Early Years Educator Apprentice

ABINGTON VALE PLAYSCHOOL

NORTHAMPTON (NN3 3AF)

Closes in 27 days (Friday 13 March 2026)

Posted on 10 February 2026

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Summary

As an Early Years Apprentice at Abington Vale Playschool, you’ll support children aged 2–5 through play-based learning, help plan activities, observe progress, and assist children with varied needs. You’ll uphold safeguarding and work with families while gaining training, skills, and a recognised qualification.

Wage

£13,741 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
To be discussed with the employer.

35 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 1 April 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

The apprentice will be expected to support the day-to-day running of the setting, including supervising children, assisting with activities, and maintaining a safe, clean, and stimulating environment.

Duties will include

  • Supporting toileting and care routines, preparing and tidying resources, assisting with snack and lunch club, and working both indoors and outdoors
  • The role also involves completing paperwork for key children, such as observations, learning journeys, and next steps, contributing to assessments, and following all safeguarding, health and safety, and confidentiality procedures, with guidance and support from experienced staff

Where you'll work

ABINGTON VALE PLAYSCHOOL
BRIDGEWATER DRIVE
ABINGTON VALE
NORTHAMPTON
NN3 3AF

Training

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

Training provider

NORTHAMPTON 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

1 day per 2 weeks to take place at Northampton College

Requirements

Essential 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
  • Team working
  • Non judgemental
  • Understanding of EYFS

Other requirements

The successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and provide suitable references. A commitment to safeguarding, confidentiality, and adherence to all playschool policies and procedures is essential. The role requires reliability, flexibility, and the ability to work effectively as part of a team, along with a willingness to complete required training and paperwork for the apprenticeship. 

About this employer

Abington Vale Playschool is a charity-run preschool providing high-quality early years education for children aged 2 years until school age, operating term-time only. 
We offer a supportive, inclusive, and nurturing environment where every child is valued as an individual. We have a strong commitment to inclusive practice and supporting children with SEND, working closely with families and external professionals to ensure children’s individual needs are met and celebrated. 
Our experienced and dedicated team delivers a play-based curriculum in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), promoting children’s confidence, independence, communication, and emotional well-being. As a charitable organisation, we reinvest all income into staff development, training, and resources to continually improve the quality of care and education we provide. 
Abington Vale Playschool is a welcoming, community-focused setting that values teamwork, professional development, and the provision of positive learning experiences for both children and staff

Company benefits

Abington Vale Playschool offers a supportive workplace focused on staff wellbeing. Benefits include a pension for over‑21s, term‑time hours, paid holiday, ongoing training, and hands‑on experience in an inclusive early years setting.

After this apprenticeship

  • Abington Vale Playschool supports staff development and progression within early years education. Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, there may be opportunities to progress to a qualified Early Years Practitioner role, subject to availability
  • Staff are encouraged to continue their professional development through further training and qualifications, with the opportunity to take on increased responsibilities as skills, confidence, and experience grow

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

NORTHAMPTON COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000014425.

Apply now

Closes in 27 days (Friday 13 March 2026)

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