Early Years Level 3 Apprenticeship

SUNRISE NURSERIES LTD

Nottingham (NG16FS)

Closes in 27 days (Monday 6 April 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 9 March 2026

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Summary

Start your career in childcare with Sunrise Nurseries as an Early Years Apprentice. You’ll gain hands-on experience supporting children’s play, learning and development while working towards a recognised qualification. A great opportunity for someone passionate about working with children.

Wage

£11,778 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 30 hours per week (flexible). Working hours will be agreed with the nursery to fit both the apprentice’s training and the setting’s needs.

30 hours a week

Start date

Friday 1 May 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

3

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

  • Support children with play, learning activities, and daily routines appropriate to their age and development
  • Help create a safe, caring, and inclusive environment for all children
  • Assist with setting up and tidying activities, toys, and learning areas
  • Observe children’s development and report any concerns to the nursery team
  • Communicate with colleagues and support positive relationships with parents and carers
  • Help supervise children during indoor and outdoor play
  • Maintain basic records such as attendance and relevant information
  • Follow nursery policies, procedures, and safeguarding guidelines
  • Attend training sessions and complete coursework as part of the apprenticeship

Where you'll work

Sunrise Nurseries
The Old Chapel Royal Standard Place
Nottingham
NG16FS

Training

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

Training provider

BEST PRACTICE NETWORK LIMITED

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 work towards an Early Years apprenticeship qualification
  • A dedicated tutor will provide support every 6 weeks, either through a visit to the nursery or an online meeting. The tutor will also be available for additional support when needed
  • The apprentice and employer will have access to an online learning portfolio system (BUD) to complete assignments, receive feedback, and track progress
  • The apprentice will attend monthly online webinars (approximately 2 hours) to support their learning and coursework. If a session is missed, a recording will be provided
  • Once all coursework and off-the-job training hours are completed, the apprentice will progress to the End Point Assessment (EPA)
  • The End Point Assessment will include a workplace observation and professional discussion with an independent assessor
  • The apprentice will receive a final grade of Pass, Merit, or Distinction upon successful completion of the apprenticeship

More training information

Training will be delivered by Best Practice Network, an experienced apprenticeship training provider specialising in early years education and professional development.

The apprenticeship will combine practical workplace learning with structured off-the-job training. The apprentice will have regular progress reviews with their tutor, access to an online portfolio system to complete assignments and track progress, and attend monthly online webinars to support their development.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4 / C)
  • Maths (grade 4 / C)

Desirable qualifications

Other in:

Early Years (grade Pass)

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
  • Problem solving skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

Must be willing to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before starting.
Must be comfortable working with children of different ages and needs in a busy nursery environment.

About this employer

Sunrise Nurseries is a caring and supportive early years setting, committed to providing high-quality childcare and education for children of all ages. We focus on creating a safe, inclusive, and stimulating environment where children can learn, play, and develop essential skills.

Our team is passionate about nurturing every child’s potential and supporting staff development, offering apprentices a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience while working towards a recognised early years qualification.

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

After this apprenticeship

  • Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprenticeship – an advanced qualification equivalent to NVQ Level 3
  • Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner Apprenticeship – for leadership and management roles in early years settings
  • Further training towards Early Years Teacher (EYT) status for those wishing to become qualified early years teachers
  • Opportunities to take on senior nursery practitioner or room leader roles within early years settings

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BEST PRACTICE NETWORK LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000019569.

Apply now

Closes in 27 days (Monday 6 April 2026 at 11:59pm)