Feb 08, 2026
Step into a day in the life of a Level 5 Apprentice and Toddler Room Leader, from early morning room set-up to supporting children’s learning through play, routines, and family partnerships. Discover how apprenticeships help early years professionals grow, lead, and thrive.
My day starts before I even get to nursery, getting myself and my own two-year-old ready for the morning ahead.
07:50 – Arriving and Preparing for the Day I arrive at nursery, sign in, and begin setting up the toddler room ready to welcome the children. I also complete risk assessments across the building, rooms, and outdoor area to ensure everything is safe and ready for the day.
08:00 – Welcoming Children and Supporting the Team As the nursery opens, I greet the children and staff as they arrive. I write the job and lunch break rota for the day and check the activity plan to ensure our adult-led learning opportunity is prepared and carried out.
Throughout the day, I’m constantly engaging with parents, monitoring the children and staff team to ensure everyone is safe, happy, and supported.
A big part of my role is joining in with children’s play and learning experiences, often based around their own interests. This might include imaginative games in the home corner, where I help extend their play and develop their skills and knowledge through meaningful interaction.
At mealtimes, we sit together with the children, encouraging good table manners and a family dining experience. We carefully prepare food, supervise closely to reduce choking risks, and ensure all allergies are followed.
Parents can log into our nursery app to see what their child has eaten, nappy changes, and sleep updates throughout the day.
Quiet time is offered to children who need a sleep, always in line with each child’s individual routine.
Free flow play is offered at least twice a day, giving children the choice to move between indoor and outdoor environments. This supports independence, physical development, and exploration.
Towards the end of the day, parents are warmly welcomed back into nursery. I share highlights of their child’s day, what they have learned and enjoyed, the efforts they’ve made, potty training updates, and any concerns are raised sensitively where needed.
Occasionally, parents may also be asked to sign accident, incident, or medication forms.
On office-based days, I complete additional responsibilities such as safeguarding or quality audits, updating health care plans, and logging observations.
I also make sure I dedicate around 3 to 4 hours each week during work time to complete my Level 5 apprenticeship work. Because I’m keen to finish as soon as possible, I do sometimes take extra work home too.
My apprenticeship experience has been amazing. I’ve received so much support from both my employer and training provider, and I find it easy to make progress.
I really love being able to study whilst working, developing my skills and qualifications alongside my role in the nursery every day.
Apprenticeships are an incredible way to gain recognised qualifications, real workplace experience, and clear career progression within early years.
If you’d like to learn more about apprenticeship opportunities at The Old Station Nursery Group, explore our latest National Apprenticeship Week stories and discover how you could begin your own journey.
Read more and find out about apprenticeships here.