Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship
The Tots Team Nursery
Leeds (LS5 3LD)
Closes in 8 days (Monday 23 February 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 11 February 2026
Contents
Summary
A family-run nursery in Kirkstall is seeking a caring and enthusiastic Level 3 Early Years Apprentice to join their friendly team. This role is ideal for someone passionate about supporting children aged 3 months to 5 years, while gaining valuable experience, training, and qualifications in a nurturing, supportive environment.
- Wage
-
£15,704 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 to Friday
30 to 40 hours over 3 or 4 days.
Shifts TBC.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 9 March 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 6 months
- Positions available
-
2
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
- Under supervision, keep records of children’s development and learning journeys
- Liaise professionally with and support parents and other family members
- Be able to work well in a team
- Attend out of working hours activities, e.g. training, monthly staff meetings, parent's evenings, fundraising events, etc.
- To ensure high standards in all aspects of care and development in line with the EYFS for all children attending the nursery
- To organise resources for activities and experiences in the nursery
- To assist in enhancing the developmental progress of children
- To implement the daily routine within the nursery
- To maintain a high standard of cleanliness and good housekeeping
- To maintain a thorough knowledge of all the nursery’s policies and procedures; ensuring that they are followed and respected
Full description will be given at the interview
Where you'll work
Headingley Station Building
Kirkstall Lane
Leeds
LS5 3LD
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
AIRE VOCATIONAL 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
Your training will be provided by Aire Vocational Training. The apprentice will be working towards the Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Standard qualification (Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours). This will be delivered in the workplace through monthly face to face visits from your vocational coach or via teams calls. Off-the-job training will be given at a minimum of 6 hours per week to complete all the necessary training. This will also be delivered in the workplace.
Within this standard you will also complete:
- Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid or Level 3 Award in
- Emergency Paediatric First Aid
- Functional skills, maths and English, if required
- And the Apprenticeship Assessment - which will comprise of two activities:
Observation in practice and questioning with an EPA external assessor
Portfolio-based professional discussion with an EPA external assessor
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (grade 4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
Other requirements
Successful passing of a DBS check
About this employer
This family-run nursery in Kirkstall, close to Headingley, provides full-time childcare for children aged three months to five years. The nursery is committed to promoting the wellbeing and inclusion of every child, with a broad and ambitious curriculum designed to support each child’s development in line with their individual needs.
The setting offers a warm, home-from-home environment where children feel safe, valued, and confident to explore the world around them. Working in close partnership with parents, the team delivers high-quality childcare and early years education, built on consistent care, strong relationships, and a nurturing approach.
By ensuring children feel secure and supported, the nursery helps them develop the confidence to thrive, whatever their background. Families choose this Kirkstall nursery for its combination of professional early years practice and the warmth, reassurance, and personal touch of a close-knit, family-run setting.
After this apprenticeship
For the successful candidate, there is the possibility of ongoing employment upon completion of the relevant qualification. Progression to the level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner may be available.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
AIRE VOCATIONAL TRAINING LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000013975.
Apply now
Closes in 8 days (Monday 23 February 2026 at 11:59pm)