Early Years Apprentice
TENDER YEARS DAY NURSERY LTD
SOLIHULL (B92 8DD)
Closes in 15 days (Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 14 September 2026
Contents
Summary
Start your Early Years career with Tender Years Day Nursery. Gain hands-on experience while completing your Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship. Attend Solihull College on Mondays and work in the nursery Tuesday to Friday, with opportunities to progress to higher-level qualifications.
- Wage
-
£16,640 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
-
Monday college.
Tuesday to Friday nursery 8 am/9 am till 4 pm/5.30 pm.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 12 October 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 6 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
- Support the care, learning and development of children aged 0–5 years
- Help provide fun, stimulating activities based on children’s interests and individual needs
- Build warm, positive relationships with children and support their emotional wellbeing
- Support children with daily routines, including mealtimes, sleep, toileting and personal care
- Work alongside experienced Early Years Practitioners to create a safe, welcoming and engaging environment
- Learn how to observe children’s development and contribute to planning their next steps
- Support children’s communication, language, independence and social skills
- Communicate positively with parents, carers and other members of the nursery team
- Follow safeguarding, health and safety, hygiene and nursery procedures
- Help prepare and maintain play areas, resources and equipment
- Take part in staff meetings, training and professional development
- Gradually take on more responsibility as your knowledge, skills and confidence develop
Where you'll work
46A CASTLE LANE
SOLIHULL
B92 8DD
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
SOLIHULL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CENTRE
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 work towards the Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship with Solihull College.
Training will take place in person at Solihull College every Monday during term time, with the apprentice working at Tender Years Day Nursery Tuesday to Friday.
Practical skills and knowledge will also be developed in the workplace with support from experienced Early Years practitioners and the nursery management team.
More training information
I’d use this section to emphasise the support and progression available at Tender Years rather than repeat the course content:
Training will be delivered by Solihull College alongside practical workplace training at Tender Years Day Nursery. The apprentice will be supported by experienced practitioners and managers throughout their apprenticeship.
We actively encourage continued professional development. Many of our existing staff are currently working towards Level 5 and Level 7 qualifications, so successful completion of this apprenticeship could be the first step towards further qualifications and career progression within Early Years.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
- warm & empathatic
Other requirements
Applicants must be suitable to work with young children and will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory safer recruitment checks.
You should be reliable, punctual and committed to attending both work and college. The role is active and involves working at floor level, indoor and outdoor play, supporting children's personal care and being involved in all aspects of a busy nursery day.
About this employer
Yes — I think that adds personality and shows the nursery has genuine continuity. I’d also say family-run rather than just “family business”; it feels warmer for an Early Years advert.
Tender Years Day Nursery is a well-established, family-run independent nursery in Solihull, caring for and educating children aged 0–5 years.
Established in 1990, the nursery has remained a family business for over 35 years and is now managed by the founder’s eldest daughter, continuing the family’s involvement into the next generation.
We have a large, experienced team and pride ourselves on maintaining a friendly, welcoming atmosphere where children are known as individuals and staff feel part of the wider nursery family. As an apprentice, you will be a valued member of the team, learning alongside experienced Early Years practitioners in a busy and varied nursery environment.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
On successful completion, there may be opportunities to progress into a permanent role as a qualified Early Years Educator at Tender Years. Further career progression could include becoming a Senior Practitioner, Room Leader or Nursery Manager. We actively support professional development, with many of our current team working towards Level 5 and Level 7 qualifications.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
TENDER YEARS DAY NURSERY LTD
Lisa Whitehouse
lisa@tenderyears.co.uk
01217065619
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000053328.
Apply now
Closes in 15 days (Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 11:59pm)