The Level 2 Early years practitioner, and the 159 providers delivering it.
Work and interact directly with children on a day to day basis supporting the planning of and delivery of activities.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Working under the guidance of a qualified Early Years Educator or teacher, apprentices learn to support children from birth to 5 across both indoor and outdoor environments, in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The training covers planning and delivering play-based activities, observing and assessing children's progress, contributing to care routines such as feeding, nappy changing and toileting, and recognising signs of harm or abuse. Apprentices also learn to communicate with parents, carers and multi-agency professionals such as health visitors and speech and language therapists.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Each week involves preparing and supporting child-initiated and adult-led activities tailored to individual children's needs and interests. Apprentices carry out personal care routines, contribute to observations that feed into children's learning records, and help maintain a safe, welcoming environment. They work alongside colleagues to manage group activities, support children at mealtimes, and communicate updates to parents at the start and end of sessions. All work is carried out under supervision of a more senior practitioner.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship leads to roles such as nursery assistant, nursery practitioner, nursery nurse or early years worker. Common employers include private day nurseries, children's centres, pre-schools, reception classes, and home-based care settings. Many completers go on to study the Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship, which opens the door to lead practitioner roles with greater responsibility for planning and assessment. Some move into specialist areas such as SEND support or family services.
159 approved providers
Sorted by achievement rate.
Hertford Regional College (HRC) is a general further education college with campuses in Broxbourne a...
Tameside College is a further education college based in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, prov...
North Hertfordshire College (NHC) is a further education college offering a broad range of vocationa...
Northampton College is a further education college offering a wide range of vocational, technical an...
Showcase Training is an early years training specialist formed in 2015 that focuses on delivering ch...
Achieving for Children is a not‑for‑profit organisation providing children’s services on behalf of K...
Total Training Provision is a national provider of education and training, rated Good by Ofsted, off...
TrainPlus is a UK training provider delivering bespoke apprenticeship and training solutions for bot...
The Learning Foundry is a full-service training provider that supports individuals and employers to ...
Early Years Alliance is a national educational charity and membership body that also delivers accred...
Realise is a longstanding work-based learning and training provider that has been delivering trainin...
The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise that has delivered high-quality training an...
Harlow College is a further education provider offering a wide range of programmes designed to prepa...
Lancaster & Morecambe College (LMC) is a further education college that provides a wide range of tec...
Sparsholt College Hampshire is a land-based further and higher education provider offering a wide ra...
Independent Training Services Ltd (ITS) is a national provider of vocational education and workforce...
The Sheffield College is a large further education provider offering a wide range of technical, voca...
Riverside Training is a government‑approved apprenticeship and training provider with over 29 years’...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completers typically move into employed roles as a Nursery Assistant, Nursery Practitioner, or Early Years Practitioner, working directly with children from birth to five. Some take up positions as Nursery Nurses or Early Years Workers in pre-schools, reception classes, and children's centres. Those working in home-based settings may progress to roles supporting registered childminders or working as nannies with a recognised qualification behind them.
Progression paths
With experience, practitioners commonly progress to Early Years Educator (level 3), which brings greater responsibility for planning and leading activities independently. From there, the track typically splits: a leadership route leads toward Room Leader, Deputy Manager, and eventually Nursery Manager. A specialist route can lead to focusing on areas such as special educational needs, safeguarding coordination, or family support work. Both tracks benefit from additional qualifications gained alongside employment.
Where these roles sit
Private day nurseries and nursery chains are the largest employers, but roles also exist across local authority nurseries, children's centres, pre-schools, and maintained school reception classes. NHS trusts, hospital play services, and social care settings take on practitioners too. The sector spans small owner-operated settings with a handful of staff through to multi-site organisations running provision across several locations. Demand is consistent across urban and rural areas of the UK.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Throughout the apprenticeship, learning takes place alongside paid employment in an early years setting. The apprentice builds knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to support children's care, learning and development in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage requirements. Before moving to final assessment, a readiness check (the gateway) confirms the apprentice and their employer and training provider all agree the required standard has been met. Final assessment then provides an independent confirmation of competence in the role. Assessment arrangements for many standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Building a record of workplace evidence throughout the apprenticeship makes the final stages significantly easier. Apprentices should document activities they have planned and supported, observations they have contributed to, and examples of working with parents, colleagues and wider professionals. Keeping notes and records as situations arise, rather than reconstructing them later, produces stronger evidence. Regular reviews with the employer and training provider help identify any gaps in practice early, so there is time to address them well before the gateway.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with an achievement rate above 65%, and check whether the apprentice satisfaction score reflects a positive day-to-day experience, since much of this programme runs alongside busy childcare shifts. Strong providers will have a clear relationship with EYFS delivery in practice: tutors should be able to explain how off-the-job learning maps onto safeguarding, observation and assessment, and care routines in real settings. Check that they cover the full age range from birth to five, not just pre-school provision. Learner reviews mentioning timely visits and responsive assessors are a useful signal at this level.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers running very high volumes of level 2 cohorts with declining achievement rates, as pastoral support can thin out quickly. If a provider cannot explain how they support apprentices who work across multiple room types or age groups, that is a gap. Vague answers about how safeguarding and EYFS statutory requirements are woven into the curriculum, rather than bolted on as a module, suggest weak programme design. Providers who rely entirely on workbooks without observed practice assessments are not well suited to this occupation.
Questions to ask before you commit
- How do your tutors and assessors keep up to date with changes to the EYFS statutory framework?
- How many workplace visits or observations will the apprentice receive, and are these in-person?
- How does the programme cover the full birth-to-five age range, including babies and toddlers?
- What support is in place for apprentices if a safeguarding concern arises during the programme?
- How do you handle apprentices working in settings with limited access to quiet study time?
- What is your current achievement rate for this standard, and how has it changed over the last two years?
- Can you share examples of the kinds of roles completers have moved into?
Common questions
What qualifications or experience do you need to start an early years practitioner apprenticeship?
There are no fixed national entry requirements, so individual providers and employers set their own criteria. Most look for a basic level of literacy and numeracy, sometimes evidenced by GCSEs in English and Maths at grade 3 or above, though equivalent qualifications are often accepted. Applicants must also pass the checks required under the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, including a Disclosure and Barring Service check, before working with children.
How long does the apprenticeship take and how does learning fit around the job?
The typical duration is 12 months, though the actual length depends on the individual's progress and the employer's programme. Apprentices are employed throughout and learn on the job, supported by off-the-job training away from their normal duties. Current rules on minimum duration and off-the-job training hours are subject to revision under ongoing Skills England reforms, so check the current specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships page for this standard before planning.
How is the apprenticeship assessed and what does the end-point assessment involve?
Before sitting end-point assessment, an apprentice must pass through a gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has met all requirements and is ready to be assessed. Assessment methods for many standards are being updated as part of current reforms, so the precise approach may differ from older descriptions. The apprentice must demonstrate occupational competence across knowledge, skills and behaviours. Check the gov.uk page for standard ST0550 for the current assessment plan.
How does an employer pay for this apprenticeship?
The funding band for this standard is £5,000, which is the maximum government contribution per apprentice. Levy-paying employers draw the cost from their Digital Apprenticeship Service account. Employers who do not pay the levy contribute 5% of training costs, with government paying the remaining 95%. If you are a small employer taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18, government funding covers the full training cost. Funding rules can change, so confirm current rates with your training provider.
What does an early years practitioner actually do day to day?
An early years practitioner works directly with children from birth to age 5, supporting planned activities, play opportunities and care routines under the supervision of a qualified colleague. Day-to-day tasks include helping with personal care such as nappy changing, feeding and toileting, observing children and contributing to their learning records, and working with parents, health visitors and other professionals. Safeguarding is central to the role: practitioners are responsible for recognising signs of harm or abuse and reporting concerns.
Where can an early years practitioner go after completing this apprenticeship?
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads to roles such as nursery assistant, nursery practitioner or early years worker. The natural next step for those wanting greater responsibility is the Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship, which qualifies practitioners to lead activities and take on more independent responsibility for children's learning. From there, progression routes include senior practitioner roles, room leader positions, and for those who continue studying, early years teacher status or a degree in early childhood education.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 550.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.