Early Years Apprentice
Willington Primary School
Crook (DL15 0EQ)
Closes in 17 days (Sunday 21 June 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 4 June 2026
Contents
Summary
We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Apprentice to join our dedicated Early Years team. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone with a passion for working with young children to start their career in education. The apprentice will receive high-quality training and will work towards achieving the Level 3 Early Years Educator.
- Wage
-
£15,392 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
The wage is every month based on the role being term time only.
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 4.30pm.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 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
Main purpose of the role
Under the guidance of the class teacher, working in our mixed-stage nursery/reception, you will support the children's learning, development and care. You will ensure they have a safe, stimulating, and inclusive learning environment. You will help create positive relationships with children, parents, and colleagues and promote the school's values and ethos.
Key duties and responsibilities
Support for children
- Assist the class teacher in the supervision and support of children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
- Help facilitate learning activities, both child-initiated and adult-led, indoors and outdoors, covering the key areas of the EYFS framework.
- Promote positive behaviour and social skills, helping children with turn-taking, sharing, and managing their emotions.
- Provide personal care to children as needed, such as with toileting, changing, and mealtimes, ensuring their dignity is respected.
- Help settle children at the start of the day and during transition periods, helping them feel safe and secure.
- Ensure the health, safety, and well-being of all children is a priority at all times.
Support for the teacher
- Assist in the preparation and maintenance of a well-resourced and organised classroom environment.
- Help prepare and maintain resources and learning materials for lessons and activities, including creating displays of children's work.
- Assist in observing and monitoring children's progress, providing feedback to the teacher to inform future planning.
- Support administrative tasks, such as photocopying, laminating, and filing.
Support for the school
- Be aware of and comply with all school policies, including safeguarding, health and safety, confidentiality, and behaviour management.
- Attend and participate in relevant meetings and training opportunities as required.
- Work collaboratively with all members of the school team and build positive relationships with parents/carers.
- Accompany staff and children on educational visits and outings.
- Act as a positive role model to all pupils in work ethic, conduct, and attitude.
Apprenticeship training
- To undertake the training as part of the Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship and work towards completion within the agreed timeframe.
- To attend all college or training sessions and successfully complete all assignments and portfolio requirements.
- To actively participate in progress reviews with your line manager and training provider.
Where you'll work
2 Chapel Street
Willington
Crook
DL15 0EQ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BISHOP AUCKLAND 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
The apprentice will attend Bishop Auckland College one day per week for off-the-job training.
More training information
Paediatric first aid.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 9-4 or A*-C or Level 2)
- Maths (grade 9-4 or A*-C or Level 2)
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
- Customer care skills
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
Other requirements
As part of the interview process you may be asked to attend a half-day work trial as well as an interview.
Working in an Early Years setting can be challenging, yet very rewarding. You will be spending time outdoors in all weathers. The post will be offered pending DBS & reference clearance.
About this employer
Primary school based in Willington, Crook.
After this apprenticeship
Employment with in the organisation, to be discussed at interview as this can depend on school funding at the time of apprenticeship completion.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BISHOP AUCKLAND COLLEGE
David Brough
david.brough@bacoll.ac.uk
01388 743164
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000035364.
Apply now
Closes in 17 days (Sunday 21 June 2026 at 11:59pm)