Early Years Educator Apprenticeship

STEPPING STONES NURSERIES LIMITED

Warrington (WA4 6LG)

Closes in 21 days (Sunday 14 June 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 22 May 2026

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Summary

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff. You’ll care for and educate children between the ages of 0–5 years old, ensuring safeguarding processes are being followed and working together with the nursery team.

Wage

£13,312 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Wage increases to National Minimum Wage after 12 months if over 19 years old. 

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday. Daily hours to be confirmed. Opening hours of the nursery are 7am-6pm.

32 hours a week

Start date

Monday 15 June 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

Learning and Professional Development

  • Work towards achieving a recognised early years qualification as part of an apprenticeship programme.
  • Attend all required training sessions, college days, and assessments.
  • Share details of current learning focus and progress with mentor.
  • Actively engage in learning opportunities and apply new knowledge into daily practice.
  • Seek guidance and feedback from senior staff to support professional growth.
  • Demonstrate a positive, professional attitude and commitment to developing as an early years practitioner. Health,

Safety and Safeguarding

  • Ensure children are supervised appropriately at all times.
    Follow safeguarding procedures and report any concerns immediately to a senior member of staff.
  • Support daily risk assessments and maintain a clean, safe, and secure environment.
  • Adhere to health and safety, food hygiene, and welfare requirements in line with the EYFS.
  • Handle confidential information appropriately and in line with data protection requirements.
    Care and Wellbeing
  • Support children with personal care routines, including toileting, hygiene, and mealtimes.
  • Promote positive behaviour and encourage independence.
  • Help prepare and maintain resources and play spaces to a high standard.
  • Build warm and nurturing relationships with children to support their emotional wellbeing.

Parental Engagement

  • Interact with parents and carers in a polite and professional manner.
  • Share relevant information with senior staff to ensure effective communication with families.
  • Maintain confidentiality and professionalism at all times.

Where you'll work

147 London Road
Stockton Heath
Warrington
WA4 6LG

Training

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

Training provider

LET ME PLAY 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

  • Early Years Educator Level 3 apprenticeship standard. 
  • 20% off the job training. 
  • Tutor support via online platform.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths and English (grade A*-C (4-9))

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
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

Passing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

About this employer

At Stepping Stones, we understand how important a child’s early years are in shaping their development and future well-being. We’ve designed our nurseries to provide vibrant surroundings together with a safe, caring environment where children enjoy rich learning experiences alongside the highest standards of care.

https://steppingstonesgroup.com/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

  • Permanent role will be considered on completion of the apprenticeship.
  • Level 5 apprenticeship in early years available.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

LET ME PLAY LIMITED

Louise

louise.mcmeechan@lmpeducation.org

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000032432.

Apply now

Closes in 21 days (Sunday 14 June 2026 at 11:59pm)