Apprentice Early Years Practitioner

Kiddiewinks at Plover School

Doncaster (DN2 6JN)

Closes in 14 days (Monday 23 March 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 9 March 2026

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Summary

Our practitioners are there to provide support and facilitate the child’s learning, but children determine the direction of their own learning following their natural curiosities, interests, and passions. 

• Wage:

  £11,778 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)

  Wage determinded on interview

  Additional hours could be available for the After School Club

• Training course: Early years educator (level 3)
• Hours: Monday to Friday 09:00 - 15:00. College day Wednesday.

  30 hours a week

• Start date:

  Monday 6 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

We pride ourselves on being a quality childcare setting, offering only the best childcare, learning and play to all children. We go the extra mile to make sure children’s creativity and imagination is nurtured and embraced so that we can capture the magic of childhood and enhance children’s learning through play and natural experiences.  

Please add/ delete any additional duties specific to your workplace. 

To work as part of the pre-school team under the direction of manager and senior staff at the pre-school. To work in accordance with the pre-school policies and procedures to provide safe, high-quality education and care for young children aged 2-5 years. We also cater for after school up to 11 years.

Main Duties: 

• To assist with the planning of the curriculum
• To set up the playrooms for the daily programme and to tidy away/clean during and at the end of the session. 
• To assist the key person to a small group of children, liaising closely with parents/carers to plan for their child’s learning and development ensuring that each child’s needs are recognised and met
• To observe, monitor and keep accurate, up-to-date records of children within their key person group
• To remain vigilant and advise the pre-school managers of any concerns e.g. Safeguarding & Child protection issues, Health & Safety, whilst preserving confidentiality as necessary
• To prepare snacks for children whilst maintaining good hygiene practices
• To teach children, offering an appropriate level of support and stimulation following the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (EYFS)
• To attend regular team meetings and adhere to any actions required to provide a quality service for both child & parent/carer
• To attend in-service training courses and meetings as required
• To maintain confidentiality at all times regarding any information learned that relates to the children, their families or any member of staff at Pre-school
• To attend and complete work to achieve a level 3 in early years & childcare qualification

Where you'll work

Plover School
Queensbury Road
Doncaster
DN2 6JN

Training

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

Training provider

DN COLLEGES GROUP

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

• Training will be at Doncaster College where you will access a wide range of facilities on offer 
• Day release Wednesday
• You will undertake the Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship standard
• Training will include paediatric first aid qualification

More training information

You will undertake Functional Skills for English and/or Maths if needed.

You will undertake both on and off the training by a team of industry qualified professionals to give you the best skills, knowledge, and experience.  

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade C/4)
• Maths (grade C/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
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience
• Physical fitness

Other requirements

You must be able to travel to and from work and college.

Apprentices are paid for their normal working hours and training that's part of their apprenticeship (usually one day per week).

We need to ask all applicants whether they have any relevant criminal convictions and or pending investigation as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.  Relevant meaning offences against a person, whether violent or sexual, offences involving drugs or controlled substances, or theft.  A declaration of a relevant Criminal Conviction will result in a Risk Assessment being carried out to determine whether the applicant poses a risk to the welfare or safety of others.  This does not include warnings, cautions, reprimands and (for example) speeding fines/points.

A YES ANSWER DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY EXCLUDE YOUR APPLICATION.

About this employer

 

We are a nurturing, family nursery with staff who are passionate about helping our children flourish and grow to prepare them for the next chapter in their lives.

 

After this apprenticeship

Successful completion of the apprenticeship could lead to a higher-level apprenticeship or full-time employment for the right candidate.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

DN COLLEGES GROUP

Tracey Butterfield

tracey.butterfield@dncolleges.ac.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000019903.

Apply now

Closes in 14 days (Monday 23 March 2026 at 11:59pm)