Early Years Apprentice

COUNDON AND LEEHOLM EARLY YEARS CENTRE LTD

BISHOP AUCKLAND (DL14 8NP)

Closes in 2 days (Monday 9 March 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 23 February 2026

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Contents

Summary

This is an exciting opportunity for an individual with a passion for working with young children to start their career in education. The apprentice will receive high-quality, on-the-job training and will work towards achieving the Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Standard.

Wage

£15,704 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
Monday to Friday - hours will be between 8am start, 5.45pm finish depending on business need. 30 minutes for lunch.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 30 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

  • To deliver a high standard of learning, development and care for children aged 0-8 years
  • To work as part of a team in order to provide an enabling environment in which all children can play, develop and learn
  • To build and maintain a strong partnership with parents to enable children’s needs to be met

Main Duties:/ training

  • To use professional knowledge of the individual and diverse ways that children learn and develop to meet their differing needs
  • To establish positive and sensitive relationships with children
  • To act as a role model and set achievable expectations
  • To promote the inclusion of all children
  • To help ensure the nursery meets Ofsted requirements at all times
  • Plan and provide a safe, secure and stimulating environment that is appropriate for all children, enabling them to reach their potential
  • Plan, prepare and carry out experiences which encourage development, creativity, coordination, independence, self-expression and learning through play
  • To ensure records are properly maintained, e.g., daily attendance register, risk assessments, accident forms.
  • To observe children’s development and add document observations on their online learning journey’s
  • To advise the manager/deputy of any concerns, e.g., over children, parents, the safety of the environment, preserving confidentiality as necessary
  • To keep completely confidential any information regarding the children, their families or other members of staff
  • Contribute to the effectiveness of team work
  • Work in partnership with parents and carers, recognising that parents are their children’s first educators, and encourage parental involvement in the nursery
  • Work in partnership with other early years professionals and outside agencies
  • To be aware of child protection issues and follow the nursery’s safeguarding policies and procedures
  • To meet the physical needs of children by encouraging good standards of safety, personal hygiene, whilst promoting independence
  • To be flexible when needed for training, staff meetings, summer fairs etc.
  • Act as a representative of your nursery, promoting a professional image at all times
  • Any other duties as required by the Nursery Management Team

Where you'll work

VICTORIA LANE
COUNDON
BISHOP AUCKLAND
DL14 8NP

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

The apprentice will be required to attend Bishop Auckland College one day per week

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
  • Customer care skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

Employment will be dependant on DBS and reference checks. Working in a nursery environment will be hard work but very rewarding, you will be expected to be outdoors with the children in most weathers. Please be aware you will also be trained in personal care of the children, which can include cleaning and changing nappies.

As part of the interview process you may be asked to complete a half day work trial to see how you interact with the children and staff.

About this employer

Since 2012, we have been offering excellent child care services to customers across Bishop Auckland and Darlington. The first years of a child’s life are paramount to building secure foundations for future learning. At Coundon & Leeholme Early Years Centre Ltd, we understand that every child should be given the same opportunities to become inventors, creators, artists or whatever they want to be. Our resources and environment are open-ended to support this - not forgetting our staff, who are of course our most valuable resource! Supporting child care from 0-8 years old.

https://www.coundonandleeholmeearlyyears.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

  • Employment

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BISHOP AUCKLAND COLLEGE

David Brough

david.brough@bacoll.ac.uk

01388 743164

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000017362.

Apply now

Closes in 2 days (Monday 9 March 2026 at 11:59pm)