Apprentice Early Years Educator

Sunshine Day Nursery

Peterlee (SR8 5RL)

Closes in 8 days (Monday 27 October 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 14 October 2025

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Summary

As a Level 3 Apprentice, you will support children’s development through play-based learning, contribute to planning and observations, and ensure a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment. The role involves studying toward the Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification while gaining hands-on experience.

• Wage:

  £11,778 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

  National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

• Training course: Early years educator (level 3)
• Hours: You will work between the hours of Monday- Friday 7.45am- 5.30pm

  30 hours a week

• Start date:

  Monday 10 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

Key Responsibilities

• Support the learning and development of children aged 0–5 years.
  Assist with planning and delivering engaging activities in line with the EYFS framework
• Contribute to observations, assessments, and progress tracking for key children
• Promote children’s independence, self-esteem, and positive behaviour
• Ensure a child-centred approach to care, considering individual needs
• Ensure the environment is clean, safe, and secure at all times
• Follow safeguarding, health and safety, and hygiene procedures consistently
• Report any concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
• Work cooperatively with colleagues, parents, and carers to support each child’s development
• Participate in team meetings, training sessions, and development reviews
• Follow the guidance of your mentor/supervisor and contribute positively to the team
• Attend off-the-job training as part of your apprenticeship requirements
• Complete coursework, assignments, and assessments on time
• Reflect on your practice and actively seek to improve your knowledge and skills
• Passion for working with young children
• Willingness to study toward the Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Reliable, enthusiastic, and proactive attitude
• Ability to work well in a team and on your own initiative

Where you'll work

Sunshine Day Nursery at Dene House
Dene House Primary School
Manor Way
Peterlee
SR8 5RL

Training

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

Training provider

EAST DURHAM COLLEGE

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

• The successful candidate will work towards a Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship
• You will attend college 1 day a month and your college tutor will visit you in the workplace once a month

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 3)
• Maths (grade 3)

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

Other requirements

DBS Certificate

About this employer

The Sunshine Day Nursery at Dene House offers full and half day care for children aged between 6 weeks - 8 years. Dene House is situated just off the main road between Peterlee and Horden and is a popular nursery in the local community. The nursery is registered to allocate up to 55 children per session, Dene House also has a dedicated team led by Gaynor Stuart who are committed to ensuring that children’s individual needs are met and that children and families are always put first.

https://thesunshinedaynursery.com/our-sister-nurseries/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

• Possibiity of permanent employment and going on to complete further qualifications

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

EAST DURHAM COLLEGE

Sarah English

sarah.english@eastdurham.ac.uk

01915188262

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000346280.

Apply now

Closes in 8 days (Monday 27 October 2025 at 11:59pm)

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