Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprentice

PUZZLES DAY NURSERY

BIRMINGHAM (B31 2SL)

Closes in 8 days (Wednesday 29 April 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 16 April 2026

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Summary

The Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship develops the skills needed to support children’s learning, development, and wellbeing from birth to age five. Apprentices gain practical experience while studying child development, safeguarding, and inclusive practice in early years settings.

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 to Friday 7am - 6:30pm

40 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 13 May 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

  • Supporting children’s learning through play and planned activities
  • Assisting with daily routines such as meals, toileting, and rest times
  • Observing, assessing, and recording children’s development
  • Promoting a safe, secure, and inclusive environment
  • Supporting children’s social, emotional, and communication skills
  • Working with colleagues and communicating with parents/carers
  • Following safeguarding, health, and safety procedures
  • Helping prepare learning materials and classroom areas
  • Encouraging positive behaviour and independence

Where you'll work

1145 BRISTOL ROAD SOUTH
NORTHFIELD
BIRMINGHAM
B31 2SL

Training

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

Training provider

HALESOWEN COLLEGE

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

  • Early Years Educator Level 3
  • Training will include paediatric first aid qualification

Halesowen College provides a structured training plan combining workplace learning with off-the-job study. Apprentices attend Halesowen College twice per month alongside their nursery placement, supported by an assessor while developing knowledge in safeguarding, child development, health and safety, and professional practice.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths and English (grade 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
  • Problem solving skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

Successful applicants must undergo and pass an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before starting the role.

About this employer

Puzzles Day Nursery, located in Northfield, Birmingham, is a welcoming early years setting providing high-quality childcare and education for young children. The nursery supports learning through play in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, helping children develop key skills in communication, social interaction, physical development, and early learning. Open Monday to Friday, it offers a safe, nurturing environment where children are encouraged to grow in confidence, independence, and school readiness, while working closely with parents and carers to meet individual needs.

After this apprenticeship

After completing a Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship, apprentices can progress into a qualified Early Years Practitioner role, often securing permanent employment within their setting. With experience, they may advance to Room Leader, Deputy Nursery Manager, or Nursery Manager positions. Further study can lead to higher-level early years qualifications or specialist roles such as SEND support, safeguarding lead, or early years leadership within childcare and education settings.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

HALESOWEN COLLEGE

Tess Harris

tessharris@halesowen.ac.uk

01216027777

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000026706.

Apply now

Closes in 8 days (Wednesday 29 April 2026 at 11:59pm)