Early Years Educator Apprenticeship

White Court School

Great Notley (CM77 7UE)

Closes in 16 days (Monday 6 April 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 20 March 2026

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Summary

White Court School is a large established primary school with 3 classes in each year group. White Court School have an opportunity to earn while you learn through the apprenticeship scheme.

The Early Years Apprentice will have a genuine passion for working with young children and supporting their development.

Wage

£9,360 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)

First Apprenticeship Year £8

Following year depending on age:

16 to 18 years old - £8 per hour

18 to 20 years old - £10.85 per hour

21+ years old - £12.71 per hour

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
8:00 am — 4:00 pm, Wednesday to Friday. This includes 5-6 hours off-the-job training time (e.g. online classes, shadowing, coursework).

22 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

1 year 9 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 Apprentice will be working at Little Acorns Nursery within White Court School.

Key responsibilities Include:

  • Support the planning and delivery of high‑quality early years education and care in line with the EYFS framework.
  • Assist in creating a safe, stimulating, and inclusive learning environment for all children.
  • Contribute to children’s learning journeys, observing and recording their progress.
  • Help plan and deliver age‑appropriate activities that promote physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development.
  • Support children’s personal care routines, including meals, toileting, and hygiene.
  • Communicate effectively with parents, carers, and team members.
  • Follow safeguarding, health and safety, and equality policies at all times.
  • Participate in team meetings, training sessions, and professional development activities.
  • Maintain confidentiality and professionalism within the setting.
  • Work closely with the nursery team to meet the individual needs of each child.

Where you'll work

White Court School
Ennerdale Avenue
Great Notley
CM77 7UE

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

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

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

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

Other in:

Introduction 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
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Sense of Humour
  • Flexible
  • Adaptable
  • Good Time Management
  • Honest
  • Respectful
  • Nurturing
  • Reliable
  • Enthusiasm

About this employer

White Court School is a 3-form entry School with over 600 children including Little Acorns Nursery.

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

After this apprenticeship

Gaining a Level 3 qualification in Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) can open up a solid range of career and progression opportunities in childcare and education

With Level 3 EYFS, you’re considered a qualified practitioner, which means you can work in roles like:

  • Nursery practitioner
  • Preschool worker
  • Teaching assistant (especially in reception classes)
  • Childminder (with registration)
  • Playworker (after-school clubs, holiday schemes)

Employers often require Level 3 for these roles, so it significantly improves your employability.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

Emma Gardner

emmagardner@whitecourt.essex.sch.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000022548.

Apply now

Closes in 16 days (Monday 6 April 2026 at 11:59pm)