Snapdragons Nursery has launched its own training academy for early years apprentices, with learners from across Bath, Bristol and Wiltshire already joining the programme this spring.
The new Snapdragons Academy follows the organisation’s successful approval onto the Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR) in November, allowing it to deliver its own in-house training.
Over recent months, the team has developed apprenticeship programmes for both Level 2 Early Years Practitioner and Level 3 Early Years Educator qualifications. By designing its own curriculum, Snapdragons has embedded its approach to early years education directly into the training.
The courses have been shaped by feedback from nursery managers, heads of early years practice and current apprentices, ensuring they reflect the realities of day-to-day work in a nursery setting.
This has led to a strongly practice-based approach, helping apprentices connect their learning directly to their roles.
Snapdragons Academy uses a blended learning model, combining face-to-face sessions, online modules and virtual classrooms. Apprentices begin with a dedicated induction week, followed by project sessions throughout the year to explore key topics in greater depth.
A new training centre at Horner Court, next to Snapdragons Horfield in Bristol, will bring apprentices together from across the region for training, collaboration and exams in a dedicated learning environment.
The first cohort of in-house apprentices joined in April, with the academy aiming to strengthen career pathways and build skills across the early years workforce.
Sophie Collard, Director of Training, said, “We’re very excited about the launch of Snapdragons Academy which will offer our unique blend of practical and theoretical learning as well as a cohort induction model which will give our apprentices a supportive and collaborative colleague environment.”
Snapdragons currently operates 10 nurseries across Bath, Bristol and Wiltshire, employing around 500 people and educating more than 1,500 children.
An eleventh nursery is also planned for Southville in Bristol, with the church conversion project expected to complete in summer 2027.
