Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprentice

STEPPING STONES DAY NURSERY & PRE SCHOOL LTD

SOUTHEND ON SEA (SS1 2RE)

Closes on Thursday 30 April 2026

Posted on 24 March 2026

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Summary

An exciting opportunity to develop your career further in childcare with Parenta Training, working in an early years setting. Become an apprentice in one of our fun and friendly nurseries working with children aged from birth to five years gaining experience while you learn.

Wage

£16,640 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 - Friday, varied shifts from 8.00am - 6.00pm.

40 hours a week

Start date

Friday 1 May 2026

Duration

1 year 3 months

Positions available

2

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

Your role will include:

  • Working with children between the ages of 0-5 years, organising activities, being pro-active with the help and care carried out within the early years teaching sector
  • Assisting and meeting the personal/emotional needs of individual children – changing nappies, feeding, caring and establishing a relationship with children
  • Work (under supervision) providing all aspects of care/support to children, ensuring they take part with day- to- day learning and play activities
  • Ensure that the setting is safe, clean and well presented
  • Collaborate with colleagues ensuring the highest standards of work are carried out and are provided throughout your role in a positive manner
  • To contribute to a high quality caring environment for children by creating a warm, friendly and stimulating atmosphere in which the children can develop emotionally, socially and educationally through individual attention and group activities
  • Attend team meetings and contribute relevant ideas
  • Be able to understand and implement the setting’s confidentiality policy
  • Contribute towards an effective and supportive team environment

Where you'll work

46 CHASE ROAD
SOUTHEND ON SEA
SS1 2RE

Training

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

Training provider

PARENTA TRAINING 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

  • An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation
  • At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Early Years Practitioner (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
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

  • Before you make your application, please ensure that you can reliably travel to and from the employer location daily
  • Please check bus times/travel arrangements
  • You will have to agree to undergo a check of police records (e.g., a DBS) and be willing to subscribe to the DBS Update Service
  • For any queries regarding this vacancy, please contact 0800 0029242
  • Please do not contact the employer directly

About this employer

Stepping Stones Day Nursery & Preschool is the culmination of more than thirty years of experience in childcare and education. As the owner and Manager, and as a mother of four grown up children and four grandchildren, I understand that starting nursery is a huge milestone for both you and your child and we at Stepping Stones strive to make this time as enjoyable as possible. Our Reggio Emelia Inspired approach follows an educational philosophy based on child-centred, experience-led learning. The principles of personal responsibility, respect for others and the environment and a strong sense of community are the foundation by which the children explore and discover through an individualised curriculum. ​Alongside this, the ‘Planning In The Moment’ method is used by our skilled practitioners to scaffold the children’s learning and ensures that the majority of time is spent engaging with the children rather than with paperwork!

After this apprenticeship

  • When you have successfully completed your Apprenticeship, you may have the opportunity to continue with an exciting career in childcare
  • Initially you will be working towards an NVQ Level 3 in Childcare

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

PARENTA TRAINING LIMITED

Katie Day

katie.day@parenta.com

01622934046

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000022864.

Apply now

Closes on Thursday 30 April 2026