Level 3 Early Years Apprentice

ACORN EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION

Fullers Slade, Langland Rd, Netherfield, Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes, Wolverton Mill

Closes on Thursday 30 October 2025

Posted on 10 July 2025

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Summary

We are looking for passionate people wanting to further their career and achieve an Early Years Educator L3 while showing initiative to learn and contribute to a high-quality caring environment for children. This includes creating a warm, friendly, and stimulating atmosphere in which the children can develop emotionally, socially and educationally.

Wage

£14,976 a year

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A starting hourly pay rate of £8.00, increasing to £9.00 per hour 6 months after your apprenticeship enrolment date. Payscales - competitive, transparent and reviewed annually Childcare discount – up to 75% Pension scheme.

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
36 - 40 hour week Shifts to meet the business 6 hours off the job training Apprenticeship is between 12-15 months for the level 2 and 18 months for the level 3.

36 hours a week

Start date

Sunday 30 November 2025

Duration

1 year 6 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

Learn outstanding early years practice while working:

  • Promote positive relationships with parents, children and fellow Acorn employees.
  • Support children’s development, learning and play.
  • Develop a good working knowledge and practice of the EYFS and safeguarding procedures.
  • To work as part of the nursery team, contributing to the effective implementation of the nursery’s daily routine.
  • To liaise with a mentor, ensuring that the specific learning objectives outlined as a part of the training programme are met within stated timescales.Be a creative and inspirational role model for our children.
  • Demonstrate a positive approach to children’s behaviour.
  • Demonstrate professional, positive relationships with parents.
  • Learn ways to deliver a holistic approach to the curriculum, ensuring the environment offers rich, first-hand learning opportunities for all children.
  • Ensure children’s interests are followed and high-quality teaching strategies are used to extend children’s thinking and learning.
  • Be confident and a good communicator.
  • To support in ensuring all children are making progress to enable them to reach their full potential.
  • Learn and adopt Planning in the moment principles when delivering the curriculum.
  • Be empathetic, with a fun approach to children’s learning.
  • Learn, and adopt Acorn’s ethos, values, and practices.
  • Safeguard all children in our care.

Where you'll work

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

  • Moorfoot, Fullers Slade, MK11 2BD
  • Langland Rd, Netherfield, Milton Keynes, MK6 4NP
  • Fishermead Boulevard, Fishermead, Milton Keynes, MK6 2LB
  • Acorn at Shenley, Shenley Road, Shenley Church End, Milton Keynes, MK5 6AB
  • Acorn Westcroft, 4 Wimborne Crescent, Westcroft, Milton Keynes, MK4 4DE
  • Acorn at Cold Harbour, Highland Cl, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK3 7PD
  • Acorn at Kents Hill, Wadhurst Ln, Kents Hill, Milton Keynes, MK7 6JF
  • Acorn at New Bradwell, Bounty St, New Bradwell, Milton Keynes, MK13 0BQ
  • St Giles Mews, Vicarage Rd, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes, MK11 1BN
  • 1 a Walker Avenue, Wolverton Mill, MK12 5TW

Training

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

College or training organisation

HAWK MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED

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

This training plan has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

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

  • Communication skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

We will need to obtain suitable references and an enhanced DBS check for suitable applicants prior to employment commencing. You will also need to evidence your right to work in the UK and, if you hold maths and English qualifications, you will need to evidence these qualifications too.

About this company

We believe that childcare needs a personal touch, and our nurseries and out-of-school clubs offer flexibility and individuality with a homely feel. As a not-for-profit organisation, we place our children’s well-being at the heart of our work. At Acorn, we are committed to: · Placing a high priority on training our staff to the highest standards · Promoting a learning culture throughout the organisation · Hosting training days each year for every nursery employee · Providing a range of opportunities for furthering professional development

https://www.acornearlyyears.org.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Generous family leave – supporting you to support your family - 5 days per year Dedicated training days and individual development plan Cyclescheme Techscheme Length of Service awards Summer and Christmas parties

After this apprenticeship

Career progression with Acorn Early Years.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

HAWK MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED

Donna

donna@hawktraining.com

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000330913.

Apply now

Closes on Thursday 30 October 2025

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