Childcare Apprenticeship - Halifax

Job opportunity to work in a vibrant, busy setting! We are a childcare setting based in Shelf, Halifax. We take 15 children daily, we are not a Nursery , and not a childminding service but we offer top quality childcare and education on domestic premises. This post is to begin early January 2026. Enhanced DBDs will be required to shortlisted applicants.

You must have a warm and smiling face that makes every child in my setting feel special and loved You must be able to laugh at jokes that you don’t understand, or don’t find funny. (Children’s humour can be a confusing minefield to navigate.) Quirkiness is preferable If a child requests that you are a Princess, you will be the best fairy-tale Princess you can be. Equally you may need to become Spiderman or a giraffe, you must be happy to roll with it You must feel comfortable telling everyone in the same room as you, that you are going to use the bathroom The ability to sing in tune is not required or indeed necessary however the ability to sing out of tune in front of an enthusiastic and participating crowd is essential Some knowledge of Frozen, Spiderman, Paw Patrol, Minions, Toy Story, Peppa Pig, Hey Duggee and Steve and Maggi would be hugely advantageous An ability to multitask at a high level is essential. (Spinning plates an advantage) The ability to accept that something that should take 5 minutes will probably take 20 is something you will have to be comfortable with You must be able to distribute warm hugs as required, no matter whatever else you may want, need or indeed have to do Possessing the skill to rapidly count numerous moving heads is of upmost importance. (Hi visibility jackets provided to aid this on outdoor excursions) You must also be okay with entering public places on the way home from work with a variety of unknown substances on your clothing You must possess a high level of comfort around talking about bodily functions. You must have a keen sense of smell to enable you to respond swiftly to said bodily functions You must be able to deal with an environment that often resembles the aftermath of a tornado You must be able to remain focused in an environment that has a very high noise level and not require ear defenders Acting skills are required such as pretending to eat play dough creations realistically, looking interested when hearing what Santa brought them for the 15th time, appearing genuinely concerned that another child took their toy/tried to choke them etc…..these skills do develop very quickly over time You must have the ability to remember names of not only the children but their siblings, parents, cousins, next door neighbours, soft toys and pets. (next doors pets too) A key component of this post is feeling comfortable sitting on furniture that does not contain all of your behind, not for long periods as sitting down isn’t something that happens very often A high level of comfort with being asked personal questions by children is essential. You will have spots pointed out that you thought you had concealed pretty well, your weight fluctuations will be noted, as will that state of your nail varnish Expect to regularly be asked what you are having for lunch, will you will be willing to let them touch or indeed eat this lunch, whether or not you are married and if not be able to explain why not You will be asked where you are going (on your way to the toilet) and what you are intending to do in there, on your return you will be asked if you washed your hands

Training:

Paragon Skills is a leading national Apprenticeship training provider, supporting over 4,000 learners and 1,500 organisations. Paragon Skills has some of the highest success and achievement rates in the industry.

It has an Ofsted Grade 2 Good rating and an overall achievement rate of 71.4%, exceeding the national average of 65.6%. Using a blended approach, learners are always at the forefront of our priorities. All learners are assigned a Personal Tutor who will be their main point of contact.

This involves regular catch-ups, check-in emails and calls. Your employer will agree to give you 20% of your working hours solely towards your study.

This will give you every chance to achieve the highest grade possible! On completion of this 12 month apprenticeship you will have gained; Early Years Practitioner– Level 2.

Training Outcome:
Possibility of a full time role after the completion of the apprenticeship

Employer Description:
We provide high quality, educational care for pre-schoolers based on 35 years of early years experience - right in the heart of Shelf, Halifax.

Working Hours :
Monday- Friday (Shifts TBC)

Skills:
Communication skills,Attention to detail,Organisation skills