Early Years Level 3 Apprenticeship - Hickory Dickory

HICKORY DICKORYS.DAY NURSERY LTD

Cheltenham (GL50 1JS)

Closes in 22 days (Wednesday 25 November 2026)

Posted on 2 November 2026

Print

Contents

Summary

Are you level 2 qualified or have experience in childcare? If so, this is a great position for someone passionate to progress to level 3. The role will involve planning and delivering fun and educational activities for children, whilst taking care of the children’s developmental and personal needs.

Wage

£15,600 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
Monday - Friday - hours to be determined.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Thursday 26 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

As a level 3 apprentice you will be a key member of the nursery team, your daily activities may include:

  • Planning and implementing fun and educational activities with the children 
  • Play alongside and with children to support their play
  • Supporting children’s creative and imaginative experiences 
  • Maintaining development records on key children 
  • Supervising children at rest times and at mealtimes 
  • Contributing to and promoting health and safety 
  • Ensuring the play area is clean and tidy at all times 
  • Working closely with parents and providing feedback on their child 

Useful Qualities to have:

  • Friendly and approachable
  • Patient, and caring
  • The ability to interact positively with children and adults
  • Flexible and willing to carry out a number of different activities within the job role
  • Reliable
  • Trustworthy
  • Motivated
  • The ability to work using your own initiative

This position would suit a candidate with a bubbly, outgoing personality who is able to work on their own initiative and is prepared to commit to the work required for an apprenticeship.

Where you'll work

19 Cambray Place
Cheltenham
GL50 1JS

Training

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

Training provider

ASPIRATION TRAINING 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

As a work-based training provider, we will provide an exciting individually designed training programme covering:

  • Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Standard
  • Functional Skills in Maths and English (if required)
  • Paediatric First Aid
  • End-Point Assessment (EPA)
  • On and off the job training

We will aim to meet your needs and those of your employer, combining theory with hands-on practical experience to ensure you develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours that are relevant to your role.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4-9)
  • Mathematics (grade 4-9)

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
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Patience
  • Creative

Other requirements

If you are using public transport to get to this employer, please ensure you have researched the route and that a regular service is available.

About this employer

Sharon Johnson and Trudy Hobbs established Hickory Dickorys in 1999 for their own children who have thrived and grown into confident and happy young ladies. Both Sharon & Trudy have worked in the Early Years sector for over 30 years and they both remain passionate about the importance of every child's early development, and the care that each child receives has a positive impact on their future growth and success. Sharon & Trudy work daily in the nursery overseeing the smooth running, and this helps maintain a high standard of care, promotes a strong professional relationship with the team and builds successful partnerships with parents and carers.

After this apprenticeship

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

There is the possibility of ongoing employment upon completion of the relevant qualification with the opportunity to progress to higher level qualifications.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ASPIRATION TRAINING LIMITED

Rachael Fletcher

rfletcher@aspirationtraining.com

0152 735 9646

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000061762.

Apply now

Closes in 22 days (Wednesday 25 November 2026)

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