What Are Childcare Apprenticeships for Employers?
Feb 9 2024
Offering childcare apprenticeships for employers is one of the most effective ways for nurseries and early years providers to build a skilled, loyal team. Whether you’re looking to attract new talent, retain experienced staff, or futureproof your business, apprenticeships in childcare provide a flexible, cost-effective way to strengthen your workforce while maintaining high standards of care.
These programmes combine structured learning with hands-on experience, making them an ideal way to grow talent from within.
What Is a Childcare Apprenticeship?
Wondering what is a childcare apprenticeship? It’s a work-based training programme where individuals earn while they learn. Apprentices split their time between practical experience in an early years setting and formal childcare apprenticeship training delivered by a qualified childcare apprenticeship provider like Connect2Care.
Most of an apprentice’s time is spent working, while a smaller portion is dedicated to learning via online courses, practical workshops, or one-on-one mentoring. Each apprenticeship has an allocated duration assigned to it, so the exact division of time can vary. This learning can happen right at the employer’s premises. This ensures apprentices develop strong competencies in safeguarding, child development, communication, and planning age-appropriate activities.
How Do Childcare Apprenticeships Work?
If you’re asking how childcare apprenticeships work, the answer lies in their balance of education and employment. Apprentices contribute meaningfully to your team from day one while building sector-relevant skills in a structured way. For employers, this means your business benefits from motivated team members who are both productive and progressing.
With Connect2Care, you and your employee both get a holistic and personable approach.
Here’s how it’s different with C2C:
- Employees get 1:1 personalised training delivered face to face – right at their place of work
- We become an extension of your team
- We work to fully understand your unique needs, and the training required
Childcare Apprenticeship Benefit for Employers
There’s no shortage of reasons to consider the childcare apprenticeship benefit for your team.
Apprenticeships can:
- Help you attract and retain new talent
- Upskill your current workforce without disrupting operations
- Improve retention through supported development
- Fill skills gaps in a sustainable, affordable way
- Strengthen compliance with sector training requirements
And because childcare apprenticeship training is largely funded by the government, it’s one of the most cost-effective development tools available.
Childcare Apprenticeship Courses and Programmes
Connect2Care offers a range of childcare apprenticeship courses designed for all levels of experience and responsibility:
- Level 2 – Early Years Practitioner: Ideal for those starting out in the sector
- Level 3 – Early Years Educator: Builds on foundational skills for more complex roles
- Level 5 – Early Years Lead Practitioner: Prepares staff for supervisory or managerial responsibilities
All childcare apprenticeship programmes are mapped to sector standards and delivered by trainers with real-world experience in early years care.
Choosing a Childcare Apprenticeship Provider
Choosing the right childcare apprenticeship provider can make all the difference. At Connect2Care, we work with employers across the UK to design, deliver and support successful childcare apprenticeship training. Our role doesn’t end with delivery, though. We help you identify the right programme, onboard apprentices, support mentoring, and navigate funding and compliance.
We also help integrate off-the-job training into your team’s day-to-day flow, so apprentices can learn without disrupting your setting.
Funding Childcare Apprenticeships
The cost of training can be a concern for some companies, but it’s more affordable than you might think. Employers who pay into the Apprenticeship Levy can use those funds to fully cover the cost. Non-levy employers typically pay just 5% of training fees, with the remaining 95% funded by the government – unless the apprentice is aged 16-21, has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), or has previously been in care. In these cases, full funding is available.
Additional funding incentives may apply for hiring young apprentices or those with additional needs. One such incentive is the £1,000 Employer Incentive.
This is available when hiring an apprentice who is:
- Aged 16–18, or
- Aged 19–24 with an EHCP or previously been in care
The payment schedule is £500 after 90 days, and the second £500 after 365 days (only the first £500 is paid if the programme is under 12 months).
Not to mention that when an employee under 25 is enrolled on an apprenticeship, you pay ZERO National Insurance on their earnings (up to £50,270 per year).
We’ll help you understand and access the funding available to your business.
Reach out to Connect2Care now.
Onboarding and Mentoring Support
Childcare apprenticeships, for employers, means setting up strong onboarding and mentoring from the start. We work closely with managers to ensure apprentices understand their roles, expectations, and goals. Our trainers are also available for regular check-ins to support both the apprentice and your wider team.
What Jobs Can You Get with a Childcare Apprenticeship?
Employers often ask: what jobs can you get with a childcare apprenticeship? Apprenticeships can prepare your team members for roles such as:
- Nursery assistant
- Early years educator
- Preschool key worker
- Childminding assistant
- Room leader or nursery manager
These roles are essential to any early years setting, and apprenticeships provide a clear path to fill them with capable, well-trained individuals.
Can You Become a Teacher with a Childcare Apprenticeship?
Another common question is: can you become a teacher with a childcare apprenticeship? While apprenticeships don’t lead directly to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), they can be an important first step. Many apprentices go on to complete Early Childhood Studies degrees or teacher training, using their hands-on experience as a foundation.
Progression from Childcare Apprenticeship
There’s no single path for progression from childcare apprenticeship. Some staff move into leadership roles or pursue specialised training in SEND or safeguarding. Others continue on to higher-level apprenticeships or formal education routes.
We work with employers to ensure that progression is supported, so talented team members continue to grow within your organisation.
Is Training in Childcare Right for Your Team?
If your business values high-quality care and staff development, training in childcare through apprenticeships is a practical and rewarding investment. Apprentices bring fresh perspectives, a willingness to learn, and long-term potential to your team.
Find out more about how your company can offer an early years training programme to your staff.
FAQs
How much do childcare apprenticeships cost?
This is dependent on your business size and your apprentice’s age. You may pay just 5% of the training cost, or none at all if using your Apprenticeship Levy or the apprentice is aged 16-21, has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), or has previously been in care.
Do apprentices count toward staff ratios?
Yes. Once deemed competent, Level 2 apprentices can be included in ratios.
Can existing staff complete an apprenticeship?
Absolutely. Apprenticeship childcare is not limited to new hires. It’s a valuable way to upskill existing staff as well. There is no upper age limit – we have apprenticeships available for all stages of their careers, from entry level to senior management and beyond.
Ready to strengthen your team with childcare apprenticeships for employers?
Visit our website to learn more about partnering with Connect2Care for sector-leading childcare apprenticeship training and support.
