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Kids Planet Durham is looking for an Early Years Apprentice to join our Meadowfield nursery, a proud family run setting built on care, curiosity and a love for the early years. You’ll be enrolled in the Kids Planet Training Academy to gain an Early Years qualification while you work, with a supportive team, a great culture, and benefits such as free meals, enhanced parental leave, wellbeing perks and a clear path to progression. Level 2 apprenticeships take about 15 months, Level 3 about 18 months. To apply, demonstrate your commitment to safeguarding, your ability to build warm relationships with families, and your readiness to learn on the job; you must have lived in the UK for at least 3 years and pass maths and English assessments. An enhanced DBS is required. Apply today.
Kids Planet is an independent, family run group of nurseries providing the highest standard of nursery care across the UK.
What if your next job meant more than just work, what if it meant shaping futures, every day?
Kids Planet is a proud family-run business, we do things with heart and we’re passionate about giving every child the best possible start. No two settings are the same, but all of them are built around our shared values: care, curiosity, and a genuine love for early years.
Join Kids Planet Durham as an Early Years Apprentice!
We’re now looking for an Early Years Apprentice to join our team, someone who’s ready to get stuck in, spark imaginations, and help children thrive. As an Early Years Apprentice, you will be enrolled on to a training programme through the Kids Planet Training Academy to gain a qualification in Early Years.
Why Kids Planet Durham?
Curiosity approach accredited
Musical approach
Amazing, experienced staff across the nursery
Great Place to Work Certified 2025/26
Ranked #1 UK Best Workplaces for Women 2025
Crowned NMT’s Large Nursery Group of the Year, for the second year running
80% Childcare Discount – T&Cs apply
What we offer our Early Years Apprentices:
Free breakfast, lunch, and healthy snacks to fuel your day!
Accredited training through our awesome KP Academy and bespoke training platform.
Enhanced leave for maternity, paternity, fertility, and adoption because family matters.
Wellbeing goodies, staff rewards, and fun events all year round.
Long service awards to celebrate your commitment.
Take the day off on your birthday, it’s all about you!
Competitive salary, pension plan and enhanced holiday allowance.
Friendly central support team always on hand to help.
How you’ll make a difference as an Early Years Apprentice:
By learning how to support, care for, and inspire children during their earliest years, from birth to age five.
Through learning how to ensure the safeguarding of children in your care.
By learning how to work as part of a successful team.
Through working to build warm, trusting relationships with families through kind, open communication.
By working as part of a successful team.
Through liaising with parents on matters relating to the most important person in their world.
What an Early Years Apprentice needs:
To meet minimum apprenticeship eligibility criteria, including having lived in the UK for a minimum of 3 years.
To pass maths and English entry assessments.
Sound like the place for you?
Apply today to join Kids Planet Durham
As a guide, Level 2 apprenticeships take approximately 15 months to complete, and Level 3 apprenticeships take approximately 18 months to complete.
We embrace everyone. Our goal is to create a truly inclusive culture and diverse workforce. We break down barriers so you can be your authentic self—and flourish!
Kids Planet is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of children and young people. An enhanced DBS check will be required for this role. We expect all staff and volunteers to uphold this commitment, and safeguarding training is a fundamental part of every role. All colleagues are required to complete regular training to ensure they understand and fulfil their responsibilities. A Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate is mandatory for all positions, and this role will be subject to enhanced checks as part of our safeguarding duties.
Kids Planet is committed to equal opportunities for all. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our staff and children. Applications are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.