Early Years Educator L3 Apprenticeship

Summary

Whether you have already started your career in childcare or are looking for a way to start working with toddlers to children ready to start school, this apprenticeship could suit you. On offer is either an Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprenticeship or an entry level Early Years Practitioner Level 2, whichever is more appropriate to you.

Wage

£14,722.50 a year

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Annual

Training course

Early years educator (level 3)

Hours

TBC.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 8 September 2025

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

To work alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills and knowledge, undertaking a range of suitable work-related tasks to support your structured programme of training, leading to a recognised qualification
To promote a safe, caring and stimulating childcare environment -To assist with the organisation and implementation of a programme of activities in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage appropriate to each age group
To ensure that the children are happy, settled and well cared for
To deliver a high standard of learning, development and care for children aged 0-5 years.
To shadow and learn to be a key person for named children and to plan for individual needs and to keep accurate records
To ensure that the nursery is a safe environment for children, staff and others
To work as part of a team to ensure effective and appropriate communication with parents, carers, members of staff and external agencies
To develop partnerships with parents/carers to increase involvement in their child’s development
To undertake and be responsible for a range of tasks/duties, as instructed by your line manager, that are relevant to the role
To ensure health, hygiene and safety standards are maintained
To adhere to all First Steps operational policies and procedures
To complete all academic aspects of the apprenticeship

Where you'll work

1 Sanditon Way
--
Worthing
West Sussex
BN14 9FD

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

CHICHESTER COLLEGE GROUP

Your 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.

Your training plan

Early Years Practitioner Level 2 or Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprenticeship.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths (grade 9-4)
English (grade 9-4)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Warm and engaging nature
Good communication skills
Reliable
Self-Motivated
Have a professional manner
Demonstrates best practice
Hard-working
Good sense of humour
Proactive approach
Works on own initiative
Good time management
Enthusiastic
Passion for childcare
Well Organised
Patient
Team Player
Multi-tasker
Creative Thinker

Other requirements

Level 2 Early Years Practitioner is an 18-month apprenticeship and Early Years Educator is a 21-month apprenticeship. Applicants MUST BE free from full time education to be eligible to apply for it and have the minimum qualification level to apply for it As this is a Level 3 apprenticeship you MUST HAVE a Level 2 qualification in childcare or significant experience in a childcare position to be eligible for this apprenticeship. Applicants MUST BE resident in the UK for a minimum of 3 years prior to the start of learning and have work authorisation for the UK. Applicants WILL NOT BE eligible to apply if they have already achieved a qualification which is equal to or higher thank the apprenticeship standard on offer. Applicants MUST BE resident in the area local to the apprenticeship opportunity or be prepared to relocate in time to start employment and study. Applicants MUST BE committed to the learning and stay to the end of the apprenticeship

About this company

Located at the foot of the South Downs, First Steps Worthing has been established as a nursery for more than 10 years and is headed up by Nursery Manager, Cat Tobin. Situated in a convenient central location for parents working in Worthing or surrounding areas, and located a few minutes’ walk from the local park which allows the opportunity for children to explore their wider world.

After this apprenticeship

We strive to retain our apprentices and support succession planning and are really proud of the retention rates we have for our previous apprentices, with many of our team, and senior team being previous FSCG apprentices. We work closely with CCG to access further external training and support continuous professional development.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: