Early Years Educator L3 Apprenticeship - July 2026
PUFFINS OF EXETER LTD
Devon, EXETER
Closes on Monday 25 May 2026
Posted on 30 March 2026
Contents
Summary
Puffins of Exeter are looking for an Early Years Educator Apprentice to help provide high-quality childcare. Puffins of Exeter is a family run business of 5 nurseries and are open from Monday - Friday, 7.30am until 6pm. This will be carried out by 3 - 4 days a week at placement in one of our nurserie1 day a week at our training centre.
- Wage
-
Competitive
Competitive wage offered
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
To be confirmed but will likely be 3 or 4-days working in the nursery with 1-day in the training centre.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 20 July 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 3 months
- Positions available
-
10
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
Puffins of Exeter ethos is simple we put the care and education of children at the heart of everything we do.
We have 6 locations in and around Exeter: EX1 2PD, EX2 4NP, EX1 1BB, EX2 7FB, EX2 7EY, EX7 9RA.
Your role and responsibilities will be set by Puffins of Exeter and will include:
- Support practitioners and educators in the setting to carry out their roles
- Care for children from ages 0-5 years old
- Work as a part of a team and support in carrying out activities, games and stories for all ages
- Support in creating a stimulating environment for children across all ages
- Adhere to policies and procedures, complete relevant paperwork and children's observations
- Develop your skills both on and off the job with support in the work placement
Where you'll work
You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.
This apprenticeship is available in these locations:
- School Bungalow, First Avenue, Dawlish, Devon, EX7 9RA
- 13 MONT LE GRAND, EXETER, EX1 2PD
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
SOUTH WEST ASSOCIATION OF TRAINING PROVIDERS 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
- 1-day a week at our training centre. You will qualify with a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification
- Training will include paediatric first aid qualification
Requirements
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Creative
- Patience
- Caring
Other requirements
Working with children so likely to carry children, work outdoors and indoors.
About this employer
Puffins of Exeter have 6 nurseries in and around Exeter and Dawlish. they care for children aged between 3 months up to 5 years old before children attend school. They have over 100 employees and work with their sister company Puffins Training to support the learning and development of their staff.
You will receive benefits including, free uniform, free breakfast, discounts for high street and online brands, opportunities for career growth and development, opportunities to win monthly “Employee of the month”, celebrate achievements at award nights, team building sessions and opportunities to participate in charitable and community events. We provide an Employee assistance programme which allows staff to get free confidential advice on many topics. Cycle to work scheme and discount on gym membership.
After this apprenticeship
Career progression into the next level childcare apprenticeship, progression into various positions from here.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
SOUTH WEST ASSOCIATION OF TRAINING PROVIDERS LIMITED
Train@puffinsofexeter.com
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000024018.
Apply now
Closes on Monday 25 May 2026