Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprentice

CHRISTCHURCH PLAYGROUP

CHELTENHAM (GL50 2JH)

Closes in 21 days (Friday 29 May 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 8 May 2026

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Summary

You must be caring, enthusiastic, eager to learn new things, not afraid to get messy, be willing to sing with the children (even if you can’t sing - don’t worry, we can’t!) & want to work within a small friendly team.  We welcome informal visits. A passion for working in early years is essential.

Wage

£11,440 to £18,175.30, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 3.00pm term time only

27 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 7 September 2026

Duration

1 year 9 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

Your duties will include: 

  • Helping set up and tidy up
  • Playing and interacting with the children
  • Helping prepare snacks
  • Be responsible for 1 - 2 key children record keeping
  • Planning activities for the children 1 - 2 times a week  

Where you'll work

CHRISTCHURCH HALL
MALVERN ROAD
CHELTENHAM
GL50 2JH

Training

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

Training provider

GLOUCESTERSHIRE 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 Standard Level 3
  • Training is delivered in the workplace

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (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
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Initiative
  • Patience

Other requirements

  • You will have needed to have completed an Early Years Level 2 qualification or have experience within an Early Years setting 

About this employer

We are a term time only, pack away setting providing early years care and education for children aged 2 – 4 years old.   

http://www.christchurchcheltenham.com (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

We provide T-Shirts and a fleece or coat with logo on. We have a pension scheme. As term time only we do not have holiday, but do receive holiday pay within our annual salary. 

After this apprenticeship

  • This is initially a fixed term contract for 2 years, with the potential of extension depending on the needs of the setting

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

GLOUCESTERSHIRE COLLEGE

GC Employer Training and Apprenticeships

Apprenticeshipvacancies@gloscol.ac.uk

0345 155 2020

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000030625.

Apply now

Closes in 21 days (Friday 29 May 2026 at 11:59pm)