Apprentice Educator

N Family Club is hiring an Apprentice Educator to join a dedicated team in Godalming, Surrey. This is a full-time, permanent role based onsite at a 119-place nursery, reporting to Shulamay Davis. The position sits within the Apprenticeships department and offers a clear path from apprenticeship to a fully qualified educator role, with a competitive annual salary of £19,656 to £20,717. The company positions itself as a leading, curriculum-led early-years provider that emphasises creativity and hands-on learning, aiming to prepare children for the modern world. If you’re excited by shaping young minds through play and structure, this could be the right next step for you.

As an Apprentice Educator, you’ll gain practical experience while pursuing an Early Years qualification (Level 2 or Level 3). Your day will involve rotating through the nursery rooms, delivering safe, inspired care to every child you work with. The apprenticeship is designed to transition you smoothly into a qualified educator role once you complete the programme, so you’ll have a real career trajectory from day one.

Godalming’s nursery sits in a charming town setting, and the company highlights that it’s part of a larger, innovative network of early-years education. The team emphasises a curriculum-led approach and a culture that values development, creativity, and supportive teamwork. The nursery’s location is easily accessible, making it convenient for staff and families alike, and the broader organisation is recognised for its workplace culture and progression opportunities.

Starting out in the classroom: what your day looks like

Your daily work will weave learning through play with structured routines to support smooth transitions between meals, naps, and play. You’ll help plan engaging learning experiences that challenge children and support their development, and you’ll learn to observe and assess progress to tailor plans for key children. Building strong, trusting relationships with parents will be another core focus, ensuring open communication about each child’s growth. You’ll also participate in mealtime supervision in line with safety policies and keep every area tidy and well maintained throughout the day. The apprenticeship emphasises ongoing learning, so you’ll be dedicated to pursuing your Early Years qualification as you gain hands-on expertise.

What you’ll bring to the team

Must-haves include a genuine passion for education and changing the lives of children, even if you’re new to the sector. A positive, glass-half-full outlook, a drive to get things done with a can-do attitude, and a love for helping others through excellent customer service are important. You should bring high energy to your tasks and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and personal development; prior experience isn’t required, as the role is designed to train you on the job toward an Early Years qualification. Nice-to-haves can include a readiness to learn and grow in a childcare setting and a willingness to engage with families and colleagues to support a warm, collaborative environment.

What the package looks like

The N Advantage Package blends a solid salary with a wide range of benefits designed to support your growth, flexibility and work-life balance. The essentials and the extras are laid out below, with the aim of helping you thrive as an Apprentice Educator.

• Competitive salary – £19,656 - £20,717 per annum
• Performance bonus – Up to £750 annually
• Flexible working – Choose 4-5 days a week to suit your life
• Industry-leading holiday allowance – Up to 35 days, including a personal ‘Me’ day and Christmas closure
• Development fund – £100 annual learning fund, plus paid N Academy training (level 3, EY Degrees, Forest School & more)
• No uniforms – £100 clothing allowance for style freedom
• Family-friendly – Enhanced parental/fostering/neonatal leave after 2 years
• Childcare – 40% discount, plus 6 emergency days annually
• Loyalty rewards – 5-year bonus with an around-the-world trip plus 2 extra weeks off; 10-year bonus with an “Out of this world” experience plus 2 more weeks off
• Referral scheme – Earn up to £1000 per successful hire
• Amazing discounts – Save on groceries, shopping, fitness and more
• Travel support – Season ticket loans and cycle-to-work scheme
• Socials & wellbeing – Annual parties, team events, gym discounts and online fitness
• And much, much more

Advice for applicants

Put the fact that you’re applying for an Apprentice Educator front and centre on your resume, and highlight your clear interest in early-years education alongside any customer-service experience you’ve had, even if it wasn’t in a childcare setting. Make sure you reference your readiness to pursue an Early Years qualification and your willingness to rotate through different nursery rooms as part of the apprenticeship.

To prove the must-haves, share concrete examples that show your passion for education and your “make it happen” mindset. If you’ve helped children learn through play or supported a teacher or caregiver in a customer-facing role, describe the impact you had and the learning outcomes you witnessed, and tie them back to how you’d apply the same energy to working with families and colleagues here.

Expect questions about how you’d deliver the learning-through-play ethos and how you’d approach building relationships with parents. Think about specific scenarios where you’ve created engaging activities, supported transitions, and contributed to a safe, positive environment for children. Have a few thoughtful questions ready about the apprenticeship path, the pace of progression to qualified educator, and how the team collaborates on curriculum delivery.

One smart question to ask at the end: what does a typical day look like for an Apprentice Educator in this Godalming nursery, and how does the partnership with the apprenticeship programme support progression to a fully qualified role?