Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship at First Steps Childcare, Shepton Mallet

Summary

As our apprentice you will be helping children develop before starting school. Understanding how to plan and run education, play activities with children under five years old, and make sure they're safe and happy. It's a joyful and rewarding job where you will get to see children learn, grow and develop.

Wage

£14,918.80 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)

£7.55-£10ph

Training course

Early years educator (level 3)

Hours

Days to be confirmed between the hours of 8.30am - 5.30pm Four days a week ( Day off negotiable)

38 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

1 year 3 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 responsibilities:

To deliver a high standard of learning, development and care for children aged 0-5 years
To ensure that the preschool nursery is a safe environment for children, staff and others
To develop partnerships with parents/carers to increase involvement in their child’s development
To be responsible for any tasks delegated by the Senior supervisor/Deputy Manager/Nursery manager
To complete all academic aspects of the apprenticeship

Main activities:

To provide a safe, caring, stimulating educational environment, both indoors and outdoors at all times
To deliver an appropriate play based Early Years Foundation stage (EYFS) curriculum that enables children to make individual progress
To help ensure nursery meets Ofsted requirements al tall times
To understand and work to First Steps policies and procedures, including how to deal with child protection issues appropriately and how to respond to incidents, accidents, complaints and emergencies
To plan activities to ensure each child is working towards the early learning outcomes

To be a key person:

To ensure records are maintained e.g. daily attendance register, accident and incident book, risk assessments
To liaise closely with parents/carers, informing them about nursery and its curriculum, exchanging information about children’s progress and encouraging parents’ involvement
To work in partnership with senior management to update and review the self-evaluation and provision
To undertake any other reasonable duties as directed, in accordance with the settings aims and objectives

Where you'll work

44 COMPTON ROAD
SHEPTON MALLET
BA4 5QT

Training

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

College or training organisation

SOMERSET SKILLS & LEARNING CIC

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

Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4)
maths (grade 4)

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
IT skills
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Passionate for Early Years
Enthusiastic

Other requirements

Successful applicants will be subject to a DBS check. Please consider how you will travel to the place of work, particularly if you rely on public transport.

About this company

Private day nursery. Registered for 0-5 year olds. Open all year round, 8am-6pm.

https://fsdaynursery.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Potential permanent job role, progression to a higher level apprenticeship or qualification

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SOMERSET SKILLS & LEARNING CIC

SS&L the training provider

enquiries@sslcourses.co.uk

0330 332 7997

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000327307.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 1 August 2025

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