Early Years Educator Apprentice

TEESSIDE HIGH SCHOOL LTD

STOCKTON CLEVELAND (TS16 9AT)

Closes in 14 days (Wednesday 14 October 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 30 September 2026

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Summary

This rewarding role offers the chance to be part of a nurturing community, supporting children aged 6 months to 4 years. We're looking for warm and skilled professionals who bring creativity and a genuine passion for early learning. If you want to work in an environment that celebrates curiosity and excellence we would love to hear from you.

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
Working between 7:30am-6pm, Monday to Friday, including one day per week at Darlington College.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 2 November 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

Purpose of the Role:

  • To provide the highest standards of care, learning and emotional wellbeing for children across the nursery
  • To contribute to the creation of an exceptional Early Years environment rooted in the EYFS and the values of Teesside High School
  • To support each child’s individual development, fostering independence, curiosity and a lifelong love of learning
  • To work collaboratively within a team to uphold a safe, stimulating and nurturing setting where every child feels valued

Key Responsibilities
Care, Learning and Development:

  • Assist with the planning and delivery of engaging, age-appropriate activities that reflect the EYFS and respond to children’s interests
  • Create an enabling, stimulating and safe indoor and outdoor environment
  • Complete regular observations, assessments and learning journeys, sharing insights with parents in a meaningful and supportive way
  • Support early identification of additional needs, working alongside the Learning Support team and external professionals when required
  • Foster children’s independence, confidence and curiosity through high-quality interactions and play experiences
  • Act as a Key Person, developing secure, trusting relationships with each child and their family
  • Ensure daily routines, including meals, personal care and sleep, are carried out with sensitivity and consistency
  • Contribute to smooth transitions both within the nursery and to the wider school environment

Relationships and Communication:

  • Build strong, trusting bonds with children, offering secure attachments and warm interactions
  • Establish positive and professional partnerships with parents and carers, maintaining regular communication about children’s well-being, routines and progress
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues, contributing positively to a reflective, supportive and proactive team culture to ensure a cohesive, high-quality provision
  • Represent Riverbank Nursery with pride, upholding its ethos, values and professional standards at all times

Safeguarding and Welfare:

  • Act in the best interests of children at all times
  • Understand and follow the nursery’s safeguarding, child protection and staff behaviour policies
  • Recognise indicators of abuse or neglect and know how to respond to disclosures
  • Maintain strong relationships with families while respecting confidentiality
  • Maintain high standards of cleanliness, organisation and safety in line with nursery procedures
  • Supervise and support children during play, meal times, toilet-training, nappy changes and rest periods

Additional duties:

  • Assist with minor accidents and ensure accurate reporting
  • Attend staff meetings, training, parents’ events and other out-of-hours activities as required
  • Support domestic tasks within the nursery, such as snack preparation and equipment cleaning
  • Provide guidance to students on placement and contribute to a positive learning environment for all
  • Undertake any other reasonable duties required by the Nursery Manager or Room Leader

Personal qualities:

  • Warm, approachable and deeply committed to nurturing young children
  • Excellent communication, organisation and time-management skills
  • Passion for creating high-quality, child-centred learning experiences
  • Dedicated to safeguarding, inclusivity and the well-being of every child
  • Motivated to grow professionally and contribute to the  development of a new and thriving nursery provision

Where you'll work

THE BURSAR
TEESSIDE HIGH SCHOOL
THE AVENUE EAGLESCLIFFE
STOCKTON CLEVELAND
TS16 9AT

Training

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

Training provider

DARLINGTON 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

  • Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Standard
  • https://skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0135-v1-5
  • Location – The Avenue, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-On-Tees TS16 9AT
  • Working 5 days per week inclusive of 1 day release for study at Darlington College

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths and English (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
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Initiative
  • Good time keeping
  • Motivated
  • Flexibility

Other requirements

  • Please note that in line with UK apprenticeship regulations, you must have a valid and eligible residency status and the right to work in England. This should cover the entire expected term of learning and residency should be held for a minimum of 3 years, exceptions may apply please see Apprenticeship funding rules for full guidance
  • The school operates a No Smoking policy
  • All Staff must be appointed in accordance with the Schools’ Safeguarding Procedures, including an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure & Barring Service or such other body as might be constituted

About this employer

Riverbank Nursery at Teesside High School opened its doors in April 2026 and, following an incredibly successful launch, we are already expanding! At Riverbank, we pride ourselves on being a small, caring setting where both our children and our staff are at the heart of everything we do.

https://www.teessidehigh.co.uk/nursery/riverbank-nursery/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

  • 23 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays and an additional 4 days between Christmas and New Year
  • Access to high-quality school lunch catering at a reduced rate during term time, plus free  refreshments throughout the day
  • Staff discount on school fees and access to a contributory pension scheme
  • Use of school gym outside of school hours
  • Free on-site car parking and a provided staff uniform

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

  • There may be an opportunity to secure a long term position after successful completion of the apprenticeship

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

DARLINGTON COLLEGE

Nagina Patrai

npatrai@darlington.ac.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000056239.

Apply now

Closes in 14 days (Wednesday 14 October 2026 at 11:59pm)