Level 3 Early Years Apprenticeship

Summary

We have a fantastic opportunity for an aspiring apprentice to join our team. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are ambitious and want to gain an early year's qualification while getting experience. You'll create meaningful relationships with the children, your team and with parents.

Wage

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Early years educator (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8.00am - 6.00pm.

40 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 15 July 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

4

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

You'll create meaningful relationships with the children, your team and with parents to provide the best service for our families
Ensure that every child's well-being is met by providing a thriving and safe environment
Safeguarding all children in the setting and making sure any child protection concerns are always appropriately acted upon immediately
You will observe, monitor and support delivering activities and learning experiences linked to the EYFS
Ensure children’s progress and achievements are regularly and effectively assessed and recorded. Including any activities, served meals and medication administered
Meet the needs of individual children, having an awareness of any disabilities, family cultures and medical histories
Learn and maintain high standards in the nursery
Support and serve food to children, ensuring any special dietary requirements are met at all times

What You’ll Do:

Support children’s learning and development through play
Help create fun, safe and engaging activities
Assist with daily routines like snack time and outdoor play
Learn from experienced early years professionals
Gain a recognised childcare qualification

Where you'll work

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

The Old School, Ferndale Road, Swindon, SN2 1HL
89 GROUNDWELL ROAD, SWINDON, SN1 2NA

Training

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

College or training organisation

BEST PRACTICE NETWORK LIMITED

Your 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.

Your training plan

The program offers a blended approach including virtual classrooms, webinars, work-based tasks and online assignments
We use an online platform (BUD) that helps you learn the topics and skills, reflect on your practice and build your portfolio
Candidates are not required to attend college, instead, this will include off the job training hours used throughout this apprenticeship
These OTJH will be within working hours of Employment- e.g., 30+ hours per week = 6 hours per week OTJH, less than 30 hours is 20% OTJH
You will also receive one-to-one support and tuition from your apprenticeship tutor, this tutor will make in-person visits to you at the nursery or schedule online meetings every 5-6 weeks
Early Years Educator Level 3 (A-level) Apprenticeship Standard
Training will include a paediatric first aid qualification

More training information

Best Practice Network is one of the UK’s leading providers of training, development and support for education professionals
We share the desire of every practitioner that every child, regardless of their background, should benefit from an excellent education
We do this by working in close partnership with practising education professionals to develop and deliver high-quality CPD and qualifications that help school leaders, teachers, early years practitioners, business managers, support staff and SENCOs be the best they can be and transform the lives of children and young people

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

English (grade 4/C)
Maths (grade 4/C)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Organisation skills
Patience
Positive can-do attitude
Passion for working with kids

Other requirements

What We’re Looking For: • A positive attitude and a big smile • A genuine love for working with children • A team player who’s reliable and eager to learn • No previous experience needed — just your enthusiasm!

About this company

We offer a flexible approach with regard to sessions and can accommodate parents who work shifts. Within the nursery there are 3 separate units: babies, toddlers and pre-school all accommodated within a specially adapted building.

Company benefits

What You’ll Get: Paid apprenticeship with on-the-job training Real experience in a nurturing early year setting Supportive, friendly team to guide your journey

After this apprenticeship

Once you have finished the apprenticeship, there may be an opportunity to continue working for the same company and progress on to Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner, EYITT, ECT or Level 3 Early Years SENCO
Early Years Educators are found in a range of settings including day nurseries, playgroups, nursery schools, pre-schools, kindergartens, primary schools, hospitals, social care settings, out-of-school environments and local authority provision, giving you a broad range of employment opportunities

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: