Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprenticeship

LINGFIELD COLLEGE

Lingfield (RH7 6PH)

Closes in 6 days (Friday 1 May 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 24 April 2026


Summary

We have a fantastic opportunity for an aspiring apprentice to join our team. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are ambitious and want to gain an early year's qualification while getting experience. You'll create meaningful relationships with the children, your team and with parents.

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
The role is full time, 40 hours per week all year round. The nursery is open Monday to Friday between 7.30am and 6.00pm, and hours are worked on a shift basis within these times.

40 hours a week

Start date

Saturday 2 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

  • Support children at different stages of development and abilities, ensuring every child feels valued and supported
  • Help create a calm, stimulating and prepared learning environment inspired by the Montessori approach
  • Encourage children’s independence through hands-on activities and exploration
  • Support daily routines including mealtimes, outdoor play, and personal care 
  • Observe and support children’s individual development and learning journeys
  • Work closely with experienced staff who will mentor and guide you throughout your apprenticeship

Where you'll work

Lingfield College Racecourse Road
Lingfield
RH7 6PH

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

What You’ll Gain:

  • A Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification
  • Valuable hands-on experience in a Montessori nursery environment
  • Support and mentoring from experienced early years professionals
  • Online learning delivered by Best Practice Network
  • The opportunity to build a long-term career in early years education, with potential for a permanent role

Requirements

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
  • Problem solving skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

  • You will be required to obtain a DBS

About this employer

Working at Lingfield is an opportunity for motivated, determined and caring individuals to help children of all ages discover a love of learning. So if you are looking for a stimulating and rewarding job, you have come to the right place. 

We are committed to ongoing personal development and with leadership and management training and sponsored learning programmes, we can help you achieve your professional goals. Set within almost 40 acres of beautiful grounds, Lingfield College is just 25 miles (and 40 minutes by train) from London, and we offer excellent staff benefits.

https://www.tes.com/jobs/vacancy/nursery-apprentice-lingfield-surrey-surrey-2310269 (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

  • Benefits:
  • 28 days paid holiday
  • Competitive Apprentice salary
  • Sick pay entitlement and medical cash plan
  • Paid breaks and free lunches & refreshments
  • Free car parking
  • Nest Pension Scheme

After this apprenticeship

  • Potential to progress to full-time or Level 5

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BEST PRACTICE NETWORK LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000027358.

Apply now

Closes in 6 days (Friday 1 May 2026 at 11:59pm)