Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprenticeship

NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY NURSERY LIMITED

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE (NE1 8ST)

Closes in 27 days (Monday 20 April 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 23 March 2026

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Summary

An Early Years Practitioner (EYP) works in a range of early years settings delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) including; full day-care, children’s centres, playgroups, pre-schools, nursery schools, reception. This apprenticeship is a great first step into a career in the Early Years sector.

Wage

£15,392 to £24,454.04, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
37 Hours a week - all year round. Schedule to be discussed.

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

  • Early Years Practitioners work with and care for children from birth to 5 years
  • They play a role in supporting children to have the best start to their education
  • You will work as part of a team planning, monitoring and evaluating activities for children from birth to approximately five years of age
  • Ensuring the safeguarding and welfare of the children in the room at all times is essential
  • To build positive relationships with the children, families, colleagues and internal/external professionals

Where you'll work

ELLISON BUILDING
ELLISON PLACE
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
NE1 8ST

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

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

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

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

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Patience

Other requirements

At the Northumbria University Nursery, we are looking for an apprentice to work mainly in the baby room – full training will be provided. 

About this employer

We are an Ofsted registered 96 place nursery providing care and education to children from birth to 4 years.  As a wholly owned subsidiary company of the University we have a Board of Directors appointed to oversee the nursery. We offer places to University staff and members of the community. We were graded Outstanding by Ofsted at our last inspection.

Our approach to learning focusses upon first hand experiences with play and talk being the valued media for learning.

We have been awarded ‘Investors in Children’ accreditation which recognises our commitment to giving your child a voice at Northumbria University Nursery, and all children are actively involved in day to day decision making, initiating and leading projects in nursery to support their interests and learning.

We are have been awarded Sun Safe Nurseries Accreditation by Skcin, the national skin cancer charity.  This means we are now recognised as a setting that takes children’s health and wellbeing seriously by promoting sun safety awareness and implementing strong sun protection measures. Through this accreditation, we’ve developed a tailored Sun Protection Policy, actively engage families in supporting sun safety practices, and introduce fun, age-appropriate educational activities to help children learn how to stay safe in the sun.

Parents are valued as partners in our child centred nursery; we actively promote an ‘open door’ policy which lets you know you are welcome, and positively encouraged to join us to share in your child’s learning experience.

https://nursery.northumbria.ac.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Disability Confident

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

  • Upon successful completion of this qualification, learners can enter the workforce as a qualified level 3 Early Years Practitioner or continue to study for a level 5 Diploma, holding Early Years Educator status, including the Early Years Educator apprenticeship

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BEST PRACTICE NETWORK LIMITED

Alice Pollington

alicepollington@bestpracticenet.co.uk

01174545579

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000022703.

Apply now

Closes in 27 days (Monday 20 April 2026 at 11:59pm)