Early Years Apprentice
Mini Explorers Childcare
Grimsby (DN32 9HL)
Closes in 12 days (Sunday 24 May 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 11 May 2026
Contents
Summary
Join Mini Explorers as an Early Years Apprentice, supporting children’s learning, development and wellbeing in a nurturing home-from-home setting. You’ll help deliver sessions, promote outdoor play, and create safe, engaging activities while building your childcare career.
- Wage
-
£12,480 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Shift pattern tbc. Operating hours Monday-Friday 7.30am-5.30pm.
30 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 5 October 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 the planning, preparation and delivery of engaging, age- appropriate activities in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), adapting where needed to meet individual children’s needs and interests.
- Help create and maintain a safe, nurturing, inclusive and stimulating environment where all children feel secure, valued and able to thrive.
- Observe children’s learning and development, accurately recording progress and sharing key information with the team to support next steps in learning.
- Encourage curiosity, independence and confidence through purposeful play, both indoors and outdoors.
- Promote positive behaviour and support children to develop social skills, emotional understanding and resilience.
- Support children with personal care routines, including toileting, hygiene and mealtimes, ensuring dignity and safeguarding procedures are always followed.
- Build strong, positive and professional relationships with children, parents and carers, contributing to effective communication and partnership working.
- Assist in maintaining a well-organised, clean and safe learning environment in line with health and safety requirements.
- Support transitions throughout the day, helping children feel settled and confident in their routines.
- Contribute ideas to improve activities, routines and the overall learning environment within the setting.
- Work collaboratively as part of the team, supporting colleagues and maintaining consistent standards of care and education.
- Follow all safeguarding, child protection and setting policies and procedures at all times, escalating concerns appropriately.
- Take part in training and continuous professional development as part of the apprenticeship program.
Where you'll work
53 Edward Street
Grimsby
DN32 9HL
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
TEC PARTNERSHIP
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
- Level 3 Early Years Educator.
- A bespoke programme of technical and vocational training.
- Functional skills in maths and English*if applicable.
The successful candidate will be assigned a dedicated work-based trainer who will provide support and guidance throughout the course. This apprenticeship is delivered wholly in the workplace; the successful candidate will not need to attend any weekly sessions at the Grimsby Institute unless maths or English is required as part of the apprenticeship.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4/C or above)
- Maths (grade 4/C or above)
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
- Administrative skills
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
Other requirements
Prior to applying please ensure you are able to get to and from this workplace within the operating hours.
Please be aware as the first part of the process you will be asked to complete a Learner Form and online assessments in English and maths. You will receive one-to-one information, advice, and guidance from a member of the Learner Engagement Team.
About this employer
Mini Explorers is a childminding setting based in a nurturing, home-from-home environment where children’s wellbeing, happiness and development are at the heart of everything we do. Opened in 2020, the setting has developed a strong focus on emotional wellbeing and nature-based learning, with a commitment to supporting children as individuals at their own pace.
We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and place a strong emphasis on play-based learning, outdoor exploration and supporting children’s mental wellbeing. Our approach is influenced by the Hygge in the Early Years philosophy, creating calm, comforting and engaging experiences that help children feel safe, settled and ready to learn.
We also recognise the importance of supporting families as well as children, offering guidance, reassurance and practical support wherever possible. Our team works closely with parents and carers to build strong, trusting relationships and ensure the best outcomes for every child.
At Mini Explorers, we are proud to provide a caring, supportive environment where both children and staff can grow, learn and thrive.
https://www.miniexplorerschildcare-grimsby.co.uk (opens in new tab)
After this apprenticeship
- Possible permanent contract upon successful completion of the Apprenticeship and further enhanced industry-based training.
- An apprenticeship allows you to earn a wage, gain valuable work experience and industry-specific competence.
- Transferable skills that are invaluable in the wider world of work.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
TEC PARTNERSHIP
Claire
myapprenticeship@grimsby.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000030713.
Apply now
Closes in 12 days (Sunday 24 May 2026 at 11:59pm)