Early Years Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship (George Dent Nursery)
George Dent Nursery
Darlington (DL3 7PY)
Closes in 23 days (Friday 7 November 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 14 October 2025
Contents
Summary
The Federation of Darlington Nursery Schools are seeking a reliable, resilient and well-motivated, Early Years Educator apprentice to join our inspiring team. You will support Early Years Educators and Teachers while training towards a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification.
- Wage
-
£14,526.20 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday – Friday – between the hours of 08:00 – 17.00/17.30 (the candidate needs to be flexible as the timetable can change on a termly basis to meet the needs of the nursery). Term time only.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 5 January 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 9 months
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
The aim of this post is to train and develop the post-holder to become an Early Years Educator Level 3. Duties include, but are not restricted to:
- To provide a high standard of physical, emotional, social, & intellectual care for children placed in the setting
- To plan and develop a programme of teaching and learning that reflects both the ethos of the Federation and the needs of the children
- Uphold impeccable levels of hygiene &support to other personnel
- Support all staff & engage in collaborative working
- To be flexible within working practices
- To actively promote and support the safeguarding of children & young people in the workplace, ensuring organisation policies & procedures are observed
Where you'll work
George Dent Nursery
Elms Road
Darlington
DL3 7PY
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
DARLINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL
Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Recognise when a child or a colleague is in danger or at risk of abuse and act to protect them in line with safeguarding policy and procedure.
- Apply legislation, policy and procedure to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children in the setting (for example, food safety, diets, starting solid food, allergies, COSHH, and accidents, injuries, and emergencies).
- Apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management within documentation and practice.
- Teach children to develop skills to manage risk and maintain their own and others safety.
- Use a range of communication methods, including technology, with other professionals to meet the individual needs of the child.
- Develop and maintain effective professional, collaborative relationships with others involved in the education and care of the child.
- Undertake the role and responsibilities of key person.
- Recognise and apply theories of attachment to develop effective relationships with children.
- Provide sensitive and respectful personal care for children from birth to 5 years.
- Advocate for all children’s needs, including children which require SEND or EAL support.
- Promote and facilitate children’s interpersonal communication to develop their social interactions and relationships.
- Support children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and culture.
- Support children to understand and respond to their emotions and make considered choices about their behaviours.
- Assess the responsiveness of the environment for effective child-centred experiences in line with curriculum requirements.
- Create inclusive, child-centred, dynamic, innovative, and evolving physical environments both indoors and outdoors.
- Create inclusive and supportive emotional environment that enables the child to feel safe, secure, respected and experience a sense of wellbeing; maintaining and prioritising the individual child’s voice.
- Apply strategies that support children’s ability to manage change, transition, and significant events.
- Analyse observation evidence to assess and plan holistic individual learning based on a comprehensive understanding of the child’s needs and interests.
- Facilitate and support child-centred opportunities and experiences based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
- Provide adult led opportunities and experience based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
- Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally.
- Recognise when a child or a colleague is in danger or at risk of abuse and act to protect them in line with safeguarding policy and procedure.
- Apply legislation, policy and procedure to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children in the setting (for example, food safety, diets, starting solid food, allergies, COSHH, and accidents, injuries, and emergencies).
- Apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management within documentation and practice.
- Teach children to develop skills to manage risk and maintain their own and others safety.
- Use a range of communication methods, including technology, with other professionals to meet the individual needs of the child.
- Develop and maintain effective professional, collaborative relationships with others involved in the education and care of the child.
- Undertake the role and responsibilities of key person.
- Recognise and apply theories of attachment to develop effective relationships with children.
- Provide sensitive and respectful personal care for children from birth to 5 years.
- Advocate for all children’s needs, including children which require SEND or EAL support.
- Promote and facilitate children’s interpersonal communication to develop their social interactions and relationships.
- Support children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and culture.
- Support children to understand and respond to their emotions and make considered choices about their behaviours.
- Assess the responsiveness of the environment for effective child-centred experiences in line with curriculum requirements.
- Create inclusive, child-centred, dynamic, innovative, and evolving physical environments both indoors and outdoors.
- Create inclusive and supportive emotional environment that enables the child to feel safe, secure, respected and experience a sense of wellbeing; maintaining and prioritising the individual child’s voice.
- Apply strategies that support children’s ability to manage change, transition, and significant events.
- Analyse observation evidence to assess and plan holistic individual learning based on a comprehensive understanding of the child’s needs and interests.
- Facilitate and support child-centred opportunities and experiences based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
- Provide adult led opportunities and experience based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
- Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally.
Training schedule
Training will be provided to achieve the following qualifications:
- Level 3 Early Years Educators Apprenticeship Standard
- Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid (RQF) or Level 3 Award in Emergency Paediatric First Aid (RQF)
Training will take place periodically, at Darlington Borough Council Learning & Skills training centre (DL1 5AJ). Here you will develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours to ensure these exceed the minimum requirements for the Early Years Educator Level 3 apprenticeship standards.
More training information
You will be completing the Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Standard with Darlington Borough Council Learning & Skills. This programme equips you with the knowledge and practical skills to support children's development in early years settings. Training is delivered through a blend of online learning and expert-led sessions, covering key topics such as child development, safeguarding, and play-based learning.
Throughout the apprenticeship, you’ll be supported by experienced tutors with real-world early years’ experience. You’ll gain valuable hands-on experience in the class, working with children in the Early Years Foundation Stage while earning a nationally recognised qualification.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4+/ C+)
- maths (grade 4+/ C+)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
- Passion for early years sector
Other requirements
You will be required to attend our training centre in Darlington (DL1 5AJ) and you will need to make your own way there for day release training. Travel to and from the employer, based at Elm Road, Darlington DL3 7PY. DBS clearance will be required before a start date is issued.
About this employer
Borough Road Nursery and George Dent Nursery are the last two maintained nursery schools in Darlington with a reputation for delivering high quality teaching and learning. The schools are teacher-led, with a head teacher and deputy who work across sites, and a nursery teacher in each school. Skilled and experienced educators work flexibly across the nursery schools too. Whilst you may be based in one school for the majority of your apprenticeship, there may be times when you are required to work at the opposite school. Flexibility and reliability are therefore essential attributes. Our Early Years Educators recognise that every child is unique, every moment is precious, and every day is different, and these principles apply to our work force. As educators we are forever learning, and we know that you will bring with you your own unique qualities. We will endeavour to support you to achieve your goals and reach your potential. You just need to have the passion and commitment to achieve success. Our vision is to nurture a rich love of learning through inspirational teaching that acknowledges life’s unpredictability, values curiosity and has a deep respect for early childhood developmental processes ensuring that all our children are well prepared for the next stage in their education. We look forward to you joining our friendly teams.
http://www.darlingtonnurseryschools.org.uk (opens in new tab)
After this apprenticeship
Possible progression on to further training or into full-time employment upon successful completion of the apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
DARLINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000346405.
Apply now
Closes in 23 days (Friday 7 November 2025 at 11:59pm)
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