Early Years Educator Apprentice

Chill Out Time Childcare

Ashington (NE63 9HN)

Closes in 14 days (Friday 6 February 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 22 January 2026

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Summary

Chill Out Time Childcare at Hirst are looking for a caring, enthusiastic, and motivated Early Years Level 3 Apprentice to join our friendly early years team.

Wage

£14,526.20 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)

Apprentice wage of £7.55, increasing to national wage after 12 months.

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday - shifts to be determined once successful applicant appointed.

37 hours a week

Start date

Sunday 1 March 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

This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about working with young children and developing their love of leaning through play opportunities and wants to gain a nationally recognised qualification while earning and learning on the job. 

You will work under the guidance of experienced practitioners to support children’s learning, development, and wellbeing in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). 
 
Key Responsibilities:

  • Support the planning and delivery of engaging, age-appropriate activities  
  • Help create a safe, stimulating, fun and nurturing environment for children  
  • Observe, assess, and record children’s development with support from staff  
  • Build positive relationships with children, parents, and colleagues  
  • Support children’s personal care routines, including meals and hygiene  
  • Follow safeguarding, health & safety, and nursery policies at all times  
  • Work towards completing the Early Years Level 3 Apprenticeship qualification 

Where you'll work

Alexandra Road
Ashington
NE63 9HN

Training

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

Training provider

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNCIL

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

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

Requirements

Desirable 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
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Patience
  • Caring
  • Commitment
  • Genuine interest in childcare

Other requirements

What We’re Looking For:

Essential: 

  • A genuine interest in working with young children  
    Caring, patient, and enthusiastic attitude 

Willingness to learn and work as part of a team

  • Commitment to completing the Level 3 apprenticeship 

Desirable: 

  • Previous experience with children (nursery, school, work experience, or volunteering) 
  • Level 2 Early Years qualification or relevant childcare experience 

Safeguarding:

  • We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
  • All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS checks and suitable references

About this employer

We are an Early Years provider based in the Hirst Welfare Centre in Ashington. We take children from ages of 6 weeks old to 4 years old.

At Chill Out Time Childcare we will develop confidence, self-esteem and independent thinking in the children we care for. Through child-centred play as a starting point, we will extend your child’s first learning experiences relevant to them and fill their day with creative and positive experiences, through our varied and challenging curriculum. 

https://www.chillouttimechildcare.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPLQGBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkx (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Potential full-time employment as a practitioner following apprenticeship. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNCIL

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000009445.

Apply now

Closes in 14 days (Friday 6 February 2026 at 11:59pm)