Nursery Apprentice - Early Years Educator level 3

WILLOWS PRE-SCHOOL LIMITED

Wilton Grove (SW19 3QX)

Closes in 26 days (Tuesday 30 June 2026)

Posted on 4 June 2026

Print

Contents

Summary

Are you ready to begin an exciting career in childcare? Do you have a passion for supporting young children to learn, grow and thrive? Willows Pre-School is looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Early Years Apprentice to join our dedicated team. Gain hands-on experience in a supportive, high-quality early years setting.

Wage

£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
Workdays, Monday to Friday working in shifts.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 6 July 2026

Duration

1 year 2 months

Positions available

3

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

Willows Pre-School provides a nurturing and stimulating environment where children are encouraged to develop confidence, independence and a love of learning. We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality care and education in line with the EYFS framework, supporting every child to reach their full potential.

The Role
As an Early Years Apprentice, you will support the team in delivering outstanding care and education while learning key skills needed for a successful career in childcare.

Your responsibilities will include:

  • Getting to know all children in the setting, recognising their individual emotional, physical and developmental needs
  • Building strong partnerships with parents and carers
  • Reporting any incidents or concerns to the Principal and parents where appropriate
  • Providing intimate care, including nappy changing when required
  • Following all Health & Safety procedures and reporting any concerns promptly
  • Adhering to safeguarding policies and reporting concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
  • Supporting or taking responsibility for a group of children as directed
  • Encouraging positive behaviour, good manners, cooperation and social development
  • Assisting in planning and implementing the EYFS curriculum
  • Providing high-quality learning experiences through play and structured activities
  • Supporting staff deployment to ensure children can fully participate in activities
  • Carrying out observations and maintaining accurate records of children’s progress
  • Keeping documentation up to date, including registers and accident records

What You’ll Gain

  • A recognised Early Years qualification
  • Practical experience in a supportive, high-quality setting
  • Ongoing training and development
  • Mentoring from experienced early years professionals
  • A strong foundation for a long-term career in childcare

Where you'll work

28
Wilton Grove
SW19 3QX

Training

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

Training provider

REALISE LEARNING AND EMPLOYMENT 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

Your full role and responsibilities will be set out by your employer. They will provide you with all of the on-the-job training you need to up-skill in your role, and your 20% off-the-job learning will be incorporated as part of your working day.

You will be working towards the Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship standard, which includes:

  • Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours
  • Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid or Level 3 Award in Emergency Paediatric First Aid
  • Level 2 Functional Skills in maths and English (if required)

This will be delivered by your dedicated training provider, Realise.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • Mathematics (grade 4)
  • English Language (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
  • Creative
  • Friendly
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Organisation skills
  • Patience
  • Team working

About this employer

Willows Preschool is a nursery that promotes nurturing relationships and a friendly environment daily. The team works together and helps each other, making this nursery exceptional and a place where everyone can express themselves, contributing to making Willows unique.

After this apprenticeship

  • Being a permanent part of our Willows Team

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

REALISE LEARNING AND EMPLOYMENT LIMITED

Mohammad Ali

jobenquiries@justapply.co.uk

0333 444 3973

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000035326.

Apply now

Closes in 26 days (Tuesday 30 June 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.