Apprentice - Early Years Level 3
Thurrock Council
Tilbury (RM18 8AD)
Closes in 17 days (Sunday 22 March 2026)
Posted on 5 March 2026
Contents
Summary
Are you interested in the future development of Children & Families in Thurrock? This is an exciting opportunity to study for Level 3 Early Years and gain experience working alongside the team at the Disabled Children Short Breaks & Outreach Service, including supervised work with children living in the local community.
- Wage
-
£14,526.20 to £23,492.04, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
37-hours per week (including one Saturday and some evening work), exact working days and hours to be confirmed.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 27 April 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
The role will include supervised work with children living in the local community, sessions will be daytime, evening and a Saturday session.
Apprenticeship study will be undertaken within normal working hours. Time will be allocated to attend training and complete assignments, workbooks, online training etc. as required by the qualification.
Where you'll work
The Sunshine Centre
Civic Square
Tilbury
RM18 8AD
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
ESSEX COUNTY 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
You will be required to study towards and achieve a full apprenticeship in Early Years Level 3.
The Early Years Apprentice Level 3 requires you to achieve:
- Level 2 functional skills qualification in both maths and English if not already held (e.g. GCSE grade A* to C or 9-4)
- Apprenticeship study will be undertaken within normal working hours. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying. Time will be allocated to attend training and complete assignments, workbooks, online training etc. as required by the qualification
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
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
- Administrative skills
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Positive attitude to work
- Professional attitude
Other requirements
DBS at Enhanced Level with Children's Barred List is required for this role.
About this employer
Our vision – An ambitious and collaborative community which is proud of its heritage and excited by its diverse opportunities and future. Thurrock Council is committed to equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled people will be offered an interview where they meet all essential criteria on the person specification. We champion flexible working and job share applications are welcome. We serve a diverse community where people are different yet equal. Diversity underpins everything we do.
https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers (opens in new tab)
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
At the end of your apprenticeship, you will be supported to further your career.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
Thurrock Council
Recruitment Team
recruitment@thurrock.gov.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000019359.
Apply now
Closes in 17 days (Sunday 22 March 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.