Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprenticeship

TINKERBELLS NURSERY LTD

Preston (PR1 9XR)

Closes in 31 days (Monday 15 June 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 14 May 2026

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Summary

An Early Years Practitioner (EYP) works in a range of early years settings delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) including; full day-care, children’s centres, playgroups, pre-schools, nursery schools, reception. This apprenticeship is a great first step into a career in the Early Years sector.

Wage

£18,200 to £28,915.25, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Friday between 7.30am - 6.00pm - Schedule to be discussed.

43 hours 45 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 29 June 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

  • Early Years Practitioners work with and care for children from birth to 5 years
  • They play a role in supporting children to have the best start to their education
  • You will work as part of a team planning, monitoring and evaluating activities for children from birth to approximately five years of age
  • Ensuring the safeguarding and welfare of the children in the room at all times is essential
  • To build positive relationships with the children, families, colleagues and internal/external professionals

Where you'll work

Leyland Road
Penwortham
Preston
PR1 9XR

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

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English Language (grade Grade 4/C)
  • Maths (grade Grade 4/C)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Patience

About this employer

Your trusted children's nursery in Penwortham, Lancashire 
At Tinkerbells Day Nursery, we value your children's opinions and beliefs, and monitor their skill development.
Offering the highest standards of childcare

Hedgehogs (Baby room)
Otters (Toddler room)
Squirrels (Older toddlers and young 2's)
Owls (Older 2's and young 3's)
Foxes (Pre-school)
At Tinkerbells Day Nursery, we offer comprehensive forest school activities to enhance the intellectual skills of children, contributing to their overall development. 

https://www.tinkerbellsnursery-penwortham.co.uk/Nursery (opens in new tab)

Disability Confident

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

  • Upon successful completion of this qualification, learners can enter the workforce as a qualified level 3 Early Years Practitioner or continue to study for a Level 5 Diploma, holding Early Years Educator status, including the Early Years Educator apprenticeship

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BEST PRACTICE NETWORK LIMITED

Alice Pollington

alicepollington@bestpracticenet.co.uk

01174545579

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000031728.

Apply now

Closes in 31 days (Monday 15 June 2026 at 11:59pm)