Early Years Educator Apprenticeship

THE PIGGY BANK DAY NURSERY LIMITED

WESTGATE ON SEA (CT8 8QY)

Closes on Tuesday 30 June 2026

Posted on 19 March 2026

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Summary

Early Years Educator Apprentice: Join our team to gain an early years qualification and hands-on childcare experience. Support and observe children, maintain records, communicate with parents, and develop skills. UK residency. DBS needed.

Wage

£16,640 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
Open Monday to Friday, 8 am – 6 pm,, 51 weeks a year. Shifts between these hours.

40 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 1 July 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

Early Years Educator Apprentice – Job Summary

We are seeking an enthusiastic and ambitious individual to join our team as an Early Years Educator Apprentice. This role offers the opportunity to gain an early years qualification while gaining hands-on experience working with children. You will build meaningful relationships with children, colleagues, and parents, while contributing to a safe and engaging learning environment.

Key Responsibilities

  • Supporting Children: Provide care, play, and learning activities for children across different ages and developmental stages.
  • Creating a Safe Environment: Ensure the crèche environment is inclusive, welcoming, and culturally appropriate.
  • Communicating with Parents: Share information about children’s progress and needs with parents and carers.
  • Observing & Assessing Children: Monitor children and discuss any concerns with your line manager.
  • Maintaining Records: Keep accurate records of attendance, contact details, and relevant information.
  • Professional Development: Attend courses, meetings, and complete tasks, assignments, and tests as part of the apprenticeship.
  • Team Collaboration: Work effectively with colleagues and other professionals to meet children’s needs.
  • Policy Compliance: Follow all relevant policies and procedures within the setting.

Other Requirements

Must be a UK resident with at least 3 years of residency in the UK/EU.

Safeguarding Statement

  • This authority/organisation is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, requiring all staff and volunteers to uphold this commitment.
  • As part of the safer recruitment, you will require an enhanced DBS. This will be applied for by the employer if successful.
    It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in a regulated activity relevant to children.

Where you'll work

47 STATION ROAD
WESTGATE ON SEA
CT8 8QY

Training

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

Training provider

BEST PRACTICE NETWORK 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

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

DBS check.

About this employer

Piggybank Childcare has been established in Westgate on Sea for over 20 years. Piggybank is a family run business with a management team dedicated to continuously improving outcomes for children of all ages.

https://www.piggybanknursery.co.uk/contact.php (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Career Progression: Start as an Early Years Educator and grow into Senior Practitioner, Room Leader, Deputy Manager, or even Nursery Manager with further qualifications and experience.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BEST PRACTICE NETWORK LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000019176.

Apply now

Closes on Tuesday 30 June 2026