Early Years Educator Apprentice

RAINBOW NURSERY (MIDDLESTONE MOOR) LTD

DURHAM (DL16 7DA)

Closes in 22 days (Sunday 4 January 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 8 December 2025

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Summary

This is a fantastic opportunity to come and join our dedicated Early Years team. Do you have a passion for working with children, have a caring nature and able to work in team?

Perhaps you are looking to re-train? If so, this could be the opportunity you have been looking for!

Wage

£14,040 a year

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Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
30hrs per week, hours to be structured between 7:45am and 5:30pm, Mon-Fri.

30 hours a week

Start date

Monday 26 January 2026

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

  • As an apprentice you will working with Children from the age of 9 months to 7 years old.
  • You will be trained in supporting room leads with planning and running activities for the children.
  • You will be trained in supporting children’s education and development, gaining an understanding of how children develop through play.
  • You will be trained how to support key children, how to complete observations and record observations on our online platforms.
  • You will be trained in safeguarding, health and safety and first aid.
  • You will also be trained in personal care of the children, which could include nappy changes.

Where you'll work

ROCK ROAD
MIDDLESTONE MOOR
DURHAM
DL16 7DA

Training

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

Training provider

BISHOP AUCKLAND 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

  • One day per week to attend Bishop Auckland College.
  • Job shadowing will take place in the work place.
  • Practical training will take place in the workplace.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 9-4 / A*-C / Level 2)
  • Maths (grade 9-4 / A*-C / Level 2)

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

  • Apprenticeship offer will be conditional subject to DBS check.
  • References will be requested ahead of interview with employer, without these the employer will not interview applicants.
  • Working in a nursery environment can be hard work but very rewarding, you will be spending some time out doors in all weathers.
  • As part of the selection process you will be pre interviewed by Bishop Auckland College before your application is sent over to the employer.
  • You may be asked to complete a short work trial as part of your interview with the employer.
  • Due to the responsibilities of the job role the employer is looking for applications from those of 18 years or older.

About this employer

Rainbow nursery is a purpose built childcare facility providing quality care and pre-school education for children from birth to five years. Our managing director is a qualified nursery practitioner with many years’ experience of working within nursery settings as well as 15 years within her current role as manager.

At Rainbow we aim to provide the highest standard of childcare, in a warm friendly environment where the children feel secure, safe and loved.

Children need to be active, they learn by 'doing', by examining and investigating everything around them.  Young children need to play and have fun.

https://www.rainbownurseryspennymoor.com/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Full-time employment (to be discussed at interview).

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BISHOP AUCKLAND COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000004404.

Apply now

Closes in 22 days (Sunday 4 January 2026 at 11:59pm)

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