Early Years Educator Apprentice

STEPPING STONES DAY NURSERY CLAY CROSS LIMITED

Chesterfield (S45 9DX)

Closes in 28 days (Friday 28 November 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 30 October 2025

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Summary

As an apprentice Early Years Educator, you will play a key role in supporting the learning, development, and care of children aged up to 5 years of age. You’ll work closely with experienced practitioners to create a safe, stimulating, and inclusive environment where children can thrive emotionally, socially, and educationally.

Wage

£15,704 a year

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Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
Working 4 days over the 5-day week on a rota basis. 7:30 am - 6pm (exact shifts TBC)

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 December 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

2

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

  • Plan and deliver engaging, age-appropriate activities that support the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
  • Observe, assess, and record children's progress to inform planning and support individual needs
  • Promote positive behaviour and emotional well-being
  • Support children’s physical care needs including meals, hygiene, and rest routines
  • Build strong relationships with children, parents, and carers
  • Maintain a safe and clean learning environment
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues and contribute to team planning
  • Follow safeguarding procedures and promote child welfare at all times

Where you'll work

Tower Business Park
High St
Clay Cross
Chesterfield
S45 9DX

Training

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

Training provider

WEST NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 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

  • Early Years Educator Level 3
  • Training will include paediatric first aid qualification

We host supporting twilight sessions regularly throughout the apprenticeship which you will attend in person at our designated training site/campus. These workshops are carefully designed to support the learning required throughout the apprenticeship programme.

You will work with expert assessors and tutors to develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours within the profession.

You will experience a blended learning model.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

About this employer

The nursery provides high-quality childcare for children aged from 12 weeks to 5 years. Stepping Stones is recognised as the only nursery in the local area offering flexible and affordable childcare on a pay-as-you-go basis. It caters to the needs of families by providing a range of options, including sessional care, full daycare, and funded hours for both two- and three-year-olds. The nursery prides itself on delivering high-quality care and education with no hidden costs, supporting families with flexible arrangements designed to suit their individual circumstances.

After this apprenticeship

Successful completion of the Level 3 apprenticeship may lead to permanent employment as a qualified Early Years Educator, with potential to progress into roles such as Room Leader, Deputy Manager, or further study in childcare and education.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

WEST NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COLLEGE

Leoni

apprenticeships@wnc.ac.uk

01623 900469

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000348948.

Apply now

Closes in 28 days (Friday 28 November 2025 at 11:59pm)

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