

Provide a safe and supportive environment.

Allow the apprentice time for training.

Assign a workplace mentor or supervisor. We’ll handle the training, assessment, and progress monitoring.

How long does the apprenticeship take?

Level 2 Early Years Practitioner: 13 months

Level 3 Early Years Educator: 16 months

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