Early Years Educator Apprentice

FOR UNDER FIVES LTD

Rotherham (S63 7ER)

Closes on Tuesday 31 March 2026

Posted on 12 February 2026

Print

Contents

Summary

  • On-the-job training as an Early Years Educator Apprentice, supporting the children between ages 0 to 5 years old
  • If you are a qualified Early Years Practitioner with a Level 2 qualification this would be your next level in progression to be Qualified as an Early Years Educator with a Level 3 qualification

Wage

£15,704 to £25,396.80, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday: Shifts will be between the hours of 07.30am and 6.00pm.

40 hours a week

Start date

Friday 10 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

Supports and delivers care and education for young children (0-5), participating in activities like crafts, music, and outdoor play, helping with personal care (feeding, changing), observing children's development, maintaining a safe environment, building parent partnerships, and completing academic coursework alongside practical training to meet EYFS standards

Where you'll work

Golden Smithies Lane
Wath-Upon-Dearne
Rotherham
S63 7ER

Training

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

Training provider

JUNIPER 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

  • On-the-job training, you will be taught by your manager and other qualified early years staff within the setting
  • Monthly online virtual masterclasses with the training provider and other students doing the same qualification

More training information

Monthly virtual online masterclasses with the training providers skills coach who supports you through your apprenticeship

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4)

Desirable qualifications

Other in:

Early Years (grade Level 2)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

  • Would be required to pass an enhanced DBS check
  • Be patient and understanding for the needs of children
  • Be committed to completing the apprenticeship with a passion and vision for a career in Early Years

About this employer

  • We are celebrating 26 years of childcare with Ofsted grade OUTSTANIDNG, we opened in 1999, and can accommodate 120 children across 6 age and stage appropriate base rooms.  Our nursery and pre school is situated in the village of Wath Upon Dearne, close to Dearne Valley College and Call Centres, and borders the towns of Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley. It is set in spacious grounds and surrounded by open fields and countryside, our nursery gardens are often referred to as “a stimulating outdoor classroom”.

    Our staff pride themselves on their excellent relationships with children, parents and carers. We are constantly updating our qualifications and skills to keep abreast of the changing legislation.  We are also proud to announce we have been awarded the National standards Quality Mark, the inspector commented on: “the ethos of setting centres around providing high quality practice, provision and environments for the children.” 

    The nursery achieved Outstanding in our 2023 Ofsted Inspection. Ofsted report: DEARNE VALLEY OFSTED REPORT 2023

    We work towards the Healthy Foundation Award; this is a framework which promotes children’s health and wellbeing both within the setting and at home. We are committed to providing nutritious meals for children, supporting their oral health, physical development through exercise rest and sleep and helping them to manage their behaviour and independence. We work closely with parents to develop this and value their input and support in this programme.

After this apprenticeship

  • Fully Qualified Early Years Educator
  • Could then progress to be a room leader
  • Can also do early years level 5, if wanted to be a manager

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

JUNIPER TRAINING LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000014494.

Apply now

Closes on Tuesday 31 March 2026